Overview & Reviews

"Oh Lord, won't you buy me a Mercedes-Benz?" That's the opening line of "Mercedes-Benz," a song most famously recorded by singer Janis Joplin in the early 1970s. The tune gently poked fun at materialism and our desire for the finer things in life. It's fitting that the renowned German marque figures prominently in the lyric. Mercedes-Benz has long been known for crafting vehicles that emphasize luxury and refinement. For many, its vehicles are sleek symbols of status, success and good taste.

In January of 1886, Karl Benz unveiled the world's first automobile, a three-wheeled vehicle dubbed the Benz Patent Motor Car. A few months later, Gottlieb Daimler and his chief engineer Wilhelm Maybach rolled out a four-wheeled vehicle powered by his Daimler engine. The first Mercedes was crafted in 1901, shortly after Daimler's death. Built by Maybach, the car was commissioned by Emil Jellinek, one of Daimler's primary distributors, and was ultimately named after Jellinek's daughter, Mercedes.

In 1926, the companies founded by Daimler and Benz merged to form Daimler-Benz AG, and the Mercedes-Benz brand was born. The company's insignia was a three-pointed star wreathed in a laurel; the star was dreamed up by Daimler years earlier, and its three points signified the fact that his engines were used in vehicles that traveled land, air and sea.

Right from the start, the Mercedes-Benz name was synonymous with automotive excellence. One of the automaker's earliest vehicles, the 1931 Mercedes-Benz 170, distinguished itself as the world's first production car to offer a technology that was nothing short of extraordinary for the day: four-wheel independent suspension. The '30s and '40s saw Mercedes establishing itself as the brand of choice for car buyers seeking the ultimate in luxury, thanks to coveted cruisers like the 380 and 540K.

The 1950s witnessed the introduction of the Mercedes-Benz 300 SL "Gullwing," a sports car that has been described as being the world's first supercar. With its dramatic styling and race-bred technology, the 300 SL reigns today as a classic coveted by collectors worldwide. The decade also saw Daimler-Benz making strides in the area of safety technology. The company's Mercedes-Benz 220 sedans were the first vehicles to incorporate its patented "crumple zone" body design, created to absorb impact in the event of a crash.

In 1963, the company cemented its reputation as the home of automotive luxury with the launch of the Mercedes-Benz 600. The elegant, luxurious sedan was also available as a limousine and featured an ahead-of-its-time air suspension system and a V8 engine that boasted 300 horsepower. The decade also saw the launch of the Mercedes-Benz 300 SEL 6.3. This full-size sedan went from zero to 60 in under seven seconds, distinguishing itself as the quickest luxury car is its day.

The 1970s saw the birth of the brand's storied S-Class line of vehicles, opulent sedans and coupes that coddled passengers with powerful engines and a long list of luxury features. The decade also saw Mercedes continuing on the cutting edge of safety technology, by being the first to offer antilock brakes in its vehicles.

Daimler-Benz's safety advancements continued in the 1980s. Its cars were the first to offer airbags and traction control. The manufacturer also raised the bar in terms of ride comfort and handling when it introduced multilink rear suspension. The technology debuted on the compact Mercedes-Benz 190 E, and it remains a vital component of the company's chassis engineering to this day.

Mercedes-Benz vehicles got an extra dose of power and performance in the 1990s, thanks to the manufacturer's partnership with AMG, a performance and tuning shop that was eventually purchased by the company to help produce ultra-high-performance versions of some of its vehicles. The first AMG model offered in the U.S. was the sporty C36 AMG in 1995; since then, Mercedes has gone on to offer an AMG-tuned version of almost all of its vehicles.

The company's current lineup is the most comprehensive in its history. With a variety of sedans, coupes, SUVs and roadsters filling Mercedes showrooms, it seems like the only thing missing is a pickup truck. Surely, the fact that Janis Joplin's song holds as much relevance today as it did four decades ago is a strong indicator that the brand's premier status is still very much intact.

User Reviews:

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  A Bargain for $60 K - 2008 Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class
  By David E - November 5 - 12:30 pm

  I had owned numerous BMWs and bought a new 2008 Lexus LS460 recently. I traded in a 2007 Mercedes SLK on this 2008 CLK to have more room and comfort. This car is so far ahead of the competition that its not even funny. The seats are amazingly comfortable. The top operation is flawless. The interior design and comfort exceptional. The Irridium Silver paint seems a bit splotchy in bright light. The ride quality is excellent. The handling is tight, much better than that of the SLK. I am very impressed with this car! A+++

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  Plan to drive for quite some time..... - 2002 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
  By pal - November 5 - 11:43 am

  Since purchase it has been a blast to drive. Hopeful the balanced engine translates into long life as that is the only way I am every going to get my money out it! 03+ S55 probably faster due to supercharger, but I could not stand to even think what a supercharger would cost down the line. Really enjoy the machine, great ride/fast ride. I confide I still dont feel like I "fit in" an S55 but hopeful my ego will catch up with the wheels.

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  Terribly Unreliable - 1998 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By rchampaneri - November 4 - 9:43 pm

  never ever in my life would i have thought to recieve such a TERRIBLE car. 1 month after owning it, the headlights wont turn off. then the battery died. seeing as im in high school i was ok with it sitting for a day or two. but once i bought a new battery none of the electric component were working. (radio, speedometer, gas gauge, windows, door locks) i bought the car at 139k

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  Absolutely stunning - 2008 Mercedes-Benz CL-Class
  By Adlibber - November 4 - 4:36 pm

  I was a bit leery about jumping back into the Mercedes fold after a less-than-satisfying stint in a 2000 S-class. My leap of faith has been richly rewarded. This car is fast, tight, and a feast for the eyes. One minor problem, apparently caused by repairman error at 2500-mile checkup. oil not filled all the way. A ten-minute fix. Mines black with black interior. It handles like a fighter plane on Mulholland Drive. Lots of thumbs-up from fellow drivers. The awesome power, ABC and the active seats make this hands-down the most amazing car Ive ever driven. If you can afford it, and can live with the ozone destruction, get on the waiting list.

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  good in rain and snow - 2004 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
  By bowl1901 - November 4 - 2:00 am

  I had a s430 and it was a fine car. In the winter the traction was adequate. The s4304matic is much better in snow and rain. The newer model is improved but lacks a cassette player that was previously included. Fuel economy is slightly less. I average 17mpg

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  love this car - 2004 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By rick l - November 4 - 2:00 am

  my third MB and this one feels the best. Love the optional 17" wheels and looks of the appearance package. FUN to drive

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  Great Car and Lots of Comfort - 2004 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Dozing - November 4 - 2:00 am

  I have a BMW 328is and needed a bigger car for my new family so I test drove the BMW 530 and many other cars. By far this is the best car in the class in my opinion. Plenty of power in the 3.2L engine and a lot of fun to drive. (Hint: Even more standard power, as opposed to AMG power, under the hood would set this car apart by far)

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  E300 was not ready for production. - 2017 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Steve K - November 4 - 1:59 am

  Bought a 2017 e300 with P3 package, complaint. It is awful. Its been in the shop 4 times. Transmission issues, back up camera problems, climate control, HD radio does not work. Doors had to be slammed shut. Home Link did not work. There is still not a fix for the HD radio. It was in the shop for 2 weeks, with no resolve. It is back in the shop now for rear view camera intermittently working, climate control turning off and again to look at the HD radio. The transmission was fixed, and the body shop reset the doors on the third try. Ive asked the dealer to buy it back and they wont. 12/2016. Mercedes finally agreed to buy back the car due to its inherent suspension problem. Strangely the service records say no problem found.

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  Regular Electronic Issues - 2014 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By John S - November 1 - 5:16 am

  Bought a 2014 e350 convertible with 11,000 miles on it. It was a MB certified pre-owned car. Fun to drive; problem was the drivers side window would not fully close. After four trips to the dealership in 4 weeks, the window would not still not consistently close. Hard to own a car you cant drive in the rain. The dealership was great - they tried the specified MB repair four times but it would not hold. The dealership took the car back with no hassle. MB was not good (: I spent $1,500 on prepaid maintenance that they would not return. Didnt matter that the car could not be used as a regular driver. You should be ashamed MB. My next convertible will be another BMW.

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  Dream Car or Not? - 2001 Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class
  By Sharon - October 30 - 11:53 pm

  My CLK320 drives like the dream I always thought Mercedes to be! This is my first Mercedes owenership experience. My main frustration has been the constant back and forth to the dealer for repairs! I have had to replace the catalytic converter 3 times in just over 2 years of ownership. Various sensors have also failed and needed replacement. Ive wondered about the wisdom of purchasing another Benz. Still, when the car is not in the shop its nice to tool around in!