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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  Not All That and a Bag of Chips - 1999 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Car Nutz - November 15 - 5:33 am

  Ive had this vehicle since April, 2006. The radio light went out and the seat memory and motors malfunctioned. I had the extended warranty but the dealer still charged me to fix the seat memory module. Dealer stated that the module did not need replacement and therefore was not covered. Irritating. The transmission is strange. Often times, in low gear, the transmission shifts abruptly as if the car was rear ended or bucks like a bronco. Also, the speed sensing radio is not at all accurate. On the positive side, the car is solid and vault-like. I feel safe in this car even though it is not as agile as my BMW. Torque is plentiful and gas mileage is admirable for a luxury car.

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  vibration - 2002 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By herb - November 14 - 10:00 am

  my 2002 c230 coupe is comfortable,[to sit in] fast and cool. quiet it is not. but the one thing i find unacceptable is the vibration that i feel from 35-40 mph to 60-65 mh. i feel the vibration in the seat, pedals, gear shift, steering wheel. mercedes has told me that it is normal, but ive heard no one else complaining about it. so am i the only one?

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  Love my car when it works - 2003 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By joerider72 - November 8 - 9:06 am

  DO NOT BUY! I currently average about $6,000/yr or $500/month in repairs to drive this car. The quality of the parts is shoddy, primarily due to poor engineering (its not engineered for longevity). The bottom line is that the car has WAY too much electronics that control and monitor everything. Those electronics do not have the life expectancy of the mechanical parts. Heres my list of repairs; front struts, rears are leaking, radiator, (damaged transmission - see TSB), control unit for tranny, suspension compressor, air hoses relating to suspension, tires because suspension was messed up. What I still need: brake accumulator, new motor mounts,new tranny or torque converter, rear struts

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  Nice 1st M-B - 2008 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By thjatty - November 7 - 12:40 am

  This is my first M-B and I really enjoy it. The quality of the build is very nice and it performs well for city and highway commuting. Although it is between a compact and a standard size sedan, I fit comfortably (being 5-9" and 200 lbs). The heated seats are nice, and the DVD-NAV display is very cool. I dont have much trouble with the technology, other than trying to decide which one to use as this car is very multi-task functional. The engine is great for the size. I have owned Porsche, VW, Chevy, Ford and Chrysler products. Hands down this is the best overall package Ive ever had.

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  Lemon? - 1999 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By Nas - November 1 - 2:00 am

  Had to replace the fuel pump at 36k. Warranty had expired 7 months prior and mechanics could not believe that part will go bad on a 36k ML430.

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  AWESOME SUV. - 2004 Mercedes-Benz G-Class
  By NKDOWN - October 27 - 10:00 am

  By far the coolest car Ive owned. If your looking for something different, something that turns heads and is a solid car, this is the car for you.

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  Still rides like a Benz. - 1996 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By oc2001 - October 25 - 10:00 am

  This Benz may not be the ultimate luxury car, what with a small engine and stiff seats. But it still is a great every day get to work car with style. The only trouble I have encountered is the expensive maintanence at the dealership.

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  Riding deep for cheap - 1996 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
  By benzkrazee - October 23 - 9:50 am

  What a car and such a bargain! A one owner car purchased for $125,000 (no misprint) less than sticker. It runs great, fuel mileage is good for a 5,000lb. car, and so far it has been bullet-proof reliable. If you want a great car, this is the ultimate. Just beware that when it needs repair, make sure you use your AMEX card because you will exceed your credit limit with any other card (S600 parts are very expensive)

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  2 nd year review - 2002 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By no name - October 21 - 10:00 am

  Has been in the shop for mulitple malfunctions all addressed by dealership on SEVERAL visits and Park Places Road Side Repair service. Brake pads stink!! I am at 27,500 and told the brake pads have 10% left? Set number 3. 2nd set at 12,500 miles. Told by dealership it is due to AWD and common with their brake pads? This is my first Mercedes. Never had an issue with Japanese and US autos with AWD. To spend 50K+ on an auto and having to replace ONLY REAR pads for $311.00? That is crap!! Designers, take notice of the issues to keep Mercedes image and return buyer.

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  CDI - 2005 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By james venable - October 21 - 10:00 am

  the main difficulty is that interior door trim is cloth rather than other more durable and more easier cleaned material. the car is in all other respects outstanding