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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  LOVIN IT - 2005 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class
  By LynnClk - July 19 - 10:00 am

  BEST car ever. For any single guy. Single girl. any one who like or knows about cars. This is a must have

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  Beautiful car flawed by engine noise - 2005 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class
  By JohnDP - July 19 - 10:00 am

  Probably the best-looking car Mercedes has ever made. The retractable hardtop is fabulous and should be copied by all convertible car makers. It is however seriously marred by two major flaws. The engine pings as if it is running on low-octane gas all the time. (I use 91 ). Going uphill with a passenger it sounds like diesel sometimes. For a car this expensive, it ought to run much smoother than that. Spoils the otherwise perfect ride. Mercedes tells me they all do it, its not a repairable item. Also, the controls are very badly designed. You better keep the manual with you at all times or be a computer engineer.

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  2004 E55 Review - 2004 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By W210 - July 19 - 10:00 am

  An excellent choice for those interested in getting from point A to point B quickly and comfortably. The beauty is that the E55 looks just like any other E-class thus it is less likely you will be bothered by law enforcement officers. If you need to speed, you have so much torque and horsepower it is absolutely effortless. Add on top the safety, reliability and strong resale value, the package is hard to beat. The E55 proves that Mercedes is serious about getting back on track delivering well engineered cars with high quality finishing. Highly recommended.

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  Lovin It - 2005 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By BenzeeDeb - July 19 - 10:00 am

  This is a fun little car. I have it a month and its been a pleasure to drive.

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  2005 C230 Kompressor - 2005 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By beaufleurs - July 19 - 10:00 am

  Just bought the car after comparing the Audi a4 and the BMW 3 series. Am totally sold on the Merceds design, quality of fit and finish and performance. It is the only one of the three that is distinctly recognizable as what it is. The BMW and Audi look alot like many other brands ie, Audi=volkswagen, BMW like many Japanese cars. I Love it.

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  The worst vehicle I ever own. - 2012 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By neversummer78 - July 19 - 2:57 am

  I purchased my 2012 ML350 Bluetec back in November 2011. After 2 weeks, the first problem I had was car was pulling to the right at highway speed. After left it with the dealer for about a week, they finally realized that it was bad tire which took them a few more days to get replacement. Next, I was having problem with car loosing power when driving over a long distance or for a few hours. There is no error message on the dashboard nor that the dealer can replicate. Anyway, I start documenting them on video using my phone. They finally acknowledge but still no solution for it. Along with the car loosing power, I was getting error with PRE-SAFE Inoperative error and Ad-Blue low level

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  CLS550 - 2007 Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class
  By Brian - July 17 - 11:13 am

  I ordered the CLS550 for my wife and waited 3 months for delivery from Germany. It is beyond our wildest dreams. The new 380 horse power engine and new computerized hydraulic brakes are just what it needed. I have owned many cars but nothing combines looks and performance like this. I am puzzled why so many people bought the old CLS500 with only 302 horse power, and electric brakes. I am glad we waited for the new 550!

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  Problems galore - 2003 Mercedes-Benz G-Class
  By johnnyjjjj - July 17 - 2:00 am

  Have had numerous electical and mechanical problems. The vehicle has been in the shop 4-5 times in 6 months. The G-500 handles extremely poorly. After the fact, I have also found out that a roof rack of any type is not allowed by the manufacturer, something they dont tell you when you purchase the vehicle.

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  The Best Mercedes Benz I have owned - 2003 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
  By KV - July 17 - 2:00 am

  This is the best I have driven, ever. Having owned more than 25 MBs including numerous S class. In the last six years, this is my 8th. MBs all from Schumacher European in Scottsale, AZ(including 2001-S430; 2002-S500 and now 2003-S500). This is the finest automobile, I have ever owned or driven in my life so far. While it may be a bad news for the Schumachers and our sales advisor David Mykytiuk, I have personally treasure this car. I have decided never to sell this finest automobile. I would not take an even trade of a new Rolls Arnage on this car.

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  Love it but . . . - 2002 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Boricua - July 17 - 2:00 am

  My wife and I just bought this car (C- 240) model and simply love it! Its extremely comfortable and drives very quietly. Smaller than the average Mercedes but has big car feel. Highly recommend it! We love the exterior look and the beautiful and easy to use interior features.