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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  My Bordeaux Red CLK 430 99 - 1999 Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class
  By Matthew Walsh - April 22 - 2:00 am

  I have only rave reviews for my 430CLK. It has been driven in every situation, has saved me twice from accidents (esp and brake assist) and is now what I would consider therapy. I have only replaced an oxygen sensor early. The only problem that I have encountered is/are the slow and will not close above 85 mph moonroof. It seems (yes, it was replaced once) that the motor for this piece is weak, even my honda civic at 100 mph will close its moonroof. But this is just a minor inconvenience. The car is beautiful, elegant, swift and safe. I will keep it until it is very very very tired and worn out.

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  PEOPLE NEED TO REMEMBER: ITS A TRUCK! - 1999 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By CPW - April 22 - 2:00 am

  I have enjoyed my ML 430 very much. Yes, there have been little nagging things that have been fixed, but, the dealer ALWAYS had another car for me. The seats a good and firm for all day driving. Not like a living room couch. Also people seem to forget : ITS A TRUCK! NOT A CAR. Of course it is choppy over bumps. But I would like anyone to tell me that they can find another vehicle that handles like it and rides like it with a full frame underneath. When was the last time you checked the air in your tires? Sould be at 42PSI Overall: Great Vehicle. Rides like a true German car. FIRM!!!!

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  My second ML320 - 2002 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By Wayne Post - April 22 - 2:00 am

  My first 1999 ML320 was a plain Jane model. It was unbreakable and the dealer support was much better than I expected. Although I bought it used, and from out of the area, the local dealers always exceeded my expectations. I liked the 99 but the 02 is dramatically improved. Every feature works better and I treated myself to all the amenities. I dispute the claims that the ML series is flawed and poorly assembled. Everything worked, always, and I used it hard.

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  First Benz - C230 RWD Sport Sedan - 2003 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By First Benz - April 22 - 2:00 am

  The smallest of Benz sedans, the C230 RWD Sport Sedan is well worth the money. The C230 is very roomy with plenty of interior, front and rear, passenger room as well as plenty of trunk space. Its great on gas, I am averaging about 28 mpg highway driving. Its a blast to drive, although rear wheel drive isnt the best in the snow.

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  Love This Car - 2003 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By emiliob6 - April 22 - 2:00 am

  First Mercedes I have ever own, I have never driven a car like this, the car is smooth, the suspension system is awesome,I am averaging about 18 miles city highway combination, I can,t understand why I had to pay a gas guzzler tax, I would recommend this car to any BMW owner, they will never drive an BMW again.

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  Alot of Fun! - 2003 Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class
  By Ecstatic BNZ owner - April 17 - 10:00 am

  For the $$, this car rocks! Forget the "C" class and go for the CLK. The interior design isnt the best but everything else about the car well makes up for it. It is FUN to drive, top up or down. If on a "budget" spend a little extra to chrome the wheels and youve got one sweet car.

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  End of the world car - 2005 Mercedes-Benz G-Class
  By juanparao - April 16 - 12:13 pm

  Plenty of power, off road prowess in a luxurious package. If you want to feel the confidence of owning a vehicle that can take it all, that its fast and responsive, this is the one.

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  Sobering Realization - 2005 Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class
  By bizzybee81 - April 15 - 2:52 pm

  After 5 years of ownership, having purchased new, once my extended warranty (5 yr, 100k miles) ended, the sobering realization that major repairs costing more than the car is worth was a wake-up call. Im being told by the dealer and MBUSA that the 7-speed transmission and torque convertor has to be replaced at a cost of $7k. With just barely over 130k miles, this first generation tranny is now defunct. It turns out it was a sealed transmission with no prescribed maintenance schedule to prevent problems. Im told metal seems to be floating around and it has to be replaced -- at full cost to me! What OEM does that?? Add to that another $8k in other repairs, and $15k!! Last MB Ill ever buy.

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  Excellent Little Car - 1999 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Skipper - April 15 - 12:36 am

  Bought a used 1999 c230 kompressor with 74,000 miles on it. Pre-Purchase inspection revealed it in "Excellent" condition in every aspect. It is fun to drive, quiet, comfortable and looks and drives like a new car. Not a ding or dent, rattle or squeek and relatively low mileage. Original paint and clearcoat looks like new so does the interior. Great car.

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  My cdi - 2005 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Kathy ryan - April 14 - 1:43 pm

  Best car I ever owned