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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  too much cheap plastic - 2001 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
  By harold - September 16 - 2:00 am

  the car looks cheap inside . i have owned 5 mercedes and this is the worse one for interior finish minimal wood and alot of cheap plastic, i will never buy another one if it looks like this one inside .also, a lot of annoying small problems. handling is great. harold pitts

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  a machine - 2004 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class
  By slack - September 16 - 2:00 am

  car is amazing. it is fast yet rides wonderfully.it handles excellently.i have driven it to and from north ca rolina. it is comfortable and you cant keep the speed down.it wants to go.with the top up it is very quiet.with the top down it is outright awsome.i have had 5 sls including a 1990 when the new model came out. that was good but this is great.

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  Fantastic vehicle - 2008 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Kent - September 14 - 11:36 pm

  Bought my E350 just a few months ago and have approximately 1100 miles on it. What more can I say about the car except fantastic. This is my first Mercedes and am nothing but impressed with the E350. The ride is very luxury like although it does have some sport mixed in too. Interior is comfortable with very supportive front seats and a rear seat that is acceptable for two people. The nav system (although an older design) is still easy to use and is functional. All switchgear is top rate and the wood trim looks expensive but not over done. Even though the seats are MB tex they still look like leather and feel great. Would purchase another Mercedes.

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  Our 3rd S Class - 2015 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
  By ecurry - September 14 - 9:28 pm

  Weve owned 5 MBs and to be honest I can identify with the people who have had problems. Ive had issues with MB in the past but fortunately for us this time seems to be a charm. We did however have to have the battery replaced. It seems if one has the push button start/stop feature, one has to be sure the car is off and not in standby mode or it will deplete the battery. Now to the good stuff. This car rocks!! This is the best luxury car on the road bar none. Id put it up against anything out there where luxury is concerned, including Rolls or Bentley. When compared to the uber luxury cars the new S-Class is a champ!

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  What a nightmare - 2006 Mercedes-Benz R-Class
  By Rick Kueber - September 14 - 10:36 am

  In less than 6 months of ownership, my R500 is being towed back to the dealership for the same problems - SRS warning light. According to Mercedes this may cause the airbags to deploy randomly (nice) or not work at all. Also, the low coolant level light is on. For $70k, one would think you would get a much better car. This will definitely be my last Mercedes. Audi Q7, here I come.

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  Big Mistake - 2002 Mercedes-Benz G-Class
  By nomarkup - September 14 - 10:00 am

  Built like a tank. Awesome styling. Feel great driving it.

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  maluze - 1999 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By maluze - September 14 - 10:00 am

  The vast use of (hard)plastics in the interior of this $40,000 MERCEDES is astounding, and, makes the interor, without the wood trim,look like it would fit in a corolla. Ergonomics are good, but the gaping hole that resides under the radio controls is just, well, hideous.

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  Great Driving Machine - 1999 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By BenzMeister - September 14 - 10:00 am

  This is the first Benz Ive owned, and I love the C280. Ive owned many cars, both domestic and foreign and this one is the best, better then the BMW I traded in.

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  SUPERB - 2002 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
  By krueger - September 14 - 10:00 am

  I own S500 with Sport Package for about a year now and has been enjoying it every time I get a chance to use it. The car is a leader in its class. Its looks much better than LS430 and obviously much better than 745i. LS430 is just a regular great looking car but S500 with sport is a winner by far (add to it custom mb wheels and its look will knock you down). I have no mechanical problems and performance is superb. Maybe Command is too complicated but S500 catches up with luxury, comfort and performance.

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  Slick Machine !!! - 2012 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By scottyk329 - September 14 - 1:40 am

  Just picked up my new 2012 C-250 coupe yesterday. I can say that the photos of this vehicle do not do it justice. This car looks beautiful. Way better in person. The interior materials are top notch. picked blk/blk with harmon stereo, nav, heated seats etc. Some of the reviews ive read while doing my research talked about this vehicle being slow or sluggish of the line. NOT TRUE. The car defults to (E) or economy mode every time you start it. You have to push the sport mode button. (E) mode starts you in 3rd gear for fuel economy. sport mode starts you in 1st with higher shift points. In sport this car is a rocket. Plenty of power. So if magazine car testers are reading this. PUSH (S)!!