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:

• 

  Excellent Family SUV - 2003 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By willy_t - July 4 - 10:00 am

  Excellent family SUV with plenty of space, comfort and safety features. DVD navigation, inspiration package and Bose audio are excellent upgrades.

• 

  MY CAB - 2017 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
  By DON - July 1 - 11:30 pm

• 

  Best car I have ever owned or been in. - 2004 Mercedes-Benz CL-Class
  By Hamilton - June 30 - 8:03 pm

  After owning two Porsches and 3 Mercedes, this is the best handling and most powerful car I have ever owned. I plan to keep this car forever. I just got this car for $38K with 74,000 miles on it. It looks and drives like it was brand new. The original owner traded it in on the latest version. It get attention from people that know what it is, but is fairly stealthly for such a powerful car.

• 

  C280 - 2007 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By dfc3 - June 29 - 5:26 am

  With the all-wheel drive Ive had a wonderful winter in a snowy, icy part of the U.S. This car just leaves the others spinning around while it deftly handles the road conditions no matter what. The tight turning radius and narrow width enable an easy feel of control and maneuverability that isnt available in higher class cars. Yet the power, response, sound proofing, and feel of solidity blows away the econo boxes of similar size. A great addition for those wanting pinpoint turns, control, and great handling in any conditions.

• 

  I traded an 07 Lex GX 470 - 2008 Mercedes-Benz GL-Class
  By Charles - June 28 - 3:56 pm

  I traded in my Lexus with only 14 K miles. I just stopped to look at the new GL class as we wanted a larger vehicle. I am very very impresed. Dont let the low entry price of the 320 fool you, mine decked was 74 K. Was it worth it yes. I cant advise on long term reliability or build, but for 2 months my judgment indicates MB is back. I get 26 miles to the gal. I towed my boat yesterday ( 5K lbs ) no problem. Yes I am very happy except 1. outside mirrors too small, the cruise control is in the wrong place, add easy exit seats that more back and down ( like cad escalade ) plenty of power, 26 mpg, full time 4wd .

• 

  Excellent! - 2006 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By Luis - June 28 - 10:20 am

  I traded in my E-430 with may more hps but I am extremely happy with the handling of this SUV. In terms of gas mileage, it beats other SUVs thanks to its superb 7 gears. Still it packs enough power to reach 130mph and the handling at that speed is surprisingly good.

• 

  My Mercedes S-320 (1999) - 1999 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
  By idlexus1 - June 28 - 10:00 am

  This is a great car!! The only problem I have ahd is that I cannot get the windows to consistently roll down with the remote. Theres either a problem in the remote or somewhere in the electrical system. When I take it back for maintenance, I will get that fixed. Otherwise, NO PROBLEM!! Mercedes definitely makes good cars. The price is worth it though.

• 

  What a Car - 2003 Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class
  By louman7 - June 28 - 10:00 am

  I have enjoyed every minute of owning this car. Excellent ride, good handling and great performance. The car sure brings alot of attention, and people tend to think that it costs way more.

• 

  Truly the Best - 2008 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
  By Barbara - June 24 - 12:10 am

  My husband has been a Mercedes-Benz afficianado for decades but I have always bought whatever car I thought looked the best, which has led me to Audi and BMW many times over the years. Those vehicles were very enjoyable to own but were hopelessly unreliable. I just purchased a new car following my husbands advice (he has an S550 himself) and have never been this pleased with a car. The S is so refined and luxurious I can hardly fathom how I lived without it all this time. This truly is the best luxury sedan available today. So far it is completely problem free and it has that bank vault solidity to it, I am so enamored with this car.

• 

  My 2500 mile report - 2007 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By TommyA931 - June 23 - 8:53 pm

  Quality of workmanship seems on par with expected from MBZ, though I did have some initial reservations from 2004 and 2005 owner reviews. This SUV is very comfortable, handles and has the power of a sports car, and averages over 25MPG so far! I opted for the AMG pkg, P02, HIDs, NAV, wood steering wheel and hitch (for bike rack). My wife has an E320CDI, and we love them both! I have owned many Mercedes,Porsches and Jags, but this ML is my favorite. Its really a pleasure to drive. Hey, maybe it doesnt park itself, but a man likes to do some things himself anyway! If Mercedes has a nemises, it would be electronics. The Command System is complicated, and takes some time and study to master.