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:

• 

  Is it worth the money? - 2000 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
  By Dave G - January 8 - 10:00 am

  Is it worth spending 75000 for this car other than for your ego? 1) On long drive I discovered despite the seats being leather seats are not as soft and comfortable as in many american cars. I feel I have to take a break after 1-2 hours. 2) CD based GPS is great locally but on long drive you need a regular map to figure out the route e.g. NJ is split in two CDs. 3) Cup holder is at a inconvenient location

• 

  2003 E320 - 2003 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By spirolli - January 8 - 10:00 am

  The new E320 is a well built luxury sedan. Its smooth gliding ride and tight, responsive handling are top notch. The car feels glued to the road at all speeds and has no problem pulling its weight and then bringing it to a stop. A true German Luxury Sport Sedan. There has been an annoying noise / vibration coming from the front during starting and stopping. Sounds like a break rub or something.

• 

  "iron fist in a velvet glove" - 2006 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By fooe - January 6 - 4:03 pm

  I originally bought this vehicle because my wife would not let me buy a E39 M5 due to the manual transmission, so I had resigned myself to a life of commuting boredom without my beloved 3rd pedal. "At least Ill have the big V8 to listen to while I wait for the transmission to catch up to my right foot" I thought. Well, I was wrong. The AMG SpeedShift is extremely impressive in daily use; it is very rarely in the wrong gear and is tuned for an enthusiast driver. Sport mode is very entertaining and Comfort isnt a blatant sacrifice to the EPA mileage gods. This, coupled with the prodigious amounts of torque and deep exhaust note, make for an entertaining drive even in traffic.

• 

  Beautiful Car - 2005 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By LDEITELL - January 6 - 2:10 am

  I tested everything including Infiniti M45, BMW 545 and Lexus 430. The Mercedes was far and away the most elegant. I bought the sport package, which gives dual exhaust, sport tuned suspension, and AMG wheels. The ride is firm, but not too hard on city streets, and performance on the winding canyon roads is awesome. I have a slight "clunk" in the stepdown from second to first gear which needs looking at. Other than that, its the greatest car I have ever driven

• 

  Great Cruiser - 2007 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Car Nut - January 5 - 7:26 pm

  I love cars and the Bluetec is fun to own. Diesel power is amazing, liked the pull/torque better than the 350 gasser. Smooth and quiet. Not a handling machine, but this is a lux cruiser, not a sports car. 7-speed trans is great with the diesels short power band, but its a little jerky when cold. Smaller brakes than the 350 with larger wheels, but same tested stopping distance. Styling is subdued and refined, so Ill like how it looks for the long haul. HK sound system is really good. Nav works well, updates quickly, but a pain to enter addresses.

• 

  Get something else instead - 2004 Mercedes-Benz G-Class
  By MadAtMercedes - January 5 - 10:00 am

  It seems like a cool and flashy truck. Well it is, but nothing. We have had this truck for over a year and it has been in for service nearly 20 times. They are finally giving us another. Problems with rattling, electrical, brakes, and other randow things make this one of the worst vehicles you can buy. Having owned a Range Rover HSE before, I wish I still had it. I also have Mercedes S500 and that has some issues as well. I would suggest staying away from Mercedes for a while.

• 

  2005 E320 CDI Review - 2005 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By JCAS - January 5 - 10:00 am

  A fantastic car to drive! Great fit and finish. Love the acceleration...better than my previous Q45. Stalks on the left side of the steering wheel take some getting used to and the cup holder layout in the front is abominable. I would highly recommend this automobile! A lot of fun!

• 

  Does not live up to its name - 2004 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Tom Williams - January 5 - 2:30 am

  This is a great car when it works, but we have had tons of suspension, braking and electrical problems. Fixing anything costs at least an arm and a leg. This is my very last Benz. German engineering just means "expensive to fix".

• 

  The Chariot - 2006 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Stephen - January 3 - 4:53 pm

  This is my first Mercedes Benz, a car I have wanted since high school. I can honestly say it is everything I thought it would be. When you drive past people, heads turn and you get the feeling youre driving something special. My model is the E350, very similar to the E320, but I believe with a bigger engine. The luxury and comfort are something one can only experience to appreciate. My salesman told me, once you own and drive one, you will never want to own and drive any other car. He was right, (but I think I kind of already knew that.)

• 

  The best choice ever made - 2006 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Rafi - January 2 - 5:53 pm

  I looked at MBW, Lexus, and Infinity. However, MB E350 proved to be the better choice. Great car! It turns heads, all over. The dual moon roof is a big plus. The ability to choose between comfort or sport suspension at the click of a button makes it more appealing. The sound system is superb.