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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  Problem in snow - 2003 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By kumaranv - July 17 - 2:00 am

  The Car doesnt move in drive mode during Snow. I chekced the dealer they want to me Place 50 lbs of weight on my back side of the car If your place if full snow avoid buying the car. The emergency road side assitance wont cover this issue

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  Good Rig - 2007 Mercedes-Benz GL-Class
  By chrism1987 - July 16 - 11:20 pm

  I have to say Mercedes Benz has done a great job with this vehicle. I had my doubts at first but after driving it for a week now Ive really gotten into this thing. Its comfortable, smooth, and can handle alot of cargo if the time comes. 7-speed auto gives the engine maximum flexibility, but it still drinks gas like any full size.

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  I finally bought my dream car. - 1998 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class
  By tripp1976 - July 15 - 9:37 pm

  Words cant express the thrill I get every time I get into this car. Im just 32 and Ive loved the r129 SL500 since I first saw it as a kid. I looked all over the US and about booked a flight to Texas to buy a car when a buddy of mine called to let me know his dad just bought a low mileage car for his lot. I drove down to his lot and saw my 98 Mercedes SL500 sitting there with only 46,000 on the clock. I test drove it then went to lunch came back and paid for it. We have put 7,000 miles on it in just two months. I love the feel, touch and power of this amazing cruiser. I even dont mind the fuel costs Im getting about 17city and our trip to Florida we were able to get 25.4.

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  Outstanding - 2002 Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class
  By TheLino - July 15 - 4:30 am

  I purchased the 2002 CLK55 cabriolet with 28,000 miles on it in May 2005. The center console had to be replaced due to some LCD pixels burning out. The convertible top cables were also replaced at the same time. All work was under warranty. With the exception of these issues, this vehicle drives (and shows itself off) like a dream. Compliments abound when Im on the road, stopped at a stoplight, going through a drive-thru window, etc.

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  Most Fun to Drive (Still is.) - 2005 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By ccelpjack - July 11 - 10:33 am

  The 2005 E320 CDI is the most fun to drive car that Ive ever owned in my short 70 years. This car was made to be driven and driven hard! Ive owned four Mercedes vehicles-1 gas and 3 diesels and the 2005 E320 CDI is the fastest and nearly has the most torque of the three. I absolutely love to drive this car. It literally is as solid as a rock. It tracks down the highway like an arrow and when I pass a semi at highway speeds (or a little more) it doesnt waver one single millimeter. I sometimes take it out on the Interstate and drive it just for the fun of it. I LOVE THIS CAR!

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  My German rocket - 1999 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By poya - July 11 - 10:00 am

  I have owned my Benz for over a year. It has been a wonderful car. At first I was skeptical about owning a German car because ,I heard they had a lot of electrical problems.My car has only needed a wiper, oil change and tire matenance.The brakes are the strongest ever.

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  sad but true - 2001 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By phred - July 11 - 10:00 am

  Mechanically this vehicle is good for at least several hundreds of thousands of miles. The ride is as quiet and good as any luxury vehicle. The sound system high quality but the speakers are not well placed. The integrated MCS console for radio/cassette/CD/GPS/telephone is really well designed and easy to comprehend and use relative to its complexity. Brake wear excessive, full replacement at 10,000 miles! Second set of brakes lasted another 30,000+ (a lot more highway driving). Nagging electronic problems, still having mostly electronic problems requiring service calls & weve had the vehicle for almost 2 and a half years.

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  The best car ever - 2003 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
  By carfanattic - July 11 - 10:00 am

  Frankly, the S55 AMG is the finest automobile on todays market. Its engine is powerful and absolutely dazzling. Since it is a Mercedes S- Class, the interior is obviously incredible. The looks of the AMG are vicious and very aggressive compared to other cars.

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  A Few Flaws - 2003 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By ErikVB - July 11 - 10:00 am

  Got an ML 350 with 3rd row seating. Great option for those with children under 12 as they fold out of the way sideways and can be removed entirely pretty easily. Car is beautiful with Inspiration pkg and upgraded sound system is a must. I knew mpg wasnt going to be good, but faulty gas gauge sensor has made it worse (Could only go 200 miles on a tank, as sensor wasnt reading final 7 gallons or so). Also the moonroof didnt open properly at first and after getting it fixed, the weatherstripping around it is now falling off. I am hopeful dealer will be able to fix permanently. All in all, fun car to drive with a few production defects.

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  Fun to drive - 2003 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By bultman2 - July 11 - 10:00 am

  This car is very fun and pratical. Lots of looks and comments. Ive owned the car for 2 months and no problems so far. Looked at the Audi A- 4 and VW Passat, Infiniti G-35. This is a better car by far than the others.