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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  Best auto Ive ever driven - 1999 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By DC3946 - June 29 - 2:00 am

  The expected German engineering and craftsmanship are all here. Sweet, simple, styling gives a solid yet elegant look to this car. Crisp precise handling at any speeds I would be driving at, and fantastic brakes. We go back and forth to Florida from New Jersey and this car is a pleasure to drive. Comfortable yet a great feel of the road.

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  Love that car - 2003 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By irab - June 29 - 2:00 am

  Much better ride comfort than E2002 320 . Much more civilized than 2002 E320: "constant" setting for exterior lights lets you set it and forget it, including DRLs; lets you know CRUISE control is on and what setting; CD changer in dash rather than in trunk with single CD option. However complexity of function may lead to false indicators of malfunctions.

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  Nightmare - 2005 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
  By Sam - June 28 - 6:16 pm

  This car has been the worst car I have ever had. The vaccum assist has gone bad 5 times and so has the GPS. Driver side seat has been repired more than 4 times. Above all, I lost complete power stering fluid at 65mph and no warning light came. I nearly died controlling the car. Tire pressure sensors have gone bad, battery, alternator, dvd on the gps. Music dvd cartridge. The only saving grace has been that the dealers repiring the car have been polite and agreed to fix the items. Now as soon as the car is out of warranty i needed engine mounts, trans mounts and control arms. German cars are not only very poorly made, they are also very, very expensive to maintain.

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  My 7th E350 Sport Sedan - 2013 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By abacomike - June 28 - 5:12 pm

  I just picked up my 2013 E350 Sedan - MSRP was $64,865. This is my 7th straight year purchasing a new E350. This one, by far, is the best one Mercedes has ever built. The ride and handling are superb! The technology is functional, but not overwhelming. Audio system (Harman/Kardon 610 watt 5.1 surround sound w/14 speakers) is the best Ive ever heard in a luxury sedan. Outstanding acceleration when needed! Great visibility both front and rear. Blind Side Monitor is a must option. Wood/leather steering wheel in Walmut is like a piece of good furniture. 3D NAV system is phenomenal! Voice control system responds to every command. Mbrace system great addition! Best E350 yet!

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  Wow! - 2008 Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class
  By Lee - June 25 - 6:43 am

  I purchased this car after coming out of a 06 Infiniti M45 and Im very impressed. Performance is outstanding. The car is smooth and whisper quiet at 75mph. Fit and finish is good and typical for German cars, the car feels solid. The exterior styling is so unique for MB so its a real head turner. The interior definitely feels like a coupe. There is plenty of room for driver and font seat passenger however, this will come at the expense of anyone sitting in the rear. The Command system is a disappointment after coming from the M45. Navigation and audio controls are not as intuitive and voice activation is an option as well as bluetooth capability. Still overall I am very happy with the ca

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  Super cool! - 2002 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By myname - June 24 - 11:03 pm

  I just bought my car last week and its awesome!! I really like the handling and all the little features and gizmos (I bought the COMAND system). I handles very well. So far the passenger headrest and the pen holder have broken, oh well... I just hope that the long term quality will be good.

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  Power and Comfort - 2006 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Gary W - June 24 - 4:13 am

  I recently drove this vehicle 1,000 miles in 48 hours -- arrived without the expected feeling of fatigue or weariness. Wonderful blend of power and comfort. Car feels as heavy as my previous S600 sedan but is far more agile and intuitive. Fit and finish are great but would like to see upgraded material on lower door panels, headliner and sun visors that is more appropriate to a car that listed at nearly $70K. No other complaints -- everything else about the car is first class -- especially like the airmatic suspension and Harmon Kardon sound system. A true wolf in sheeps clothing.

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  E500 4Matic Sedan - 2004 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By jhdevoy - June 23 - 2:00 am

  Phenomenal vehicle for those looking for a luxury sport sedan with a lot of power. Handles bumps and potholes much better than the equivalent BMW, and accelerates effortlessly in a straight line. However, if you live for taking sharp turns at 75 mph, this car doesnt come close to the BMWs Ive owned. The interior is impeccable. The seats are extremely comfortable and the audio system (base system) is fantastic. Integrated phone system is a must as you can bring your own wireless service (rather than paying $0.50 per minute through onstar or similar service). The trunk is HUGE and the exterior design is simply unbeatable.

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  Baby Benz - 2004 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Bobby Benz - June 23 - 2:00 am

  I will keep it short,a nice fast car for the money.I will hate to see the bill if the supercharger needs work.Over all it is a great little car!

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  The Perfect Roadster - 1998 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class
  By BestBenz - June 21 - 10:00 am

  Bye far one of the best cars Ive ever owned. If you are fortunate enough to own one of these cars you will never want another car again.