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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  Good, happy, could always be better. - 2007 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By ALB - September 10 - 5:43 am

  I purchased a preowned c230 last summer. It was low miles and had only 16k on it. I drove all the other cars in the class, BMW 3 series, Lexus IS, and Infinity Gs, and A4. MB is the best balance of performance and luxury. It doesnt handle like a 330, and leather isnt as nice as an IS, but I love this car and love MB (have since purchased an SLK). It is very fun to drive, not like a 335 manual, but it looks great, corners well and in comfort mode get decent gas mileage. I did have to fuel pump replaced under warranty at 22K, didnt like that too much, as I felt betrayed by the car I love, but it happens. If I had to purchase again, I would purchase the same car in red rather than silver.

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  Almost Great! - 2006 Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class
  By Jorge - September 8 - 7:13 pm

  This is my first Mercedes. Everything is great except for a few things. The seat back contours are designed/built for very skinny people. Even a Mitsubishi I had with wrap around seat backs, were adjustable. The dial temp controls arent very accurately adjustable (the 2002 Avalon I have are digitally adjustable with rocker up/down 1 degree increments). Ride & handling are superb for a convertible. Body is rigid with almost no twist on tight turns. Engines today should not require premium gas. The menu system is not very user friendly. And I just found out that the Nav. system is only updated every 5 years. Good thing I have portable Garmin units (which are easier to program).

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  Rating the C240 - 2003 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Bradsrq - September 5 - 4:53 am

  We bought our C240 preowned back in Dec 07. So far, there have been several issues. Cup holder had to be replaced as well as both rear door outside handles. Now there is an issue with catalytic converter. Dealer says it may be defective. Car had 24K miles when we bought it. Now has 28K miles. Love the way the car looks and interior, but not sure about quality. Gas mileage not that great either. We traded in a 99 230 compressor which was a better overall car. Not sure if we would buy Merc Benz again.

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  Solid Performance form my ML430 - 2000 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By RM - September 2 - 8:50 pm

  I bought my ML430 in 04 with 22K miles and some remaining factory warranty. I have had some minor issues but for the most part it has been rock solid. It has used 3 sets of brake pads and a set of rotors over 90K miles. I did have a leak from the power steering pump that required service. The only issue now is that the interior is beginning to show its age. I use this car to tow a race car trailer long distances, it could use a but more power. The Nav system is very dated now but still works OK but there are no data updates anymore. Back seat fold-down system is just plain dumb. Like everybody the glue from the door insulation melts onto the windows on hot days. I still love this car!

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  Sorry, Lincoln and Caddy; 20K update. - 2010 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By kkear3 - August 29 - 7:44 pm

  Just had 20K "B" service performed and so far, the car is just about perfect. The windshield wipers needed replacement at $63 for the pair but it takes longer to open the box than it does to put them on. The Michelin tires are wearing like nails: I made sure my car did not have Contis on it when I bought it from my horrible experience with them on my Jaguar X-type and Mitsubishi 3000GT. Mileage continues to improve and is now at 24.8 mpg average with most of the driving at 40-45 mph on rural back roads. Still no regrets about not buying the cramped, noisy Caddy CTS or the econobox-based Lincoln MKZ.

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  Solid little trucklette - 2015 Mercedes-Benz GLK-Class
  By 633ca - August 28 - 5:52 pm

  I wanted a vehicle that was small enough to fit in my garage, has strong towing capability for its size, can handle snow and some dirt roads. The GLK250 was at the high end of the price range I was considering, but the build quality reflects the price. Great seats, great engine, great transmission. Minus points: Small cargo area (but if the vehicle was longer it wouldnt fit in my garage). Upright windshield results in a bit of wind noise. Handling feels "heavy" at first but you get used to it and at German-type highway speeds (above 80 mph) it seems tuned just right.

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  MB 2006 CLK 350 Coupe - 2006 Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class
  By Bubba - August 24 - 8:10 pm

  Beautiful car, but I have had to get a new transmission and stability control system in less than a year after purchasing the car new.

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  Change your transmission oil! - 2005 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Justacustomer - August 22 - 7:40 am

  I really loved having this car, but now I am told that I need a new transmission. I drive a lot, which is why I got the diesel. One time I got 40 miles per gallon on a trip to the shore! I brought the car in religiously for service which is why I was so shocked that my tranz needed replacement. Transmission oil is not listed to be changed at intervals like regular oil. I wish I changed it at 80K because then I would not have been writing this review. Learn from my mistake. Change the tranny oil.

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  If you want a tank, heres your baby - 2005 Mercedes-Benz G-Class
  By pampushky - August 17 - 3:36 pm

  This is a weird car, but I love it. It is solid, mighty and odd, but it commands attention, it is safe, and you get a workout while you drive it. It isnt for everyone, it takes time to get used to and the mileage is awful. But it is the best car I have ever driven. Only fault besides mileage is middle seat needs a shoulder seatbelt and not just a lep belt.

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  Excellent road car, poor reliabilty - 2001 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Sam Julier - August 16 - 8:23 pm

  Car driven all highway miles. Excellent engine and drive train. Quiet interior, low wind noise. 32 mpg w/ 6spd. Solid handling and tracking, supurb braking. Very high frequency of maintenance and expense compared to previously owed Volvos. Parking brake failed 3x, climate control 2x (and never the same as new), teleaid 1x, CD player 2x, both rear coils cracked 1x, strut bushing replaced 3x, fuel line clogged 1x, keys 1x, turn signal harness 1x, light harness 1x, oil level sensor 1x, ignition Lock and Steering Lock 1x, ELT connector 1x. The amount of service necessitated selling the car. It is a huge dissapointment as the car is a joy to drive.