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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  Best made and Handling compact?Hot! - 2002 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Rachelle Hanson - March 4 - 11:23 pm

  I have owned many high end cars and when the gas prices went nuts and I moved away from the beach I needed a car that satisfied my high end needs and quality was #1. This little car was not my choice, but I fell in love with it . It has 40/60 fold down rear seats so you can bring your skis and haul larger items and it is a kick to drive. Parking is easy. And I rarely have to stop for fuel! Gotta love it ! The side doors cubbies stink as far as use goes and there are some wicked blind spots, but once you are aware, use extra caution. I put a ton of miles on it and the stereo is great. Sunroof opens to a huge ray of light with more safety than a convertible. Whats not to love?

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  best of all worlds - 2000 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By ethan t - March 4 - 10:00 am

  as i have had a 190 2.3 1988 and 300d 1991, i found this car to be the best of all worlds. fold down rear seats, gas mileage and performance fun is the total experience. addition of wood wheel, knob and 6 disc changer. it is the package i like. plan to keep for a period of tim.

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  C55 AMG = A Monster in your Garage - 2006 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By yablo - March 4 - 4:36 am

  This car is fast! Let me rephrase that, its VERY fast. The car should be driven for fun, not for comfort or fuel economy. The ride is very stiff, but thats what you want in a sports car. Dont bother looking at the mpgs (11-14 city, 18-22 hway). Interior build quality seems below my old 1997 C230 which is a bit disappointing for a sedan that msrps for 60K. There is a lot of plastic on the dash, and most controls feel cheap to the touch. But who cares? This car is FAAAAAST!

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  Sporty look with luxury and room - 2005 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Steve - March 3 - 7:56 am

  Ive had many Jaguars, BMWs and Mercedes Benz. Mercedes seems to engineer their cars to do many things without the driver having to think about it. Not a lot of switches and gadgets to adjust while driving. As an example, Jaguar and BMW offer rain sensing wipers too. Theirs dont work as well and have to be set. MB has it as the standard first spot on the switch and they work perfectly in all amounts of drizzle to downpour. The car is quick but quiet. It looks sporty from the outside (and handles curves well) but holds four 6 plus tall adults in comfort and quiet on a 300 mile drive. The interior size of the new E seems more like the S models of old.

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  Questionable Build Quality on BlueTec - 2009 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Carl - March 3 - 1:26 am

  This was my first Mercedes purchase; a Japanese car loyalist up til this purchase. Car drives amazing & gas mileage is great for this size car. I averaged 29 mpg combined. However, build quality is a DISASTER. Literally, on evening home from dealership the night of purchase, the left headlight went out and I received an LCD error warning about headlight failure. Took it back to dealership and 3 days in shop w/$3200 bill (under warranty). The C series loaner I got had same headlight failure during loaner period. At 5,900 the BlueTecs power steering failed while driving and I almost wrecked; steering wheel wouldnt turn. Car towed back to dealership by MB - 5 days in shop. NIGHTMARE!

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  Still Love it - 2003 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By c32amg2003 - March 2 - 12:36 pm

  This car is still a blast to drive. The fuel economy is good for the power available, but it depends on how you drive it. When you want the performance it is there, when you dont it is a fuel sipping V6. I considered getting a new car, but why, this car is still amazing. Every time I hit the gas from a stop a smile comes over my face. I had a couple of minor electrical issues that occurred just before the car was out of warranty (6 disk cd changer stopped working, drivers heated seat didnt heat, and the visor vanity mirror light would come on when the visor was lowered because the mirror cover would open slightly). The dealer took care of them and The car has been very reliable since.

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  No punches - 2007 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By gt - March 2 - 4:40 am

  E350 sport with Pk #2 one of several MBs Ive owned. Always good quality, never the zippiest ride, but totally reliable and comfortable. MPG 20 town, 27 hwy. good for this size and weight. Its like my dog, always there, and always reliable and friendly 26K miles and in shop only 2x and that was for routine maintenance.

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  Best Diesel - 2006 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Gary - March 2 - 3:46 am

  Best diesel Ive owned. 750-800 miles to a tank. Great for a salesman, but wish the wagon was available.

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  Dream with a smile - 1997 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class
  By Brian - March 1 - 3:26 am

  For the past 30 years Ive always wanted a Mercedes SL and finally after all the years of the desire, I have no disappointments. Its truly a dream car. I chose the 320 to not have to spend so much time at the gas pumps, but it still burns more than I expected. That might be due to the fact that I cant seem to slow it down. I really love this vehicle!

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  Dont waste your money - 2006 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Adam - February 29 - 12:26 pm

  This car is not worth the money, at all. I have had numerous problems with this car, which are all well known by the dealers, but they wont acknowledge them until you bring it in for repairs. My dash squeeks, the front end can not be alined properly, the pressure in the fuel tank goes thud, thud, thud all the time, the electronics dont work 15% of the time, the seats are uncomfortable, I have a re-call notice for the airbag system, it has very little power, 7 speed transmision is not fun to use, and the lay out of the instrument pannel is down right awful. I would suggest buying the E350 or Acura TL, but do not waste your money on this car. This is a poor Mercedes.