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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  wife loves it - 2010 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By scott - October 27 - 6:43 pm

  I came out of a 2007 DTS which my wife felt was a little to large for her to drive so I checked out the 2010 CTS which was nice inside and out and had a nice ride(DTS was better). I noticed it was a little low in the front end and thought the ground clearance may be an issue. We checked out the C300 sport and felt the ride was a little harder than the CTS and it also had a tight ground clearance like the CTS. We tried out the C300 luxury and found the ride to be better and it did not have as low of a front spoiler so we went with the luxury, my wife and I love it. Some people complain about the cruse control position but trust me you well get used to it. Had 2 BMW 8 caddys, C300 suits us.

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  Not as good as advertised - 2010 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Tom - October 26 - 7:50 am

  The MB television ads for the 9th generation E class said they put everything the knew into this car. They must have lost a lot of knowledge dealing with Chrysler. The car is sluggish, the transmission shifts to slowly for the paddle shifters to be of any use, the exterior design looks stolen from the Accord, Sonata and Genesis. I bot the car 7 weeks ago, have about 3100 miles on it and already 3 trips to the dealer for "fixes" (not what I expected at all). I also didnt expect such poor gas mileage (17/23) when I got 19/26 with my Lexus 430 V8. The MB-Tex seats are horrible; leather covering should be standard, as should tilting & fold in outside rear view mirrors. E is overrated, alot.

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  Exceptional Vehicle - 2004 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By newyork142536 - October 25 - 4:53 am

  I have really enjoyed this car. It has been incredibly reliable and comfortable on long road trips. Short drives are enjoyable also.

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  Avoiding Pot Holes and Manhole Covers - 2017 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Buck Buchanan - October 24 - 10:52 pm

  My wife loves this car and is her main form of transportation. I leased this car primarily because of all the advanced technology and was concerned that maybe there would be lots of maintenance issues. None so far, but to my surprise the run flat tire system got my attention--no spare! Prior to leasing I drove the car up and down the freeway that was close by and the ride was as expected. I did not look in the trunk and had no idea there wasnt a spare. (Ive owned E350s for 30 years and never was there not a spare.) Living in San Diego county you get used to driving on roads with pot holes and when you hit one with this car it is really jarring and even though the car was probably engineered for these tires, there is a marked suspension bounce and a slight bit of skipping if you happen to be in a turn. You feel EVERY bump in the road with the run flats. (I also purchased a battery operated tire inflator just in case the pressure ever drops on the tires when Im traveling in the hinterland as you are only guaranteed 50 miles running flat. Research indicates you may even have to replace the tire, which are very expensive and according to reviews are somewhat hard to find, and in worst case you wipe our the rim too--really expensive.) It is very obvious that a lot of effort has been made to reduce the weight of the car by eliminating some enhancements that used to be on the 2014. I have had almost zero maintenance issues in the 3000 miles the car has been driven, the only one is that the trunk lid does not spring fully open as it did when new causing a few head bumps. Otherwise we are very pleased with this machine--plenty of horsepower for us (85 years and counting). The ambient lighting, massaging seats, USB/Phone capability all are very pleasing. Wished they had stayed with the same navigation software as the 2014. Yes, the seats could be fully covered as before, but again that is probably a weight thing. Have not yet decided if I would purchase this car primarily due to my issues with the run flats.

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  coup no more... - 2004 Mercedes-Benz CL-Class
  By silver coupe - October 24 - 10:00 am

  this is my 2nd cl 500 ,as the first one (2003), was deliverd to me demaged from merceds benz... and after some"persuation" was bought back from me and replaced. this car is beautifull to look at ,inside out but very quirky on many levels--- ride is mushy ,handling is ok but its no beamer, too many rattles and noises coming at you from all directions. this is not what youd expect from $100k car! my first(or shall i say second)mb ,and the last one! please ,drive me to the nearest bmw dealership!

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  My first Benz - 2004 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By staceyland - October 24 - 10:00 am

  I am very impressed with the quality of this vehicle. I never want to buy anything other than a benz ever again!!

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  30 year Benz driver rates this one #1 - 2007 Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class
  By William R Phillips - October 24 - 6:50 am

  This is my 31st Mercedes and I think it may well be the best. I did not bother with the AMG because the power is simply awesome without the 507 hp engine. The 382 suits me fine. Rarely do I use the back seat so I have no comment on its comfort level, but I love the styling and feel of the car. I have owned most models of MB during the years and have always craved the sportiness of the SL and the comfort of the S. Here I have what I have always wanted.

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  Great SUV - 2007 Mercedes-Benz GL-Class
  By weeweeC - October 23 - 10:16 am

  Traded in a Land Rover Lr3 for the Gl450. Wow what a difference! Better and smoother ride, more power, more luxurious, more amenities. The car is a real head turner. We are very happy so far.

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  Oudstanding - 2006 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By glenn - October 23 - 8:16 am

  I get 32 mpg on highway and 23 mpg in city driving. I dont understand how people can rate the mpg less than ten. This is my third M-B, and I love it as much as my prior two. It requires very little maintenance expenditures. All I have spent $ for since I purchased it was for 2 tires and the usual oil and filter changes.

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  What a great car - 2005 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Mike Mas - October 23 - 6:13 am

  I have owned this car for about 4 months and I am enjoying it more everyday. I have been averaging about 17 mpg in the city and 27mpg on the highway (@75mph). I think this amazing considering the 5 liter V-8. Fit and finish like none other. Dealer service is A+. I am planning to buy one for my wife.