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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  Family Wagon thats fun to drive! - 2006 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Jennifer - October 17 - 11:10 am

  My MB E500 wagon is the first Mercedes that I have owned and I am in love with it after driving it for just over a year. I spend a lot of time driving my children around and it makes a difference to have such a comfortable interior. I live in Minnesota and my 4Matic drives great in the snow! Ive had just two problems: 1.A faulty transfer case which was replaced and fully covered under the warranty and 2. Poor tire wear which was also a warranty item and the tires were replaced.

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  Good enough - 2006 Mercedes-Benz R-Class
  By al - October 16 - 4:06 am

  If you want a sports car you do not want to look somewhere else. However, for a family vehicle it meets all the needs: safety, comfort and interior capacity. It is a pain to park, but what large family vehicle is not. The space between the second row of seats and the front is generous and can accomodate the space needs of growing children. It is a solid crossover vehicle.

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  Look elsewhere.....Mercedes has lost its edge - 2012 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By mabcpa1 - October 15 - 11:43 pm

  Recently leased the new 2012 ML 350 and what a disappointment. Interior fit and finish not up to usual Mercedes quality and required replacement parts.....on a new Mercedes. Ride is terrible. There is a problem with the rear suspension that makes this car bounce like crazy over any little road bump and the dealer claims there is nothing wrong. The precise handling I have read about in other reviews of this car is completely lacking in the car I got......my Honda minivan drove with less effort!!! I am so sorry I got this car and especially at over $700 per month for the lease. The BMW X5 drives much, much better. Maybe I should just go back to my Honda!!!

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  Love this little car! - 2003 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By JAG - October 15 - 11:20 pm

  Recently purchased this car for commute to and from work. Averaging 25 mpg, over 30 on the freeway! The car is sporty but not overly flashy, and is a lot of fun to drive. It is our second MB, and now I wonder why we ever drove anything else. It is a much stiffer ride than most MBs, but that just adds to the sporty feel of it. Bigger back seat than you would think for the size of the car, and the seats fold down so you can fit a surprising amount of cargo when necessary. This car is destined to be passed to our oldest when she begins driving.

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  better the the 530 bemer - 2001 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By zeezo - October 15 - 2:00 am

  THIS CAR IS GREAT FUN TO DRIVE NICE LOOKS EVERY THING I WANTED IN THE CAR I HAD . IF U CAN BUY A 2ND HAND ONE ...THEN BUY ONE U WONT BE SORRY!

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  Go Baby Go - 2005 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Sam - October 13 - 11:23 am

  Unassuming power with effortless acceleration. Its sleek and comfortable enough to drive daily, but it can fly whenever you want. Its only a matter of time before my first speeding ticket.

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  Awesome - 2005 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class
  By Millionmax - October 12 - 2:00 am

  I am loving this car. I have an older S500 sedan, but the precision with which this performs is awesome. The top drops easily and it feels great to drive in any conditions I have met.

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  Top of its class! - 2004 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class
  By JAGLovR - October 12 - 2:00 am

  After having owned 2 XKRs, I can say that the SL-class is a worthy adversary. Beauty (and brains) power this Mercedes machine! High-tech everything! VERY Comftorable! Fast! Fast! Fast!

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  Awesome! - 2006 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class
  By addw - October 11 - 8:16 pm

  I think that this car has amazing power and handiling. It holds the road like no other! the power top is amazing! Must Buy!

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  2007 CLS 550 - 2007 Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class
  By jerry - October 11 - 2:16 pm

  I owned a 2006 and traded it in to get the 2007. The added horsepower/torque and changes to the brake system were enough to make me buy the 07. The added horesepower and torque is very noticeable. Other than that it is the same car as the 06.