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:

• 

  S 500 not a lexus but a great car - 2001 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
  By srosa - February 5 - 11:44 pm

  I bought my car with 50k on it. It now has 75k so I fell I know the car pretty good. I had to replace the air suspension($350) if you do it yourself. Also the radiator fan motor(bought fan onling) and a fuse for the left side of the car electronics(not happy about that). Also some rust at seams of the body. If you are unable to do some work yourself and dont like car repair bills by a lexus or bmw. This car is nice to ride in, very comfortable. A bmw is a nice car to drive. Great pick up for a big car. Timeless look.

• 

  Great car but mine cuts out too! - 2002 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Benzilla - February 5 - 10:00 am

  Have had car 3 months. Had BMW and Porsche in past. Both had electrical problems. Car has been great to date. Fun to drive and feels safe. Figured perhaps with a Benz, may have better luck with mechanical problems. WRONG! For some unknown reason the car has cut out twice while going down the road @ 45 MPH! (looks like a few other have had the same problem?) Car now going to shop to see what the problem is. I sure hope we dont end up in the same boat as the other 2 German cars!

• 

  Buy One - 1995 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class
  By Coolpillow - February 3 - 8:53 pm

  This is a great car to buy pre-owned. New ones are $85,000 or more, save $60,000 and buy a 95.

• 

  Mercedes Review - 2000 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By gboro - February 1 - 10:00 am

  this is my first mercedes experience. in the past 12 months ive had to spend over $3500 replacing various parts including fuel pump, steering mechanism, and the battery. ive had my vehicle stuck in my garage because it wouldnt start on 3 occassions and stuck 1,000 miles from home after my fuel pump went bad with no warning. perhaps i have/had high expectations but i didnt and do not expect such problems with a mercedes benz product

• 

  Disappointing Quality - 1999 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Charles Boelens - February 1 - 9:26 am

  My 5th MB diesel (170/190/220/300 (1975)), bought new and kept almost 10 yrs. The 99 the only disappointing one, a pleasure to drive, but very disappointing quality, rust (repainted a few times by MB, but it is back 2 years later)and many electric and various problems that just should never have happened, wheel bearings, generator, mirrors, CD changer, lampsockets, sliding roof, airconditiong etc. For the money we spend every year with MB Toronto on maintenance (incidentally, excellent service, pricey, but no hassles !) I could lease another car !

• 

  Much Better then my 1999 ML - 2002 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By Bottedi - January 29 - 2:00 am

  I leased a 1999 ML and got this new 2002 version after my lease ended. I liked the 99, but was really upset with the overall poor fit & finish. This car is entirely different! Much better quality and feels like a luzury car! Still a few complaints - not like a German made MB, but its great!

• 

  Severely disappointed - 1997 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Carlos - January 28 - 5:13 am

  Bought this car used from the original owner in 2002, with only 16,000 miles on it, and thought "what could go wrong with such low mileage". Plus my intention was to only drive this car to and from work, which averages about 8,000 miles/year. Well, first the electrical wires to the drivers side front headlights kept "coming lose", which cost $400.00 to fix. Then the A/C went out, along with oil leakage and transmission problems, which totaled to $5,000.00. I wish I have stayed with buying Toyota or Subaru, which are far more reliable.

• 

  MY BENZ - 2005 Mercedes-Benz CL-Class
  By cdbu2 - January 27 - 10:00 am

  It is a bit uncomfortable to get in and out of the rear seats but hey, I drive not ride. I love the car. I am still working on all the toys as Mercedes are not known for their toys. I am trying to det the DVD to show a picture.

• 

  Fun in the Sun - 2004 Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class
  By John Sweeney - January 24 - 12:56 pm

  Ive owned my 2004 CLK cabriolet since new and use it for trips and top down driving. Its not my daily driver. I like the pickup in sport mode, the ride free of cowl shake and the looks with the top down. Luggage space is sparse unless the top is up. The optional AMG seating with more thigh and back support, heating and cooling and more controls is a must for tall drivers. Overall, I am very satisfied and have had zero defects or recalls.

• 

  The feeling of being on train tracks! - 2003 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class
  By Steve howse - January 21 - 12:48 am

  A head turning beauty, you will never get tired of saying "Thank You" when hearing others compliment its ego building style.