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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  27 minimimum MPG around town - 2007 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Mark - June 13 - 11:13 pm

  I just bought this car and previously had a 2000 Volvo S-80 T6. This car is an outstanding road car and the low torque diesel provides excellent passing on the highway. It is as quick as my Volvo S-80 T6 and as smooth on the highway but with much better gas mileage and, I hope, a better built and longer lasting engine. One problem that has already surfaced that I hope Mercedes Benz is quickly working to correct is a shifting problem when starting out - the gears shift back and forth between first and second in a jerking motion. The problem duplicates when using the manual or automatic mode even when I try to start out in second gear. MB is aware of the problem and are investigating.

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  Good Value for Long Term Ownership - 2006 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By R M LEAL - June 13 - 3:16 pm

  I have covered 40,000 miles averaging 35 mpg . Handling , steering, suspension, excellent. Very comfortable ride. My only negative comment, no engine oil dipstick. Body panels good fit and finish excellent both inside & out. Very silent and very quick for a diesel

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  great car - 2004 Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class
  By drew j - June 12 - 10:00 am

  This is a great car to drive and even better to look at.It has a timeless style, and plenty of power.

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  GOOD SUV - 2005 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By JOETOOL - June 12 - 10:00 am

  OVERALL I LIKE IT ALOT

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  My first SUV - 2008 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By ajkinpa - June 11 - 1:50 pm

  I love this car! I recently bought a 2008 Limited Edition M350 and its the first SUV Ive owned, having previously owned 4-door luxury sedans. The car is a vast improvement over previous models. The newly designed exterior is sleek rather than boxy, interior is luxurious yet practical, and handling is responsive but not truck-like. The interior and ride are more like a luxury sedan than a work- horse vehicle, though I got the car to perform in the snow. It hasnt snowed since I got the car so I cant comment on that aspect of its performance, but Im sure I wont be disappointed since previously I owned a rear-wheel drive car.

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  Solid and safe car - 2006 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
  By NEWS - June 10 - 8:23 pm

  Smooth ride, fun to drive. Firm and comfortable. This car is much better the the BMW 7 series that I turned in. In addition, the 4Matic makes BMW or Lexus look bad.

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  R350 - 2008 Mercedes-Benz R-Class
  By BWoodward - June 10 - 8:23 am

  I am coming from a 2007 Escalade ESV and have to say I had a lot of reservations about "downsizing"! We have 4 kids 2 of which in car seats and wow is all I can say about this car. I love that the 2nd row seats can move back and forth allowing for very easy access to the 3rd row which seats my 6ft plus 15 year old very nicely! The pick up is great and it is tons of fun to drive. Not too mention very pleasing to the eye to look at. I would say so far my only con is that it seems to have a lot of little things go wrong. Less then a month of owning it the steering column broke in my kids school parking lot and I could not turn the wheels which was scary to say the least.

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  E300D - 1995 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By danoE300D - June 9 - 2:00 am

  This is my 3rd MB Diesel and by far the best. 160,000 trouble free miles so far in classic style and comfort. Dont be afraid of a diesel - even in cold climates (Im in Minnesota) it is more reliable than the gas versions and a great value if you can find a used one. I wont be trading up anytime soon.

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  Sticks like glue to the pavement - 1999 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By Greg Lynn - June 9 - 2:00 am

  I owned an Explorer before this and this vehicle simply outperforms the Ford except in highway ride feel. The ML bounces a bit much on long highway cruises like a short wheelbase sportscar. But overall this vehicle rocks. The way the ML sticks to the ground is unsurpassed. The advanced ABS and traction control make it act like it has glue on the tires under ANY conditions. I mostly drive in rain and while other vehicles slow way down I simply keep on trucking down the road at freeway speeds with full confidence.

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  Gregs Opinion - 2000 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Greg Rutman - June 9 - 2:00 am

  A fun car to drive. Good snob appeal. Creature comforts lacking in following areas: No automatic lights on at night. No one touch seat adjustment. Must hold button to get it to adjust. No compass for direction. Trunk does not go up all the way upon release....usually hit head. Only one cup usuable cup holder.....