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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  Diesel Fun - 2010 Mercedes-Benz GL-Class
  By Kenneth Miller - September 11 - 12:23 pm

  I always wanted a turbo-diesel and the solid MB 350 Bluetec is an ideal vehicle for hauling people or material. Mileage is better than advertised and features are terrific. The deal I received was great and we really enjoy this terrific SUV, made in Alabama.

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  So far, so good - 2006 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Robert - September 11 - 5:53 am

  I now have driven my Black C350 Luxury Sedan some 2500 miles and really enjoy it. I went on a long (~ 200 miles) trip of interstate highway driving and the mileage was excellent (~ 34 mpg) if the trip computer is accurate. The car has plenty of acceleration and is very comfortable. I sold a car I loved (BMW 325i) for my new Mercedes and have not been disappointed. Will check in with you after a few more thousand miles!

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  not competitive with other suvs in class - 2002 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By jadwin - September 10 - 10:00 am

  Mbz Doesnt hold its value at trade in time. Kind of tank like in ride and handling. Cheap interior and parts inside will fall off and dont feel good to the touch. Tiresome ride after 30 minutes.

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  C200K Elegance - 2002 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By JMurray - September 10 - 10:00 am

  Drives as good as it looks. Never liked a car as much as this. Mercedes really got it right in most areas with this car. Very nice and a joy to drive. Will put Xenon lights and timber laminated steering wheel (aftermarket)will put the icing on the cake.

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  Euro Delivery For Savings! - 2010 Mercedes-Benz GLK-Class
  By Phil - September 10 - 9:13 am

  Our first MB product. Perfect size, solid and quick! We used the MB European Delivery Program (EDP) configuring the GLK to our exact specifications, saved 7% off MSRP and enjoyed MB hospitality throughout the delivery process. Our only regret was that a Diesel option was not available. Highly recommended vehicle and program.

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  Tires and Transmission - 2006 Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class
  By L. Miller - September 9 - 2:56 pm

  Fun to drive, but lossing its appeal. Nothing but tire problems and now transmission problems. 2 blowouts, one bubble on sidewall, replaced rear tires at 18,0000 miles. Faulty transmission valve and now O rings are going out. This is a very expensive car for all these problems. When the lease is up, we will not get another Mercedes. I am sure there are a lot of great cars, less expensive and more dependable. Perhaps Audi or Volvo. Very disenchanted!

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  Still love my E320AWD - 2000 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Joe from Wilton - September 6 - 7:53 pm

  We have owned our e320 awd since it was new. It has been a phenomenal car. It is by far the best car we have ever had in the snow (especially w snow tires). Not sporty by any stretch - but extremely reliable. We have just under 100k miles on it -- just took it on a road trip for the weekend. Drove like new. There are some great mechanical shops in queens that are actually better than the dealer service depts and 1/3 the price. This car is a keeper even at 100k miles.

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  08 Best New Luxury Car Award from AJAC - 2008 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Surface - September 5 - 11:46 pm

  ...and I agree! Got fully loaded Luxury one Oct. 24th, but waited to really know car before review. Amazed how much more impressed with it after the purchase than anticipated. Great ride & maneuverability, rapid passing & breaking, much quicker than the numbers would have you believe... guess because the 7 spd. tranny gets optimal use of power at any speed. One reviewer here wanted backup sensors to be available, they already are... we got the "QuickPark" option on ours. Love sending google & yahoo map entries to car from any computer via "Search & Send" feature with the TeleAid & MultiMedia options. Great interior & exterior lighting, actually enjoy night driving again. Highly recommend!

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  2005 E320 CDI - 2005 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By DaveMac - September 5 - 10:00 am

  It is fun to drive and fast. Great handling and drives well. My second "E" class, but most favorite to drive.

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  Dream Car - 2004 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By agh19 - September 5 - 10:00 am

  I have wanted a Mercedes-Benz Since I was 15, and this year for my 19th birthday i got 2004 mb c320. i love everything about it, the car rides great , lots of power and tons of luxuxry features.