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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  Best looking car on the road today - 2006 Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class
  By RJ in St. Louis - February 16 - 6:33 pm

  This car drives as great as it looks. Without a doubt, the finest looking car on the road today. It turns heads everywhere I go. As a long-time BMW driver, it took me awhile to get used to very touchy brakes and Mercedes handling, softer than I like from years of BMW driving. The CLS smokes the LS430s performance, and when it comes to styling, the Lexus has no business in the same sentence as the CLS. First time Ive bought a car with keyless go- a great option, as is the satellite radio. Given the small windows, Id recommend Parktronic as well.

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  c55 - 2005 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By vh2k4 - February 16 - 10:00 am

  this car is a dream to drive. plenty of power to pin you to the seat from a standstill, yet smooth and refined at low speeds. stable and solid even through the tightest turns. this car weds elegance to performance in a seamless manner.

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  Have lost confidence in car and dealer - 2006 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By vbazemore - February 15 - 7:30 pm

  Great car, except for electrical problems. Because the repair was not scheduled in advance, the dealer kept the car 1 week for repairs. I picked up the car and drove it three blocks from the dealer and the same electrical problems, lights and cruise control, ESP lights were back on showing, see the workshop for repairs. The car stayed at the dealer for 1 more week before it was fixed. I have driven it 500 miles and everything seems to be OK. I know my confidence in the car is not what it was two months ago. Not sure if I will ever purchase another Mercedes Benz.

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  Smooth Ride - 2007 Mercedes-Benz R-Class
  By Benz Fan - February 15 - 3:53 pm

  Tough trading in our CLK320...but the R350 did not disappoint us. The smoothness of this mercedes sold us on a test drive. Interior is beautiful to look at and the seats are total comfort. The cabin is spacious and the third row really does fit adults comfortably including getting in and out. The exterior is unique, with that mercedes flare, yet understated overall.

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  Oh damn its broke again. - 2003 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class
  By jagboi1967 - February 15 - 1:21 pm

  Seems like this car has been in the shop more than it has been on the road the last 2 years I bought the car 2.5 years ago with 80,000 miles on it. It now has 100,590 It has a ton of service records on it. If its not the ABC going down its the SRS system or this week its the SOS flashing and then the trunk will not open and now the AC has quit and the shop says its going to be expensive to fix. Its just one thing after another. Thinking about parking it in the front yard and filling it with dirt and making it a very expensive planter.

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  Really superb SUV - 2006 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By Michael Craig - February 13 - 7:33 pm

  The ML 350 has proven to be an incredible vehicle. Mercedes decision to beef up the engine and make the styling more aggressive have really paid off. The car is incredible, everything an urban SUV should be.

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  Mercedes Benz C300 Sedan - Eco Start / Stop - 2016 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Nancy H. - February 13 - 3:04 pm

  I have only had the car for 3 days, and while I love the car - it looks and drives like a dream. My only complaint on this car is the ECO start / stop. I dont like that when you are braking or place the car on "hold", after about 30-60 seconds the car jolts from zero RPM to 0.5. This is fine as the car is trying to keep the a/c up (I live in Florida), but the jolt is unpleasant - everyone thinks theres something wrong with the car. I would be okay if the transition were smoother. I know I can turn it off, but then I would sacrifice better fuel efficiency. On all other aspects of the car - it is simply amazing, the suspension is wonderfully comfortable, the sound system is crisp and surrounds you. The seats are smart and well designed. My commute to work on the highway is something special every day.

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  supercar - 1994 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class
  By Adrian Alexe - February 13 - 2:00 am

  very nice car with one of the best classic luck, very good engine it was better with 5 speed gearbox and ESP

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  awesome - 2003 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
  By melinda - February 13 - 2:00 am

  awesome auto best MBZ ever

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  No BMW - 2003 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Adamcharles - February 13 - 2:00 am

  I own a E500 and it is not worth 60,000 dollars. The inside is cheap looking the braking it elctronic, the engine sounds like a civic and its handling is not the best. It is a nice looking car but I would not reccommend it. I have driven the 2003 540i 6-speed and man is that a nice car, its simple, fast, fun and with the new body work its still up there with the E in looks.