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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  Great Sport Sedan... - 1999 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By bbosch - August 23 - 10:00 am

  Great sports sedan for driving on fast paced so cal freeways and highways.

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  ML320 - 2000 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By Hobbs DeWitt - August 23 - 10:00 am

  Great vehicle. Only disadvantage is small area for 3rd row seating.

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  awesome car - 2003 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By freezerman - August 23 - 10:00 am

  this car is a 10. great value. chicks dig it. rides like a limo, handles like F1 race car. great gas mileage

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  Best Car I Ever Owned - 2003 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Daniel Sheehan - August 23 - 10:00 am

  My E500 is the best car I have ever owned or driven. Since picking it up in Nov 2003 it been a wonderful machine to drive. It handles easily and has great get-up-and-go when necessary. I just wish that somehow auto engineers could do away with the ever so slight hesitency when accelerating - something every automatic has. There is also a safety feature I dont like. If you brake with your left foot (I do), you cant accelerate while your foot is even slightly on the brake. Overall though it is a beautiful, wonderful, fun car to drive. If youre thinking about getting one - go ahead and youll be glad you did.

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  2007 MBZ S550 - 2007 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
  By Dave - August 23 - 12:13 am

  The horsepower is on par with my 02 S55, the 7-speed transmission is so smooth and accurate as to be barely there. The updated computer systems are easy to learn, my wife likes the sirius and panoramic roof. The kids like the rear seat redundant controls for the windows, front seat and sunshades -- (7) electronic shades versus (1) previously! Only two complaints -- the standard leather should be upgraded and the electronic door closers should trigger easier like the 02.

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  Best Family Van Ever - 2010 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter
  By Dave D - August 21 - 5:03 pm

  We purchased our standard height, 144 WB Sprinter to accomodate our family of 8. Let me just say this is an outstanding vehicle. We purchased it based on the SAFETY and comfort features that MB offers. Also, there is a good 2-3 feet behind the 3rd row, which provides ample space for stollers, and groceries, and suitcases without having to remove the 3rd row. Driving is very comfortable and my petite wife doesnt feel lost behind the wheel on the road. It feels like you are driving a car and you get no hint of the size of the van...until you go to park it. The 144WB is big without being too big and still fits in a parking space, although you take ever last inch of it. A great, great van.

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  Mercedes E 500 4matic - 2004 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Ahad - August 19 - 3:06 pm

  The car is perfect. The car just goes once you put your foot on the gas. The GPS is amazing. The directions it gives you are way better than BMWs GPS system. Other features I like are distronic, its really helpful on a long drive.I also like the push button starter altough you could get mixed-up when changing the gears. Also the solar panels are great for hot days because when you leave the car outside for a long time the solar panel would use its energy to keep the car cool.

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  Great Car! - 2003 Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class
  By chaosminer - August 17 - 10:00 am

  This car is my first Mercedes -- I was checking into purchasing an SLK and was told of the waiting list.... I was about to leave the dealership when I noticed that a new car had been wheeled into the showroom. I liked the way it looked, test drove it and bought it a few minutes later. It has sufficient acceleration at highway speeds, it has style, and it is easy to drive. After spending a year driving this car daily, my wifes Lexus feels like a collection of parts travelling in roughly the same direction.

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  Fun at a great price - 2003 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Never Grow Up - August 17 - 10:00 am

  I love my little Mercedes. It is so distinctive to look at and very fun to drive. It never lets me down. When I press the pedal down - off we go. I was a little leary about buying a starter level Mercedes - the thought of paying for just the name. mBut that wasnt so. What is so is the dealerships treats me like royalty, whether is spent $27K or $270K. THey and Mercedes have made a believer out of me. I dont think Id ever go back to a non-Mercedes vehicle. Buy it with confidence and Enjoy!

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  Chrysler must have done the Quality Cont - 2003 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By jchrism - August 17 - 10:00 am

  Since Dec 2002, Ive had 5 visits to Mercedes service. Once for the B service, others for a noisy break pedal, After the B service, I took it back for a dead audio system, and two days after a Flash update, I took it in for an error in the audio system, and defective SOS system. This is my 3rd Mercedes since 1999 and if things dont improve, it will be my last.