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:

• 

  buy with caution - 2004 Mercedes-Benz CL-Class
  By linda wine - March 13 - 10:00 am

  love car and beauty. parktronic keeps getting knocked out. had a rough start with audio system...not fixed....recommend only if u can spare time to take it into being repaired

• 

  Almost a 10 - 2003 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By matrixfreak - March 13 - 10:00 am

  Had the car for over a year. Been a joy to drive. Have enjoyed driving car everyday. A tremendous amount of comfort & safety features for the price. A little weak in the performance department but adaquate. Full power seats should be std. & not a $1200 package upgrade. Also, cupholder is a Rube Goldberg experiment. Feel sorry for the poor soul that paid close to sticker price. I get a tremendous discount by working for Daimlier but was almost insulted by the trade-in value. Plan to keep this car a while!!

• 

  Great car, exceptional engine. - 1999 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By David - March 10 - 7:00 pm

  I bought this car new and I have had no problems. The best feature about this car is the powerful V6. It makes passing on 2 lane roads quick and easy. The outstanding suspension smooths out potholes yet is taut enough to tear through mountain passes. The interior is businesslike and neat. The seats are comfortable enough to travel for around 2 hours, but cross country trips are quite uncomfortable. The controls are well placed, but the radio is hard to use when moving. The trunk is big enough for luggage for 4, and the back seat holds 2 adults comfortably. The only problem with the car is, with the big engine, it has a tendency to understeer, but this can be fixed by power induced oversteer.

• 

  2004 E320 SPORT - 2004 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Vladimir Isov - March 10 - 4:30 pm

  I left a review here in March of 2008 when I first bought my Mercedes-Benz. All I have to say is after two years and 28,000 miles I have NOT been left on the side of the road, not even close. All I do is follow the maintenance schedule (the cars computer tells U exactly when to take her in for her maintenance) and put high octane petrol - thats it. By the way, I would take it only to a dealer with CERTIFIED technicians. Also, have a low deductible on your auto insurance. I had a "fender-bender" which cost $11,000 to repair. I know, its crazy, right? You gotta love MB.

• 

  C230 Sports Coupe is fun to drive - 2002 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By dannymurph - March 10 - 3:30 am

  We have owned this car for 8+ years and have enjoyed driving the stick shift every mile. Very peppy engine, yet over 30 mpg on the highway. Very good handling.

• 

  2002 ML 320 - 2003 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By rousseau - March 10 - 2:00 am

  This is my 3rd ML, improvements over the 98 and 00 models were needed. Rear a/c and heat, rear air bags (safety concern for my children); better stereo system; turn signal lights on the side mirrors; Tele-aid

• 

  Almost exceptional - 2015 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
  By Robert Posey - March 9 - 12:23 pm

  Ive got a new S550 sedan. Mostly Im pleased. However, the fit of the right passenger door wood alignment is off about a half inch. The drivers seat is hard and poorly cushioned. Ergonomically, the steering wheel heater switch is invisible and not displayed. Finally, the Eco mode wont stay off and resets to "on" every time the car is started. Picky, picky, but for $120 thousand, I expect things perfect.

• 

  Good First Timer Benz - 2002 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Jesse - March 7 - 2:56 pm

  I purchased my vehicle a four years ago from the authorized dealer. At the time, it was an authorized pre-owned vehicle with only 42K miles. The first year, I had no problems, but the following year, I had to replace two door handles. They literally broke off. I continue to deal with computer program glitches on an annual basis which the dealer has suggested I obtain an updated software from Germany. I have also had to replace the engine mounts shocks only after 80K miles! Mercedes were once known for their durability and QUALITY ABOVE ALL. It seems like too much plastic for a Mercedes. However, it is a fun vehicle to drive, turns on a dime and great first time Benz.

• 

  overpriced coupe - 2008 Mercedes-Benz CL-Class
  By mercedes fanatic - March 6 - 5:23 am

  The CL550 is not a bad car. But it is vastly overpriced. In reality, it is nothing more than a short wheelbase S Class (sold in Europe), with a different body (which look just like the diminutive C Class) The rear seats are a joke as they are hard to access and fit small children only. I later traded up to a 2009 S550 for the added comfort, practicality and ride quality. I found out quickly how much these things depreciate. WOW. 40% in one year. That the CL costs more than the S class is unrealistic. The sedan is actually worth more than the coupe; Ive owned both.

• 

  Extremely Pleased - 2007 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
  By Warren - March 6 - 4:13 am

  The new Mercedes-Benz S550 is my favorite car that I have ever owned. It has the presence and, finally, quality that has attracted me to Mercedes-Benz for more than forty years. This is my sixth S-Class and has reaffirmed my faith in the company (my 2002 S500 had me doubting, although it was very reliable). It performs so effortlessly and coddles me so, it feels like an S-Class should. It has also been completely problem free.