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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  E 500 - 2003 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Johnny7402 - February 13 - 2:00 am

  I have had this car for a month and I must say it is an excellent blend of comfort and power. It has a sporty buy classy design that screams drive me and a plush interior that defines comfort and convience. The sport package a definite must as it adds a sort of attitude to the exterior and new age look to the inside with a silver and wite dash and black birds eye maple trim. The E class 500 in four words " A total driving machine"....

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  2007 S550 - 2007 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
  By f hughes - February 12 - 1:10 pm

  Very nice car. Replaced S430. Too expensive but it is a new model & early in the model year.

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  Outstanding New MB - 2008 Mercedes-Benz R-Class
  By Marcia Miller - February 11 - 9:30 pm

  This car drives and rides like a car but has large seating (7) capacity and good storage availibility for whatever. Its handling is exceptional considering its size. This is one outstanding vehicle. My R is a CDI which gives me lots of power and good mileage for a 5000+ lb. car.

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  Most fun ever! - 2005 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Robert B Cook - February 11 - 4:36 pm

  Ive driven BMW M3s and corvettes, but the C55 is just as fast, and is one of the smoothest accelerating cars Ive been in. It takes "creamy" to a different level. The build quality is superb, although the AMG seats are a bit narrow for a larger man like myself. So many nice touches and accessories. I love having an entertaining and involved cockpit, and the C55 doesnt fail to please! Its a grown up version of the boy toy hot rod.

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  Capable family car - 2002 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Dan - February 11 - 9:26 am

  Plenty of passing power. Dont be fooled by the looks, this is not grandpas Mercedes. Great legroom. Mechanically reliable. I always have a smile driving this car, until its time to refill.

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  Just a lot of car for the money - 2008 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By Kevin Roberts - February 10 - 6:00 am

  Solid as a rock. Turns on a dime. As far as Im concerned this SUV is the most car for the money. Two large teenagers can sit in the back seat without any complaints. If you need extra space for traveling get a trailer hitch for the back and a box that will easily carry 4 sets of golf bags. I have now bought three 350MLs. I truly think theyre the best car for the money.

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  accident waiting to happen - 2007 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By ron - February 10 - 3:10 am

  Overall the car is good, much improved over our previous 2003 ML. The steering column mounted, electronic shift however is a major problem, which MB wont or cant fix. It is easy to think you have put it in park by pushing the button, also has tendency to come out of park. My wife was run over by her ML after it failed to stay in park and rolled backwards on flat parking lot. Thus far MB has done nothing to address the problem. Since the computer drives the car it seems it would be very easy to have the computer stop the car, shut down engine or otherwise give an aggressive warning when car is in gear and door opens; the little dashboard light which currently does the job is useless.

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  Best car in the world - 2010 Mercedes-Benz GLK-Class
  By Russ Blondek - February 9 - 10:46 am

  This car is almost impeccable. Its stable, handles like the C, and is more then comfortable. Its incredibly smooth but can still handle excellently. A definite buy.

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  Brand New E-350 MB- DONT Do IT! - 2011 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By notafane350 - February 8 - 11:37 am

  I bought a brand new 4Matic E-350 Benz in JAN 2011. The car needs a transmission. I have been fighting with MB USA to just give me an even trade. I now see I paid TOO MUCH for it because they want me to take a $16K negitive equity. Im very dissapointed in the customer service that I have received. I would never recommend anyone purchase an E calss or any other car from MB in Alex, VA. I needed a car with all wheel drive so I traded in my 2002 S-class for the 2011 E-class; BIG mistake. I went back the next day to get my car and they sold it. What does that say? All I want to remedy the situation is a fair trade in. They have offered to pay my notes for 2 months! NOT HAPPY.

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  Proud owner of a CL600 - 2003 Mercedes-Benz CL-Class
  By Ron Tridico - February 8 - 10:00 am

  I Have owned many cars. I usually trade every 3-5 months, this is my forth mercedes 3 prior were SL500s As i said priors. This car will stay in garage and actually get washed it is a pure adrenaline rush to drive. Once you put your foot into the pedal the car responds, and your off an running with the 490+ ponies under the hood and dont forget about the Twin turbchargers. The only down side is the turbo lag at first But the cars overall performance, handling, interior features, comfort and exterior styling make it the best car I have ever owned, I wish every body could at least experience Driving it once in their life. Not my car though, get your own