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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  Beware, it lokks good on paper, but is very disapp - 2016 Mercedes-Benz GL-Class
  By VandyJody - July 21 - 10:37 am

  Hard seats, mediocre brakes and dreadfully rough transmission shifts. Driving "in town" is awful due to the way the transmission is always slamming down or up, very clunky. Hard braking is terrifying because the front end goes down and tge rear end lifts just like our 1972 Ranch Wagon witg rear drums. With 9300 miles, I had the car shut off due to transmission failure, but even woth that fixed, the hard as wood seats still give me pain. And tge brake rotors are already warped. Truly a mix of astonishing engineering (the bi-turbo V6 is terrific), terrific space and cheap cost cutting combines into a mediocre SUV, I will buy Lexus next.

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  Only a little nervous - 2003 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By David - July 21 - 5:23 am

  I rode in someone elses E500, and liked it, not thinking I could afford one. I found a used on by accident, and, after driving about four used ones, found one I liked. Got a good deal, and a good deal on my trade-in. So far, the only problems Ive had have been two low-beams headlights going out, and not being able to replace them myself. The oil level tester told me it had excess oil in it recently, so I scheduled it for service 1,400 miles early, but Id rather not take any chances, and theyll replace the headlights for me. Seems like it only requires maintenance once a year, and alternating years are major, and minor services, so, not too bad. Car feels very solid. I like it.

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  My favorite Benz - 2005 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Stefan - July 21 - 4:40 am

  Leasing the car to have a safe ride for my family. I drive all current MB models on a regular basis and this is my most favorite model. The torque is neck snapping, more that of a 8 cylinder car. The vehicle is fast, safe comfortable. Ride quality is outstanding and handling is precise and firm. I got 38mpg, but you HAVE to drive 55mph constantly to achieve this. Higher speeds impact economy. Heated seats get warm and in a hurry. We had first snow and there was not a second of insecurity. Do actually like the CL55 AMG better, but there is that hefty price tag. About cupholders: It is a cultural thing, but I wonder what size cups some people use?

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  Traded my 2000 S-type - 1999 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
  By var - July 21 - 2:00 am

  This is a great car. After two years of problems with my S-Type.-. I now know what it is like to die and go to heaven. Mercedes-Benz S-Class will be the only car I buy from now on. Its not just the car its the service as well. Jaguars next car should be called...."Notmy -Type"

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  A competent luxury SUV - 2002 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By Frank S - July 21 - 2:00 am

  The M class is one of the best luxury SUVs in the market today. Its handling is great and its ride quality is good. The interior of the M class is simple and functional with plenty of luxury amenities. Its exterior is tough yet elegant. The reliability of the M class seems to have improved considerably over the years and now appears to be on par with the competition. I would recommend this vehicle to anyone looking for a safe and competent mid- size luxury SUV.

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  Sublime Driving - 2003 Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class
  By NewYorkJJ - July 21 - 2:00 am

  Its a little jewel. A perfect car for a Manhattan resident who drives outside the city often. I look forward to my reverse commute and pray for no traffic. Car is so new that my reliability rating is a guess.

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  Its OK - 2003 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Fred James - July 21 - 2:00 am

  It was a nice car when I bought it, but now it seems like junk. Things are starting to break. My computer goes crazy sometimes and the dealerships excuse is, "The Technology is too new for them to have fixed all the glitches." If that wasent bad enough , I get between 8 and 12 mpg.

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  Love my C240 4 Matic! - 2005 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By cliffreuter.com - July 19 - 2:13 pm

  Just turned 13,000 miles after six months and have loved every mile! The car handles beautifully and has a tight solid ride. The fit and finish is excellent and the new body style always attracts attention. It looks like a 90k car on the inside and has many of the same features. The new body style, interior, gauges, and suspension make the 2005 C240 4Matic the best in its class.

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  DO NOT BUY THIS VEHICLE! - 2004 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By JP122 - July 19 - 10:00 am

  Absolutly without equal the biggest piece of junk I ever owned in my life. Was in the shop at least once a month. Mercedes service stinks. Couldnt figure out the electrical problems after numerous visits. Problem solved, traded in on a Lexus RX330 and there is no comparison between these 2 vehicles.

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  WOW - 2004 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
  By JIMS 04 600 - July 19 - 10:00 am

  WHAT AN AMAZING MACHINE. ALL YOU HAVE TO IS POINT IT AND HIT THE GAS. IF YOURE GOING TO DRIVE AN S, SPEND THE EXTRA MONEY. THIS ONE HAS EVERY OPTION KNOWN TO MERCEDES. THE V12 IS NOT ONLY FAST, BUT SMOOTH. ENJOY THE RIDE, FROM THE FRONT OF THE LINE.