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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  Wheres your C240 Manufactured?? - 2002 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Wheres your C240 fm? - January 15 - 2:00 am

  I see a distinct divide in the reviews for the C240 - and I can tell you why. The 2002 C240s were made in both Germany and in Brazil. I was alarmed one day when a friend showed me the plate in the car stating it was manufactued in Brazil. He was having a lot of problems with the vehicle. I couldnt understand why, because I have the same car and he bought his on my recommendation. I checked my car and it indeed was manufactured in Germany. If you are considering this car, make sure you buy one made in Germany, not Brazil!!

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  best car I ever owned - 2004 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By rtv - January 15 - 2:00 am

  In my short 48 years I have owned over 25 cars. I guess you could call it the search for the "Holy Grail" of cars. Four months ago I finally found it, the MBZ E-500. Power, comfort and style all wrapped into one. This car is incredable. It is like a sports car and luxury car rolled into one. Somehow mbz found a way to make a car that is exciting to drive and confortable at same time. I drive over 200 miles per day and for the first time I look forward to the drive. The one negative is the fact I know longer enjoy reading the sunday morning car ads. Everything else pales in comparision. Oh well.

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  Fastest and best value - 2004 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Reynaldo - January 15 - 2:00 am

  For those that are driven! Step on the gas of the C32 AMG and experience the overwhelming power of the blown 3.2 liter v-6 engine. the handling characteristics of this car give you confidence to push it even further. When in trouble, braking is excellent and stops on a dime. The fit and finish on this car is over the top. For under $60,000 US this is the best value on the road today for a near perfect street racer.

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  the best - 1995 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By valentinoviola - January 14 - 4:43 pm

  my second e300(now e320) Mercedes Benz wagon. excellent car,practically indestructible, my old baby I trade at 240.000 miles,I have lot of road with this new one!!

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  Ten Quarts of Oil Used in 3.000 miles - 2002 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By Billy C - January 14 - 10:00 am

  I bought my wife a M-Class as she wanted a SUV. Thought Benz was suppose to be the best. She has been in the shop more in the past year with this vehicle than any other ever owned. The topper is the ten quarts of oil consumed in 3,000 miles. I want a new engine but dealership feels just rebuilding is ok. Better off buying a Mazada Tribute for half the cost!!!

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  Inside needs improvement - 2000 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By rhs - January 14 - 10:00 am

  Good riding but lacks some essential features. No Cruise indicator:Climate control no auto off (multiple depressions of off sw. on console whics is a distraction); /confusion between Turn lever and cruise control; no Mute function on steering wheel controls;no running lights;passanger cup holders a joke (in glove box); no additional outlets for PC/Radar detect.,cell phone, etc.

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  Good car but...... - 2002 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By blox - January 14 - 10:00 am

  I was interested to read the many comments from owners of the 320 regarding the tires. I have needed new tires since I reached 10,000 miles! I do not drive hard miles! MB has agreed to pay for two tires as well as an alignment! In addition, the outside mirrors do not work in conjunction with the electric seats! MB has promised to fixed that as well. All in all, the car has been a disappointment since I expected much more from Mercedes.

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  Terribly Unreliable - 1999 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By drfaust91 - January 13 - 10:58 pm

  I have had more problems with this vehicle than all seven other vehicles i have owned combined. Granted i did buy it with 100k miles on it, none of these things should be going wrong with a Mercedes Benz. I have had U-joints fail, bolts on both sides of my front suspension break twice, electronicsgo out on the center dashboard, three ignition coils fail, and the A/C compressor has gone out. Aside from that it has a rough ride like riding in a sports car without the fun. Much of the car uses cheap materials that can not hold up to everyday use. It does have decent performance for the size vehicle it is, though.

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  Sleeper rocket wagon - 2005 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By hot wagon - January 13 - 7:00 am

  When I first heard about the wagon, I ordered it immediately. I had hoped Mercedes would bring a high performance wagon to the U.S. but never had before, only the rest of the world had a performance estate wagon. While it is rather expensive for a wagon, approaching the price of an S55 (which I also have), I think the exclusivity and performance make the price acceptable. I was unable to order a power liftgate or parking sensors (two options the wife wanted) so she is less likely to use the wagon (ok with me) and cannot figure out why since both options are available on the E55 sedan but those options will probably be offered soon (the power liftgate should be standard). It handles like a sedan

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  02 CLK 430 - 2002 Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class
  By Frankiev - January 13 - 12:26 am

  I am very impressed with this car. It is very quick (espcially at higher speeds/top end), tons of fun, and the maintenance thus far has been minimal. This car is a real head turner. Since I owned I had the following problems: Fog light out, Temp guage loose (warranty), rear window shade replaced (warranty), Moon Roof cover slider defective.