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:

• 

  My 5th Mercedes, still good, not best. - 1998 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Steve H. - February 8 - 6:00 am

  I have owned 3 E class. this is really a fine vehicle. quality definitely less than a German car used to be. 1 sensor after another need to be replaced. Ride quality still better than average wagon. 4matic works great in snow. Steering wheel feels the best in all cars I had owned (more than 40). Dealership service is very good, free pick up and delivery to my house. Of course, invoices is nothing under $1000. Re-sell value is BAD. I paid $30K 3 years ago, now worth $12-13K only. HVAC is far worse than Japanese cars. Even my "S" class AC still not good as my 1991 Lexus. Well, still receive a lot of complements in parking lot.

• 

  2007 C230 Sport Sedan - 2007 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Dipak - February 7 - 3:10 pm

  Beautiful car. Looked at various alternatives including the 3 series, Lexus IS, Acura TL, and Infiniti G35. Ultimately, this car had the perfect balance of looks, quality, value, performance, style and roominess for my wife and I.

• 

  Outstanding vehicle - 2002 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By APS - February 6 - 12:26 am

  Incredible power (350 ho, 400 torque) fantastic handling, hard to believe it is a four door sedan. Also have an 02 E430 and this outperforms in every way. Im getting 22 MPG on the highway at 70 - 80 MPH average, better than my 6 cylinder 95 legend (which is also a great car). Most amazing thing is unlimited power along the entire power curve, no lag anywhere. Handling is fantastic, maintains a flat stance in any curve and super quick response.

• 

  ML 350 - 2008 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By Grice - February 4 - 1:40 pm

  A great auto from beginning. Comfortable, spacious, P-1 package plus. Rides and drives like a dream.

• 

  Very solid car - 1998 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By hagimihale - February 4 - 10:00 am

  Bought this used a few months ago - paid $8500 (vs. NADA book value of $13k) for a white w202. Only repair was new tires and alignment. Car drives like a dream - stable at any speed, great low-end power from the V6 and good acceleration on the highway. This is the 5th MB my family has owned and my 2nd. Weve always been impressed with their products and now I remember why.

• 

  A well-built car - 1999 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Robert Marcos - February 4 - 10:00 am

  This is my first Mercedes, and is not as fun to drive as my last BMW but for $24,000 it was a very good value. I feel very safe driving this car, and recently got 32 mpg on a trip to Utah, (we were going 80 mph with the air conditioning on the entire time).

• 

  Loving my 05 SL600 - 2004 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class
  By tandan - February 3 - 5:06 pm

  i have not yet put on 1000mi., but this is simply the most wonderful car I have ever driven. This car is an "iron fist in a velvet glove". It is smooth, silky, solid, and fast to drive. This black beauty is beautiful to behold, top up or down. This happens very quickly. The seats are comfortable, yet firm. Whether its a trip to the store, or a cruise up north for a 100 miles, I cant wait to drive it.

• 

  First Mercedes-Benz - 2009 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Distractid - February 3 - 8:13 am

  I traded in my 2007 Lexus IS350 as I was getting bored with the car (lol). I love the IS350, but wanted a change. I like the more aggressive look of the C350 as compared to my Lexus, and that was the main draw as I knew Id be giving up a bit in terms of comfort (Lexus has much softer leather and seats, and somewhat smoother ride) and horsepower (IS350 306hp v. C350 268hp). The C350 offers a more engaging driving experience (falls between the IS350 and 3-Series). My Lexus was overly smooth which took the "sport" out of sport sedan. Despite 38hp less in the C350, its more fun to drive than the Lexus and acceleration is more than adequate to get ahead of traffic.

• 

  My First Benz - 2010 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By COOLSPIRE Maryland - February 2 - 7:20 pm

  Bought this car for my wife as her retirement presents, 5 yrs to go before actual early retirement hoping this will be her last car. Fell in love with the new design and all its options. Got the P2 package, parktronic, and sports option. Other options are just not practical but add to the cost. A little disappointed with the trunk space, cannot accommodate golf bags in any directions without removing the long clubs but diagonally. It can accommodate 3 bags w/ big sticks removed and placed elsewhere(inside or in the trunk diagonally). The tint is not that dark compared to other cars. GPS is not text 2 speech. Overall, very pleased with the car: its name recognition, reputation, and durability.

• 

  C320 - Car of a Lifetime - 2003 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By McLucky - February 2 - 10:00 am

  My 03 C320 is terrific! Excellent handling, plenty of power, superior performance all around. I love all the features overlooked by many car manufacturers. I havent had it long enough to judge reliability, but so far its the nicest car Ive ever driven, much less owned.