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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  2003 ML 500 - 2003 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By disappointed - October 23 - 1:36 am

  Very comfortable seats. Very good gas mileage for engine and type of vehicle. 15 in town; 19-21 on road. Very good handling and drivability. Ride slightly harsh. Excellent turning circle. Poor brake wear. New rotors and pads every 18-22 M miles at a ludicrous cost. Front shocks needed replacement at 47,000 miles. Thank goodness car is still under warranty. Dealer cost to replace $850. Power steering hose clamp blew at 40,000 miles. BAS went at 42,000. Reliability poor for a premium brand.

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  Excellent SUV -Unfortunately made in USA - 2001 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By wayphun - October 22 - 10:00 am

  This is a great SUV but as an owner of other MB vehicles it is very upsetting the lack of quality control of the US plant.

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  Wifes MB - 2002 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Robin Jenn - October 22 - 10:00 am

  Excellent car overall, but air conditioning fair, could certainly be improved! Little annoying things like drink holder not opening and door seals having to be replaced within the first 3 months that our local MB dealer Hoelm MB quickly took care with very friendly staff at service.I prefer this car over our previous BMW 3 series.

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  How will Lexus copy this one??? - 2003 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Rocky Mtn High - October 22 - 10:00 am

  Picked up the E500 2 days ago (ordered in June). The pictures do not do the car justice. Its gorgeous! Black with tan leather. Sold my Lexus to buy the Mercedes and now I understand why the valets always parked the Lexus in the back (they are real dogs!) but they are a reliable TOYOTA. If you get the E320 be sure to get the 17 inch wheels, the smaller wheels just dont work with this car.

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  Merc E320 4Matic is the best - 2005 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By bostonmerce320 - October 21 - 1:25 pm

  Initially , i use to be a big fan of Audi as i owned one , heavy weight and great dynamics i thought could not get better than Audi. But once i sat in E320 4matic i just loved interior and bought it without second thought. It never turned down my expectations. Once i was driving in New England Storm i took exit for gas and got stuck in 3 foot snow. But i now my merc can handle it like nothing , i switched to Sport mode and press the pedal it jumped of the heavy snow like a tiger everybody around just baffled as they shoveling hard to get their car out of snow. I can drive 50 miles an hour on ramps like nothing . I drove from Pittsburgh to Boston with 31.5 MPG , Jap owners went jealous..:)

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  BEST SUV in its class. Just FANTASTIC!! - 2010 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By Tushar - October 20 - 5:16 pm

  1st MB. Upgraded from Toy RAV4. Wanted Lexus RX350. Tried and liked MB GLK but couldnt resist the roominess, smoothness and overall feel of the ML. It is a pleasure to ride. Suits my style of relaxed driving. With Costco program got $1500 below invoice with P1 package and few add-on options like heated rear seats. Get about 18-19 miles/gallon on Highway. Have about 4500 miles in 3 months. This is a keeper for 10+ years. Hope MB has ironed out most of the past issues. Cabin is simple but elegant. All controls are well placed. Clean lines. Prefer the route info in the odometer area instead of the heads up display in Lexus & BMW.

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  Big Name, Little Performance! - 2002 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By BlueSuedeJay - October 20 - 11:20 am

  I have had my 2002 Mercedes-Benz C230 Coupe for 2 1/2 years, after only one year the gas tank leaked in my garage, and my car needed to be towed out. At 9,500 miles they had to repack the wheel bearings and tighten sunroof. Now with 21,000 miles they need to be replaced again the sunrrof squeaks. My car makes a horrible sound until it warms up, everytime you start it. The dealership service manager said that this is normal for this model. It sounds like a diesel, or a 12 year old car. The supercharger lacks performance and consistency in its output (six speed). The cloth seats stain if any water touches them. I traded up from a 1997 Ford Mustang GT. In every aspect of performance, the Mustang was better. This is a horrible car hiding under a Mercedes Benz Logo. I will never own another Mercedes again.

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  Fantastic! - 2006 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By Jon - October 19 - 10:40 am

  A beautiful, thrilling blast to drive. The ML500 is eye catching and the performance matches the wonderful design. I have owned many vehicles, This tops the list, and I am glad my Volvo XC90 is history.

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  Luv my Benz - 2005 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By Fish2win - October 19 - 10:00 am

  I own 2 and love them both. I cant wait to see he a;ll new designed 2006

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  Mercedes on a Budget - 2006 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By mateshinai - October 19 - 9:13 am

  My very first Mercedes. So far so good. Drive is solid compared to other Japanese vehicles I had including Toyota and Nissan. It is just tight inside. Not for the big fellas. But the electronics bells and whisles are nice. Loaded with gadgets. This definitely gets looks and attention. Feels classy and yet sporty.