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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  Never Buy Another One - 2004 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By jon - June 6 - 11:23 pm

  Mercedes has lost its quality of years past. I purchased my E500 and for two years had nothing but problems with it. After 60,000 miles and $10,000 in repairs I traded it in for a Lexus.

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  Best sedan under $40,000 - 2005 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Former Mini Cooper S - June 6 - 12:33 pm

  This is my 4th Mercedes Benz and I think my favorite. It replaced a Mini Cooper S that while fun to drive, spent more time in the dealers garage than in mine. The MB is just as fun to drive and gives the same fuel economy - with all the benefits of the three point star:(safety, solid chassis and cashe). My wifes already talking of trading her suv in for another C230 Sport Sedan. I even think the price is within reason for the features that come with the car. Look for 2005 models still on the lot - my dealer discounted over $3,000 to move the car. Cant beat that!

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  Tire Problems - 2004 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By rassr - June 6 - 6:03 am

  This is a fine vehicle, overall, a joy to drive and comfortable. But the tires that came with it, Continental ContiTouring Contacts are clearly substandard for this vehicle. With only 7000 miles the rear tires were nearly ready for replacement. The front tires might have lasted another 4 to 5 thou. I replaced them with Bridgestone Potenza G008 tires and notice no difference in ride quality or noise. No satisfaction whatever from MB of North America, kind of a "take it and stuff it" attitude.

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  Wagon Bliss - 2014 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By mb550 - June 5 - 5:04 am

  Purchased this vehicle on July 30, 2014 and it now has 3,500 miles on the odometer. Ive been driving high-end European vehicles for over 40 years, a number of which have been MB products, and this is the first time I have not had one occasion to return to the dealer for an adjustment or problem with the car. The vehicle came loaded and it took a few drives to acclimatize to all the systems, particularly the advanced driving system. After more than 3 months of ownership I can say, without hesitation, this is one of the finest automobiles I have driven.

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  Autobahn crusing (in real life) - 2011 Mercedes-Benz GLK-Class
  By mhoffman2 - June 3 - 9:10 pm

  Picked up a GLK 350 2WD on overseas delivery in Stuttgart in late March and drove it around southern Germany for a week. Autobahn crusing was effortless, but had to keep it down for breakin mileage. Car was quiet as a vault, controls were intuitive and easy to use. Visibility and comfort were remarkable. Rear luggage area was large enough on the floor for two HUGE suitcases (loaded to maximum airline capacity). Cannot wait for the car to arrive at the dealer. Would highly recommend overseas delivery. 2 for 1 Lufthansa airfare, 7% off the sticker, no destination charge, 2 free nights in $300 plus/night true luxury hotels, 15 days free insurance, full tank of gas, tour of factory, etc. Great.

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  Awsome for young parents. - 2011 Mercedes-Benz GLK-Class
  By eleonore - June 3 - 8:45 am

  This car is just awsome! Much more fun to drive then station wagons and much more cool then mini vans. Perfect visibility while driving, fab handling and safety features. Perfectly sized family car for one or two children family. Design is just pure awsome Bauhause-ish. Just perfect marriage of form and function. Priced like smaller WV, yet provides all that Mercedes has to offer. Absolute head turner.

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  Dont Buy - 2001 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By CJA - June 3 - 2:00 am

  My wife and I decided to treat ourselves to a MB. Big mistake. C240 was cheapest of the fleet but this car still cost $39,000 and has been nothing but trouble. Constant electrical problems. Car has actually died at stop lights. We were going to start with the C240 and move up to and E- Class. We are now looking at the BMW 5 series.

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  the best - 2004 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class
  By Deborah - June 2 - 7:46 am

  This is my 8th Mercedes and by far the most fun to drive. Not bad looking either!

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  Finally a rael Mercedes - 2007 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
  By kappio - June 2 - 7:26 am

  I have owned 2 Mercedes cars in the past and by far the new S-class is the best car this company has put out. Everything in this car screams luxury and perfection. The ride is super smooth and even as the driver you feel like youre being chauffeured. The cabin is extremely quiet and the interior is designed to be elegant and clutter-free. The computer console is very intuitive and much more user-friendly than BMWs system. Ive only owned the car for a week, so I can not say much about the reliability. But from what I have read, Mercedes has stepped up their game and this new generation of the S-class is supposed to be very well built. I own the s550 4matic an get about 16mpg in the city.

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  ML500 - Excellent buy - 2002 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By Alistair Corbett - June 1 - 2:53 pm

  Bought used with 25,000 km. Great deal, had depreciated a lot and bought it through a broker - Royalty Auto for $42k CDN. Great experience. Had it for 6 months now. Needed winter tires (were in Calgary) and it handles well in the snow. No maintenance issues so far. I am not using a dealer for the maintenance, prices much better. We have 2 large dogs and a new house and have hauled lots of stuff with no problems. The versatility of the rear seats is excellent. The 5litre engine has plenty of power and a good roar, but gas use isnt as terrible as Id expected. Had it inspected by 3rd party before I bought. Brakes squeak when cold