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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  The Epitome Of Understated Luxury - 2015 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
  By chofgarden - May 1 - 1:12 pm

  After several thousand miles in a 2015 S550 it would be hard to imagine a more well rounded or comfortable luxury sedan. Performance with the 449HP V8 is more than adequate for any circumstance, and handling is better than one might expect given the size and weight of the car, especially when in the sport mode. The ride is remarkable over any surface and the noise level is lower than any luxury car Ive owned, including a Bentley Flying Spur. Mileage is runnning about 20 MPG in combination town and highway driving, getting 25+ on the highway. The technology features abound but are subtle enough not to intrude excessively, and arent difficult to master. Not one problem so far. A home run

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  It Just Keeps on Ticking! - 1999 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By carolyn baker - May 1 - 5:31 am

  Bought my 99 e320 4matic in 02 with 78K miles. A tree fell on it in a hurricane in year 2 and creased it down the middle. I thought it would be declared as totalled. It was repaired by the insurance company at a cost of $7,000. Had the transmission replaced 2 years ago. This vehicle lgets excellent gas mileage. On the highway I get 470+ miles to a tank of gas which I believe holds 18.5 gallons (about 25 mpg highway). I absolutely love to drive this car. The header is falling down a little in the back from where the tree creased it. Otherwise, it is pretty enough. I am presently at 256,000 miles and look forward to my next road trip

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  05 ML350 Special Edition - 2005 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By jerrylaw1 - April 30 - 10:00 am

  This SUV is great. Not what I expected. I didnt even like it that much, until I drove it.

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  Bad decision from start to finish - 2005 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Victoria - April 29 - 8:53 pm

  I purchased a certified pre-owned 2005 E320 from a VERY reputable Mercedes dealership in North Carolina. It was the worst decision I have ever made. I fell in love with the appearance of the car, the dynamic Italian leather seats, navigation etc. Unfortunately, it doesnt run properly. In addition to regularly scheduled maintenance, the Mercedes service department (at two separate dealerships) has had my car in for "repair" EIGHTEEN times. In two years. No joke. It has a stalling issue that Mercedes trained and qualified service technicians cannot fix. It supposedly does not generate any error codes when it does this, so Mercedes cant fix it and Im stuck with it. BEWARE!

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  Luv-en It! - 2002 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Luven It - April 27 - 9:36 pm

  Love the E320! Loved the design of 2002 vs more recent models, classic vs a more cloned look. Ride is great, acceleration is awesome with a smooth transmission even after 5 years! Fit and finish is in wonderful condition even after 5 years. Was unsure if purchase of a used vehicle was a smart move but with 1 year of ownership under my belt, very happy I made the choice. Seat warmers are weak, front interior lights are too bright- like looking into the sun.

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  Dont buy this car! - 1997 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
  By Pissed Off! - April 27 - 8:40 am

  My 1997 S420 is the worst car I have ever owned! I bought it with 80,000 miles on it and now have 160,000 on it. I have a lot of problems with it. The engine is good and everything but the trim on the doors was coming off, the rear passenger side window doesnt work, the soft-close door/trunk feature doesnt work anymore, the A/C isnt as cold as it use to be, and the brakes squeak very loudy although they were replaced. The black paint is starting to show its age and rust. The front springs are squeaking and need to be replaced too. Everyone else that owns this car doesnt have these problems so maybe I got the bad apple of the bunch. I do like how solid and fast this car is at high speeds.

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  Value & Elegance - 1999 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Heike - April 27 - 2:00 am

  The C280 is undeniably part of the Benz tradition of exellence and luxury. From its solid construction to its ability to turn heads around, the C280 is the best small Benz yet.

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  Mercedes M-Class - 2001 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By ahalkidis - April 27 - 2:00 am

  I have owned my ML320 for 16 months and have had numerous problems that have resulted in numerous trips to the dealer. The only saving grace has been the awesome treatment from the servicing dealer. I also had noise problems emanating from the dash area. The dealer had to actually take the dash apart and repair spot welds in the A-pillar! That was the only way to get rid of the noises! Besides the noises, Ive had faulty power window switches, noisy power door locks, faulty light switches, noisy blower, and the list goes on. All these faults resulted in parts having to be replaced.

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  Mercedes ML 500 beats the rest - 2003 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By Starjet - April 27 - 2:00 am

  Ive test driven the BMW, Acura, Lexus and the new Volvo SUVs, some several times, and the ML 500 beats them all. The car drives like a dream, has power to spare, and has many great features, like its easy to use nav system. Plus you can feel safe and secure in this SUV. Its safety features are second to none. Whats best about Mercedes is how your treated before, during and after the purchase of the vehicle. At Mercedes there is no presure, they want you to make the right purchase for yourself, and you feel welcomed at the dealership even after you purchase the vehicle.

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  Oh so smooth! - 2003 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Dnice - April 27 - 2:00 am

  Have had it for eight months now and simply love my C230. Solid road performance; accelerates, handles, responds. Smooth ride. Sunroof makes it feel like a convertible. Controls easily accessible. Had problems with the sound system (CD and antenne stopped working) but the MB dealer fixed both in no time, hassle free.