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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  Love, Love, Love!! - 2005 Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class
  By LM Sophie - September 18 - 11:03 am

  The car is smooth, elegant, and sexy. Absolutely love driving it - the 6 cylinder is definitely powerful enough. Get great looks on the highway and feel special driving it. Great options that make it truly special: navigation system and voice-controlled phone. Not great in the snow, but has a "winter- mode" button that helps you get through better. Mercedes service is impeccable - courteous and complete.

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  In love with my GL - 2008 Mercedes-Benz GL-Class
  By Mb lover - September 18 - 2:03 am

  We came across the Gl450 looking at the R350. My GL, which was stickered at 70,000 was equiped with pk1 package, keyless go, 2 dual DVD players, trailer hitch, ipod integration kit and 19 inch wheel package. The GL which gets a 11,000( base price) premium over the R , its totally beautiful in the exteror is worth it ( although interior dimensions are a bit tighter.) In love with my GL.

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  Disappointment for the Price - 2006 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By TOMS - September 17 - 10:46 pm

  This is my second E class, I had a 98 E320, wish I could get it back. The car is beautiful, rides nice. Radio and CD player failed in first month. Car has been in 4 times for transmission problems, every fix makes it worse. Avoid any Mercedes with the 7speed. My 84 Ford Tempo had a better quality transmission. Car slam shifts between gears. I had to stop drinking coffee on the way to work to stop the stains in the carpet from the spills the car jerks so hard when it shifts. We were about to buy my wife an R class until I found out it had the 7 speed. I am currently considering pursuing Lemon Law remedy. Oh by the way the car doesnt even come with all seasons, I had to spend $1,000 on snows.

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  One VERY Happy Camper - 2005 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By flaman - September 17 - 4:26 pm

  Averaging 31 MPG or mixed highway and (limited) city driving. Quiet inside the vehicle and no diesel odors. Unbelievable response when the accelerator is pushed.

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  Dream Car - 2008 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By SELIT4U - September 17 - 9:53 am

  I just purchased the C300 4Matic. I am a car junkie. I work as a dealer representative for an wholesale auto auction in New York. My week is spent on new and used car lots, dream job for me. After looking at at all the new 08s my pick was the Benz. The price for style and comfort makes this a winner!

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  Absolutely Immaculate - 2010 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By OctoberPurchase - September 16 - 4:06 pm

  I have been an E-class owner before and nothing compares to this car in this particular class of cars. I test drove and researched tremendously, and I have zero regrets. I would recommend this fun and powerful car to anyone.

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  Super Truck - 2008 Mercedes-Benz GL-Class
  By A.C. - September 16 - 2:43 am

  Great performance, acceleration, handling etc. Considering its weight and size mileage is suprisingly good. usually 18MPG+ on the highway driving at 70+ MPH. ------------------------------------ - It has been fixed now but the rear hatch would sometimes open without any input from the remote.

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  Great Wheels - 1997 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
  By MRDC - September 16 - 2:00 am

  Putting the costs aside, this vehicle has been an excellent ride. The solid feel on the road with its good performance is everything one should expect from a car of this reputation. The simplicity and understated elegancy makes this a real winner. All problems were handled under the warranty and the extended warranty (a definite buy given the costs of repairs).

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  I Love this Car!!! - 2004 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By loris1987 - September 16 - 2:00 am

  The Ml350 is a great SUV that is sure footed in bad weather and a really fun ride in great weather. When alot of SUVs are bulky and have a bumpy ride, The ML350 is a joy to drive, with a steady ride without all the bumps, and it handles like a smaller car. I couldnt have asked for more in an SUV than this. With so many features that are standard, it truly is like buying another car... fully loaded. I encourage anyone to try it.

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  ML 500/ Work Horse - 2004 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By samg - September 16 - 2:00 am

  I have recently purchased the SUV my first. I really like the feel of the ML500 it handles great. Comfortable interior quite different from my luxury sedan. The only complaints I have is gas mileage needs improvment. I am in sales and my SUV is my second office.Finally having a choice of either 4WD or 2WD or AWD.This may give the consumer the added value of having additional options to slect.