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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  Sport Coupe - Excellent - 2002 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By pharmon - June 9 - 2:00 am

  I bought the second 230C at the dealership, a black bottom spec loss leader. It has been a fantastic car, the best Ive ever owned in 25 years of driving. Fast, handles well, great mileage, versatile... everything I learned to expect from a Mercedes. When you buy American, you get a low end car with things tacked on. This has all the components and build quality of a high end car, minus "stuff" (electric seats, leather interior, etc). A great trade off.

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  Excellent SUV - Worth every penny! - 2007 Mercedes-Benz GL-Class
  By ScottNJ - June 7 - 10:43 pm

  I wasnt 100% sure this vehicle was worth the price when I signed the paperwork. But after a 750 mile trip home the day we purchased it, I was completely convinced. The ride is smooth and silent. The interior is well designed and comfortable. And the vehicle has all of the features a family needs. Our model is loaded with all of the options less the distronic cruise control amd the vented leather fronts seats. I averaged 18.8 MPG on our return trip. Not bad given the vehicle was loaded to capacity. Definitely investigate the keyless go. Walking up to the car with bags in one had and your kid in another and never having to unluck the doors or insert a key to start the gine is nice!

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  My E55 - 2005 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Bernie Nelson - June 7 - 10:10 am

  When I bought this car I knew it was very powerful as the dealer gave me the keys to a demo and myself and my thirty year old son went for a test drive. The power the car has is unreal. It takes off like no other. It gives you a feel of pleasure and is actually much safer than a car that is much slower as it allows you to get out of the way of others in defensive driving and gives you great confidence by the way it handles. I drive a canyon fifteen miles each way everyday and love the way it handles. Dont get me wrong I am not a speed demon buy why would you want to spend an extra twenty thousand on a car when you can buy the E500. Its a great car and I recommend it highly

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  Great value - near prefect sports car - 1998 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class
  By AWR - June 7 - 10:00 am

  I was driving an E420 and felt it a bit lacking in, well, fun! My search included Porsches and Vettes but I decided on an SL class. New body style hit the market and these started to fall within reach of a whole new buyers market. I sugest buying on condition rather than mileage. High miles just means youll pay less not that youll get less car. Repairs can be costly as with any high-end automobile. Hardtop starage is a problem for those with limited space i.e. apartment/condo dwellers. In Chicago, its off by tax day and on by halloween so youll be storing it half the year. AMG Sorts package is the best value.

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  Great SUV! - 2000 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By FK - June 7 - 10:00 am

  I can say I highly recommend it! so far so good for myself. Love the look, the way the engine sounds (quiet) and the way it drives.

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  A solid car - 1999 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By terron - June 7 - 10:00 am

  Well, this is my first Benz after been a BMW owner for over 15 years. I am very please with the ride comfort especially on a long trip. The engine is quiet but powerful. I love this car!

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  SHIFTING IS ROUGH - 2004 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
  By JIM S55 - June 7 - 10:00 am

  I HAD THIS CAR FOR 6 MONTHS BEFORE TURNING IT IN FOR AN S600. THE S55 WAS A BLAST TO DRIVE, BUT IT WAS A BIT TO SPORTY FOR SUCH A LARGE SEDAN. IF YOU HIT THE GAS FROM A STOP, A LOT OF TIMES IT WOULD BUCK, AND THE SHIFTING WAS NOT NEARLY AS SMOOTH AS I FELT IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN. JUST A PERSONAL OPINION. THE S600 IS AMAZING! IT APPEARS TO HAVE MORE POWER,( 2 TURBOS) SMOOTHER SHIFTING, AND EVERY TOY THAT MB MAKES. SUEDE HEADLINER, PHONE, 4 SEAT HEAT/AC/POWER, WOODPKG, KEYLESS GO, VOICE COMMAND...ALL STANDARD. IF YOU CAN SPEND THE EXTRA $20K, GO FOR THE 600.

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  great car - 2005 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class
  By raymundo - June 7 - 10:00 am

  great car over all, I love it.

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  I love my new CLK - 2005 Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class
  By Nautictalk - June 7 - 10:00 am

  I acquired my new CLK cabriolet about 2 weeks ago and I really love it. I traded my 2003 Infiniti G35 coupe with all the options. But I just wanted a convertible. True, the CLK has no where the tech gadgets or power the G35 had. But the CLK rides so smooth and has wonderful road manners. The car is effortless and taking the top down from outside the car is so convenient. They could have done a better job with the radio. The car is really so much fun and I get plenty of looks. The trunk is a pain to close because of the stiff hydraulics. With the top down and the wind screen up, there is virtually no wind or noise at highway speeds. Thats amazing.

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  ............. - 2003 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Sara G - June 7 - 10:00 am

  I love this car & it handles very well. The CD disc changer in the glove compartment is nice. I also like the 1 touch feature. Although Ive had a lot of small things go wrong. They arent major, just in inconvience to take it to the dealer.