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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  Poor Quality At Mercedes - 2004 Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class
  By robert tabb - December 14 - 12:36 pm

  Love the look and the concept. Hate the hassle. Have clk 500 with all the options and 26k miles. So far communications computer failed, blinker lights on panel failed, brakes squeak, fan sounds like jet engine, paint on hood and other places is blistering, stalk for cell phone broken, seat seam is coming lose. Car is nightmare and this is not unusual from what I read. When you lay this on top of "normal" maintenance you are into serious dollars.

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  C320 Rating - 2002 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Davis - December 12 - 7:53 am

  I am dissapointed with the quality of the C320 overall. For example, the driver and passenger seat control module failed resulting in an out of warranty cost of $827.00. The valve cover gaskets need replacing at 55K miles. The drivers window switch needs replacing. The thrust arm bushing is cracked. The drivers grab handle needs to be replaced. This car is driven by my wife and only has 55K miles. In fact, last year we only put about 5K miles on the car. We have had 2 other Benz and this may be the last one we own. The quality lacks a lot to be desired from what we experience in our other 2 Mercedes Benz.

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  Great purchase, thrill to drive. - 2006 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By Peter G. - December 8 - 3:23 pm

  Awesome car all in all. To me, a great value for the quality, style, and performance. Total thrill to drive, and it handles great. Better power than I expected. The electronics are a major part of the fun, the combination GPS, Sat radio, CD changer and single CD in dash, power tailgate all make the perfect ride quality all the more enjoyable.

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  Not designed for rear seat passengers - 2002 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Amy Nicora - December 7 - 10:00 am

  I purchased this vehicle after being involved in an SUV rollover accident. I purchased the vehicle solely because of the extensive safety features. However, after reading the manual I realized I could be doing more harm than good to my children who sit in the back seat. The manual states that children should not lean against the doors because of the airbages but most children sleep on the raod and they have no where else to rest their heads but on the door. Also, this vehicle has very poor rear leg room for adults as well as children. The rear air conditioner does not produce enough air to cool the rear passangers.

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  Amazing value - 2002 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By kennygogo - December 2 - 11:40 pm

  Its a lot of car for the money. Im not just talking about bells and whistles features; there are plenty of those standard but Acura TL/CL probably includes more for the same price. Im talking about real substance that I never realized I was missing before I drove this car. Its hard to describe, but if this car doesnt blow you away on first drive, its probably not the right car for you.

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  Black Opal E420 - 1997 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By george michaels - December 1 - 10:00 am

  A real sleeper. comfortable and powerful auto. Cheaper to run than a 1999 Volvo S80

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  Safety and flexibility at a price - 2002 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By califguy - December 1 - 10:00 am

  Purchased as a flexible, sturdy, safe vehicle with a luxury image, we have been satisfied on those criteria. It is strongly-built with many safety features. The V6 seems undersized, but the smooth 5sp automatic works to give the ML adequate grunt. Fuel economy is low (16-17MPG). Ride is choppy, but improves with additional cargo or passengers. Interior is roomy, quiet and refined in Mercedes style, with a great seating position. I find the seats overly firm for long trips. 4 wheel traction and braking systems and high clearances make this a decent off road SUV. Interior pieces have broken, fixed under warranty. Dealer service is as expensive as feared.

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  The brakes stink - 2003 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By DSD - December 1 - 10:00 am

  Bought it after owning Acuras for the last 12 years.(never a visit to the service dept except for scheduled maintenance.)I have to say, I am a bit dissapointed overall. I have taken the car in for servicing on minor, albeit aggravating issues, i.e. vibrating brakes, sensor lights going off and on, radio buzzing, no use of tele-aid because i was told it had a "canadian" chip, etc. Ive owned BMWs in the past and forgot about German temperance until i bought the E320.

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  C300 is Hott!!! - 2008 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Taras - November 30 - 11:00 pm

  This car is awesome!!! I am 6 foot four, and I have room to drive as well as I can fit in the back seat. styling is awesome, interior is a little bland, but not bad. Car is FUN to drive, corners like on rails, great highway speed, not bad off the line either. I have owned a E class, Hummer H2, Lexus GX470 , Acura CL type S as well as various other cars. I LOVE THIS CAR !!!! Highly recommend!!!!!!!! :)

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  Tires leaking air - AMG wheels - 2005 Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class
  By MaryF - November 22 - 3:16 pm

  First I would like to say that I love this vehicle. However, I am having one tremendous problem. My tires are leaking air randomly, about every 2 to 3 weeks, to the point of being flat. I replaced the tires 18 months ago but I am still having this problem even more often. Ive taken the car to the tire dealer at least half a dozen times and he has sealed the rims but told me the chrome on the AMG rims is bubbling inside the bead rim and is causing the leaks. I dont know if he is just trying to sell me new rims or what the deal is. Anyone else having this problem?