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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  Good Car not Great Car - 2015 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Enna-2 - April 9 - 8:00 pm

  Technology in terms of the Nav system and Key fobs not being syncd to driver 1 or 2 buttons is a bit odd. Also a bit strange that for over $50k you dont get audible rear sensors for backing up. Car handles great though with great acceleration for the turbo 4. So plenty of power and compares well against most competitors in its depending on your personal driving preference. Personally this car strikes a great balance between sport and comfort. I have the Sport package, premium 1 package, multimedia package plus blind spot assist and rear view camera. Oh yes the rear view camera is an optional item that is chargeable. Again for over $50k? Come on MB. Anyway test drive one of these and I think you will be hooked. Still a great car after 16,000 miles. Only challenge are the tires which on the sport package models are staggered sizes, so you can not rotate tires and you will only get 20,000 miles out of the Conti run flats. Can no longer say great. Just can not afford $700 tire replacements every 15k to 18k miles and that is front set only. Then add another $700 for the rears at 20k. Started feeling turbo lag and transmission jerkiness after 2 years. Again ride is great but overall car is just ok and for the price (over $50k) you dont even get leather seats. So have to re-rate car and just say it is a good car but not a great car. Test drove a new BMW-330 and would probably go with it if I had to do it over. In then end traded the MB for a certified 535i and am very happy about my decision to get rid of it

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  3 Years and Still Running Well - 2002 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By lshelmir - April 8 - 1:33 am

  I purchased the ML as a replacement to a 99 Range Rover, to get me through college, and after driving for 3 Years, I feel that it can go for at least 10 more, the car is doing well. I feel safe driving it anywhere, and like the styling. I havent had any major mechanical problems, only minor things such as the battery, and brakes. The radio is better than some, but worse than others. The storage is great, I love having the 10 airbags, heater rest mode is a life saver in the winter. Drive quality is good, and reliability is unparalleled. Parts can be costly, but it is a Mercedes. However to tell the truth, I do miss the Rover, it felt more solid, both on dry road, as well as in the snow.

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  Looks good, poor reliability - 2005 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By TJR - April 7 - 11:40 pm

  Nothing but problems with the vehicle. SRS light on and fixed seven times, three leaks, the list goes on. And the most disappointing fact was the poor customer service I received. I was treated like an outcast and MB did not care about resolving the problems.

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  2015 C300 4 Matic -Mini S class - 2015 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By gottlieb - April 4 - 6:06 pm

  2015 C300 4 Matic Luxury Class

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  battlecruiser - 1997 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
  By hovocop - April 4 - 3:12 am

  I purchased this car a month ago used with 162000 miles on it. The price was right, and I thought it to be a "disposable" car. NOT SO!!!! I have driven much newer mercedes, and this 14 yr old car has not lost a step in performance or comfort. Beware of a "weeping" oil drip of this car. I was stunned and horrified when I discovered it. A little research on the internet told me that the oil should not be at the "max" of the dipstick. it should be in the middle. The key comes down to maintainance records. If you had an anal previous owner, you are in luck. If you had an owner who saved his pennies to get it (and did not want to spend his pennies to maintain it) you will have a bad experience.

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  I Love My Mercedes ML - 1999 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By Mark Godbee - April 2 - 10:00 am

  I love the performance of this suv. German car feel makes driving fun. I receive many compliments on this beautiful car. The rear could look less like a mini-van but the front and side looks awesome. After 101,000 miles, I have only had a few problems: window problems, cup holder, power-steering pump, sunroof, interior trim, tail light, and a/c fuse. But Im not picky. Warranty covered these items except interior trim. There are obvious quality control and reliability issues with the interior of this truck which can be costly, but I have yet to hear of an engine problem/transmission problem except for fuel pump. Be sure to buy extended warranty, I think its worth it.

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  320 review - 2004 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Pac Pac - April 2 - 10:00 am

  Dissapointing for a Mercedes Benz.

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  Some issues - 2006 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By HML - April 2 - 3:46 am

  Love the drive, the ride, and the looks... But Mercedes has some issues to work out. Nickel and diming on the options list for a $50,000 truck any way you slice it - doesnt leave the buyer with a warm and fuzzy. Had a 2001 ML - Dimming Mirrors, memory seats et al came with the package. Why cheap up? Nav/Radio/CD has died on me 3 times. Alternator took two weeks to get part after it failed. Hard downshift issue continues to be a problem - especially as I use it in moderate off-road. (Although DSL works great!) And Ive only had it since mid-September! If you go off road at all, get the air shocks. 19" wheels otherwise will bottom under moderate conditions.

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  great truck - 2002 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By richard - March 31 - 6:03 am

  This is a great truck/SUV. Mercedes finally got it right. It has power and the styling is unique. I really like this vehicle.

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  Smoth ride, wind noise, slow rain wiper - 2015 Mercedes-Benz GLK-Class
  By jennifer - March 29 - 8:09 pm

  This car ride very smoothly, but like the other reviewer, my GLK350 also has wind noise. And its always in the passenger front side. I took it in to the dealer and they had the window shield replaced. The situation still not improved. I didnt hear that noise when I drove Avalon or any other verticals. It was raining really hard today and my rain wipers werent fast enough for me to see the road, this were never happen in my past with the other cars. I will not buy this car again. * Correction: Dealer replaced windshield seal at first (did not work). Finally they replaced the front windshield glass, that got rid of the annoying wind noise.