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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  Reliability - 2001 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By Reputation - February 25 - 5:26 pm

  This is my 2nd M Class. Purchased the first model and was disappointed with all the problems it had. Gave MB another chance because of their reputation, believing they would fix all the issues. Bad decision - I only have 75K miles and its been to the shop so many times, I lost count. Mechanical problems resulted in replacing the main computer (5K miles), power steering (pump went out at 11K miles), numerous sensors and fuel system components. Minor exterior and interior (broken plastic) parts are also a disappointment. I have gotten to know my mechanic very well. Forget MB and the status symbol. Every time I see an MB, I see my mechanics shop. Not very reliable-only a name.

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  Beautiful CLS - 2006 Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class
  By W C McGahee - February 25 - 8:46 am

  Have owned this car about 6 weeks. Absolutely love it. Have about 2000 miles on it. No quality problems at all, and build quality seems great. Car attracts attention at every stop. It is smoothe and powerful, with great exterior lines and pretty interior.

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  Great driving automobile - 2003 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Herman - February 24 - 6:40 pm

  Excellent automobile, only returned once during 50,000 mile warranty for replacement of automatic temperature control module. Very tight turning radius makes parking very easy. Manual transmission and supercharged 4 cylinder engine provides for excellent gas mileage. 28-30 mph in town and 32- 40 mph on the highway at 65-70 mph.

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  Fun, but totally unreliable - 2000 Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class
  By clkcabriolet - February 23 - 6:12 pm

  I bought my car for a weekend convertible from the original owner who used it the same way. It has always been kept in an environmentally controlled garage and dealer maintained in its 41,000 miles . It is good looking, drives well and lots of fun.... when it works. I owned 60s Alfa Romeos and Ferraris, but none that broke like this Mercedes. The transmission, convertible top pump, computer module, trunk lock, radio, oxygen sensor and dashboard have all died. Did I mention the constant fault lights on the dash? Mercedes says this is typical. I love mine and my wifes Acuras. The ultimate luxury is dependability. If I wanted a beautiful but poor quality car I would have bought a Jaguar.

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  Bullet proof - 2012 Mercedes-Benz G-Class
  By cemi - February 23 - 4:19 pm

  I like this truck in every way.

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  Worth it - new or used - 2001 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
  By Happy ! - February 23 - 3:56 pm

  The 2001 S55 AMG is worth it, new or used. Currently own two while this is my third Mercedes. This one has an excellent balance of performance and comfort which is very hard to beat in this model. Take it for a long drive, pulsed massage, air conditioned or heated seats pamper you along the way. This car is complicated to maintain, it requires a genuine understanding of whats under the hood. Find a solid mechanic and you are set, it is a very reliable car. It is a given you need to bite the bullet on gas mileage. Stick to cruise control to save, makes a difference. Ironic advice given tempting performance at your fingertips. Scratch that, pay a little extra, enjoy the ride!

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  Best E-class wagon so far - 2007 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Jim Rooney - February 23 - 8:26 am

  Ive owned Mercedes E-class wagons since my first purchase back in 2000 when a bought an E320 wagon. That car was great, then I purchased a 2004 E320 wagon, better but not excellent, then came my E350 4MATIC. It has so many options to choose from that the tested price went from a 55k MSRP to a 66,000 dollar family mover. It has a much more powerful engine and handles much better too. Also it offers equal amounts of gas mileage although it weighs more and has a more powerful engine. It has 270 hp and is all this 2 ton car needs to reach 60 mph in 7 seconds. Has the same horsepower as my wifes Lexus ES350 yet weighs 550 lbs more and still has the same acceleration times. Very great car!

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  car sucks with too many recalls - 1999 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By Jmsnwyrk - February 22 - 10:00 am

  My car was bought in October last year and has been in the shop for recalls, oil consumption studies, mirror replacements, and leaking problems over 6 times. The car is cheaply made and there is very little luxury when you must use a loaner car more than you can drive your own.

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  This Car is NOT Worth It!! - 2001 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By afrancis78 - February 22 - 10:00 am

  The power is awesome on the 55 but that is where it stops for greatness. The inside design is awful, no back- seat AC, and the back-seat window controllers are badly placed. The car needs constant service for its brakes which will squeak like an old Buick shortly after coming off the dealership lot, not to mention the fuel costs will put a hole in your wallet in no time. The drivers side window is imfamous for not working, and the alignment is off despite repeated attempts to fix it.

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  Dont Buy It. - 2002 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By gusrey - February 22 - 9:26 am

  5 years after purchasing it, my wife and I are very dissapointed. Theres many reasons why. Electrical problems. Excesive front tire wear. Front shocks wont last more than 24 mos. Lights are getting burned out. Engine stalls when sitting in traffic (idle rpm). Its a shame that all that hi-tech can be so high maintenance. But, theres hope, our next car is going to be a Lexus. Take that Chrysler. gGod luck out there.