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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  I love My MB - 2002 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Ryan - February 22 - 4:56 am

  A great car but got some bad stuff Engine is powerful and awesome especially when you reaches 65 70 miles/ hour youll be flouting on air! its cool classy car you would enjoy it if you can spend 1000$ each month on it because of the Very expensive original parts it got very good mileage on the highways it can exceed 250km/20L ( like 30mpg) on long rides . in the city it may range between 13 to 17L/100km top I face some Air Mass sensor troubles it AC compressor is went down when i spilled a drink inside the AC Oil change each 3000 km for like 50 60$ top .

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  Its been a good car - 1998 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By waltzonice - February 21 - 9:53 am

  I am the original owner, bought in April 1998 and now its over 12 years old and 145k miles. Lots of little things, but nothing major. I love this car but its time for something different. Ordered a 2011 Land Rover LR4.

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  Nice Ride - 2007 Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class
  By TJ - February 20 - 10:00 am

  Lots of power, handles great, and is fun to drive. The 7 speed transmission provides smooth acceleration and improved gas mileage.

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  A Diesel All the Way - 2010 Mercedes-Benz GL-Class
  By Sawjai - February 20 - 10:00 am

  Have taken vehicle on two long haul trips. One to Vancouver and one to LA and averaged over 25 mpg. The 600 mile range at least for me is more like 700 to 800 miles when driving less aggressively. LA trip hauled enough stuff for 4 adults and a newborn and everyone was comfortable. I wish that the rear two rows had legroom adjustments, but there is still a lot for a 3 row SUV. Power is excellent for passing, could use more off the line go power. The brakes have an initial feel of mush, but the stopping power is excellent. Saved me a few times, but didnt save the guy that rear-ended me. Built like a tank, little to no damage to my vehicle bumper, but totaled front panel of rear car.

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  My CLS 55 AMG...I Love It! - 2006 Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class
  By John F - February 19 - 8:43 am

  Everything so far is awesome. More than expected. Very responsive. Forceful power. I feel safe in this car. Love it!

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  Great Car - 2006 Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class
  By carcrazy - February 18 - 4:56 pm

  To start with, this car is great!! With the obsidian black color and the nappa cashmere beige interior, its outstanding! This car brings lots of attention and many tend to turn their heads when I drive by. I would say with a 6.2 0-60 you cant go wrong with it. It demands respect when on the highway. Not only is it fun to drive but its also great for the family. With 2 kids and a wife, its great for me.

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  Good value Not Great - 2000 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Boston Beau - February 16 - 2:00 am

  This is a great car for the money. I purchased used with 7k miles and have driven for 71,00 miles with minimal repairs. All highway but hard. I push through corners and speed limit and it never lets me down in performance or response. When I need to settle down and act my age it drives like a family sedan.Repairs have been brake pads@30k, rotors@40k and one odd repair at 65k fuel sensor $600.

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  Ain;t that bad - 2001 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By MB Canada - February 16 - 2:00 am

  Got the car, no problems. Perhaps the multiple reviews are because of the price paid and expectation levels. Car is ok and cool when you drive it around.

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  Im in Love - 2004 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Benz-Lover - February 16 - 2:00 am

  Well...Ive only had this car three days, but Im so excited to finally be an owner of a MB! I shopped for more than a year and almost bought the coupe version last January, but held off as I wasnt quite ready. During the last few months I drove all the competition and it came down to the Audi A4 and the C230k Sport Sedan. I first thought that I was going to buy the Audi, but I talked the dealers in letting me have them both for an all-day test drive and the C230k SC took the prize. Ultimately, its the one that made me smile the most!!!

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  The Only Green Luxury Family Utility Vehicle - 2008 Mercedes-Benz R-Class
  By J R - February 15 - 5:26 pm

  With the 7 seat option now, if you are in the market for a luxury brand to haul a family of 5 + occasional/regular guests, this is the must have. Having done my share of research on 7- Seater SUVs (MDX, Q7, GL etc.), I am not regretting my decision to buy this "Van or SUV" vehicle at all. I waited for 2 months after hearing about the 7 Seat option before picking up my 2008 R320 CDI on August 29th. We get all the 4WD benefits that the SUVs bring and most of the family comforts of a 7 seater Van including, most importantly, a good rear seat which seats adults and not people under 5 alone. Also, the Mercedes brand has its fair share of luxury inputs to this vehicle.