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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  Pretty Car, Bad Tranny - 2004 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By LeaveTheHouse - May 26 - 2:00 am

  I like the car, I think the alloy rims and sound system are unbelievable. My 6-speed tranny went out at 258 miles and I am still very bitter about it. I average 31.5 MPG and get looks from people who think I spent a million bucks (its black). I think the car is fun, its the nicest car I have ever owned, but its been in the shop 3 times in the last 3 months.

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  No More Quality - 2000 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By MIad - May 19 - 10:00 am

  This is a beautiful car that handles well and has a plush ride. However, Mercedes quality is nowhere to be found. This car has been in the shop about 2 dozen times in less than three years. Both rear windows have failed. Brake, oxygen, and fuel level sensors have been replaced. The dash cover cracked and the sun visor (cheap vanity mirror) has been replaced 4 times! Cheap center console has never worked properly. The console doors are misaligned, they rub, and sometimes will not close at all. Light bulb failures in dash (twice), headlights (twice, once fuse), and brake lights (twice). The latest problem is with an intermittent A/C fan.

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  Its not a BMW - 2007 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By jeffmatt - May 18 - 11:43 am

  I leased my E350 because of a deal that I could not pass up. My previous car was a 2000 BMW 528 w/ sport package. My E350 includes the Nav system, Sirius radio, and rear shade screen, but no sport suspension. Overall, I like the car. I never thought I would own a Mercedes. The car rides very nice on the road, but you get a floating feeling if you try to push the handling through turns. Power is more than ample and it gets relatively good gas mileage. I have got a supension squeak that occurs every time I get in the car when the car is cold. The dealer cannot seem to find, but I will give them another try. When this lease is up I will go back to a 530 BMW for better handling.

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  Buyer should know better... - 2000 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
  By jbrtoo - May 17 - 11:54 am

  When you bought an older S-class, you should have expected it to cost you $$$ in repairs. My 2000 S500 has cost me $12,000 in repairs since I bought it 4 years ago. Now that sounds like a lot, but when you spread it over the 4 years, it has cost me $250 per month to drive the sweetest production car on the road. When you throw in depreciation, it has cost me about $400 per month to drive it. Show me a comparable vehicle that you can drive for that cost--its not out there. So although the S500 gives you heartache and wallet-ache at times, do the math and youll realize it has been well worth it!

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  better late than never - 2002 Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class
  By r.r - May 15 - 10:00 am

  just bought my first amg and it wont be my last.owned(own)2001 clk 430 cvt and thought it was the best car ever.Test drove 2002 clk 55 amg cvt and immediatly started looking for just the right one.Just drove"THE ONE"800 miles home and am in love.04 was not in my comfort zone price wise and did not even test drive.i dont care how dated this car looks.I have read the only way to tell the differance between the 430 and the 55 was on the track,well dont believe everthing you read.r.r

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  E 320 sedan - 2004 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By cormac - May 15 - 10:00 am

  A wonderful auto in most ways, well built and great on the road. Better gas mileage than expected.

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  Fun to drive when it works....... - 2003 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By EireForEvr - May 12 - 2:00 am

  Since the day I have taken delivery, I have had problems with the car dropping out of cruise control. There is a problem with either the Brake Assist System or the Electronic Stability Program or both. I am getting ready to take the car to the dealer for the 4th time. I dont blame the dealer - think I just got a bad car off the assembly line. Absent this problem, I think it is a great car. I love driving it.

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  Very satisfied - 2004 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Jim - May 5 - 1:40 pm

  This car envelops you with luxury like very few cars can. The interior looks hand-made, and the controls have a pleasing action and response. I was turned off when I first saw some posts regarding reliability problems with this model, but after checking the first owners service records I didnt see anything to worry about. Since then Ive only had one major issue (air-ride failure) which was covered under warranty. This car has so many unique and complex features, its bound to spend some time in the shop. That shouldnt stop you from experiencing E-Class ownership.

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  First Benz, not my last. Some problems - 2003 Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class
  By jwnpitt - May 2 - 10:00 am

  I hear many people say they wait for their benzs. I bought my 2003 CLK 320 right off of the lot and insisted on a discount too. I have never bought a car or helped a person buy a car, and I help many, without a discount off the sticker price. And what is with all the statistics stating the average buyer is 45-50, male and makes over $95000? I am none of those, I am 32, and make a good bit less than that. I know how to budget too. I would recomend a benz even with such faults. All of my friends with cars of all makes have complaints.

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  Its the Little Things That Hurt - 2000 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By mlosasso - April 25 - 10:00 am

  I had always wanted an E-Class Mercedes -- until I got one. Dont get me wrong: The car was beautiful and stylish. It is unfortunate that there were so many part defects such that it needed to be in the shop for about a dozen times over the three years that I owned the car. On top of the defects, the parts were continually replaced with the same defective parts, causing the problems to reappear every so often. Problems included the back windows getting stuck in the down position, the A/C breaking, the radio (which was supposed to increase in volume as your speed increases) would change volume wildly, and more. Very disappointing.