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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  You cant go wrong! - 2004 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class
  By 2007 - December 3 - 2:00 am

  I first drove the 03 model in Vegas through an excellent package from the Ritz -Carlton & MBUSA, for an additional $30 from your room - club level- you get to pick a Benz to drive! I fell in love with this car, I had owned 2 previous generations of SL an 81 and a 71. This baby is built solid, The new 04 comes with a 7 speed gear box and standard 18" wheels. Dont spend the extra 5100 for sports pack, you wont know the difference.

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  Solid car after break-in gremlins - 2003 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By RoninSanDiego - December 3 - 2:00 am

  One of 1st 2003 E-320s delivered in my city, the car had electrical, computer/mechanical probs with climate control, airbags; rear window sunscreen. Engine computer problems. BUT -after the post-delivery gremlins were fixed, car has been reliable ever since. Great cruiser and easy to handle in stop-and-go traffic. 30 mpg on 400 mile trip- cruising 80+ mph. Overall,my E-320 is winning me back. Dealership is excellent.

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  Great SUV! - 2000 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By audioduke - December 1 - 10:00 am

  I bough mine in Sept 2000. I stayed away until late 2000 model year after hearing quality issues on 1998 and 1999 models. I wouldnt touch these first 2 year model! For 2000, MBZ revised the interior and presume all the issues found on 1st 2 years. Hey, I had NO PROBLEM with mine and cant see why there are so many who whine about their car. We took it in for 1 yr service and Bellevue MBZ dealer also replaced the sunroof motor. I guess there may have been a "silent" recall. What can I say? Just love this SUV!

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  Mixed Bag of Tricks & Treats - 2000 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Calvin Lee - November 30 - 5:13 pm

  Our 2000 Desert Silver E320 is great fun to drive. It is a wolf in sheeps clothing. When driven easily, it is quiet & dignified. However, stomp on the gas or use the manual-shift feature & the car takes off like a rocket. Handling is also superb. Interior design is traditional Mercedes and looks like a million bucks as does the exterior (particularly the front-end). While the powertrain & cosmetics are first- rate, the electronics need much improvement in the way of reliability. Most recently, the CD player has stopped working. The radio unit thinks that the CD magazine is empty when it is full. Result? CD player inoperative. The 2003 E-class does not look as good (inside & out). Great car.

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  04 ML500 is Amazing Value! - 2004 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By SoCal - November 30 - 3:13 am

  After launching the worlds most unreliable SUV in 2001 Mercedes took the ML took this project back and put significant improvements into each subsequent year. The 2004 is a solid truck with great towing, solid handling, great performance for its weight, and an outstanding daily driver. Unlike the X5, cargo space is tall and the cabin roomy. Bumper to bumper length of an Accord for easy parking and tight turning radius. Good in the snow, decent mountain climber and enjoys the twisties! Stay away from the 2001 but youll benefit from the bad reputation in the following years and get exceptional value.

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  Smooth & Spacious - 2008 Mercedes-Benz R-Class
  By David - November 29 - 5:13 pm

  We are so happy with this car. We chose it over the LR3. MDX. XC90. Q7. Its smooth, spacious and solid. Its got the space inside that others have wasted. This is a well designed and very unique car. I would buy again.

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  What an amazing SUV - 2012 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By greginnh - November 29 - 10:23 am

  This will be my third ML. Having owned 2002 and 2004 versions, I was very disappointed with the second generation ML and strayed from the MB brand for a few years. Now comes the 2012 which is the third generation and it totally blows away all previous models.

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  ML500 - 2002 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By dano - November 29 - 10:00 am

  Terrific SUV that has shown zero quality issues other than the brakes squealing in cold weather.

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  Awesome beast - 2004 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By imthduke - November 29 - 10:00 am

  The is an awesome beast of a luxury machine. I wanted to get a plate that says, "Hemi this". It is a fine automobile that is a straight line racer that takes the back seat to none on the highway.

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  owner - 2004 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class
  By Jimm Dao - November 29 - 10:00 am

  fun to drive. It is mercedes...