Mercedes-Benz S-Class Review

In terms of motoring excellence it seems as if the Mercedes-Benz S-Class has always been there as a moving target for other car makers to aim at.

For more than forty years if you had to drive, or perhaps more likely, be driven, from Dover to Glasgow the S-Class luxury saloon has been the most comfortable car for the journey.

Yes, it’s got presence, but it’s not over flash and even in-house rival, the Maybach, failed to ruffle its feathers.

And each generation brings new technology to the world of cars.

The S-Class range is huge with a choice of four, six, eight or 12-cylinder engines, hybrids and even standard or long wheelbase models.

Significantly lighter and more aerodynamic than before, the car offers both better performance and lower fuel consumption.

The entry model is the S350 BlueTEC powered by a 255bhp 3-litre V6 diesel, while the range topper is the 577bhp S63 AMG petrol, but we went ‘green’ and have been driving the S300 BlueTec Hybrid long wheelbase in AMG Line trim.

It’s only got a 2143cc four-cylinder turbo diesel engine and a 20bhp electric motor but it does the 0-62mph sprint in just 7.6 seconds. Top speed is 149mph.

It rarely runs on electric power only, and even gentle throttle pressure kicks the diesel into life. You can’t manually choose zero-emissions electric vehicle mode.

Most of the time the S300 feels as if you have a normal V6 under the bonnet because the electric motor gives quick, instant step-off until the diesel is up to sufficient revs.

Slowing or braking doesn’t create the light grinding sounds you usually get with brake regeneration and in normal driving Mercedes says you might hardly use the brakes. 

The S300 BlueTEC Hybrid is only available as a long wheelbase model and weighs more than 2,000kg because of the battery pack which is good for ride comfort but doesn’t help handling agility.

The S-Class is no sports car but it masks its size and weight well. There’s not true ‘feel’ in the light steering but the car steers accurately and feels quite nimble.

The tyres and chassis grip the road well but a Jaguar XJ is more involving for a keen driver.

Balance is good through corners. This is helped by the suspension’s active damping and self-leveling. Selecting sport mode tightens up the dampers if you want less body lean in bends.

Electronic stability control and acceleration skid control (ASR) keep the torque arriving at the back wheels under control if you are over aggressive with the accelerator.

Turn it off, and if you get too feisty it turns itself back on. Safety is strong in this one.

All models have a seven-speed automatic transmission. Gears are selected using a transmission column lever or manually using small paddles.

The brakes were strong with consistent, progressive pedal feel. 

Quiet and smooth travel is what the Mercedes S-Class excels at. Wind and road noise is never more than a murmur and the standard air-suspension glides over most bumps, but it’s not a hovercraft and the wheels can thump in and out of potholes.

Put simply the S-Class makes even Bentleys and Rolls-Royces noise levels seem like cattle class train travel.

Because light, colour and smell can help us relax the S-Class offers a choice of seven different cabin ambient colours, an air cleaner that can also emit selected scent smells and even massage seats with different heating and cooling levels.

And after that hard day guiding your ship of industry the rear massaging seats can recline aircraft style to an accommodating 37 degrees (£4,335). What a fabulous way to travel.

The occasional noise and rattle of this particular diesel engine, which is also fitted in the lowly A and B-Class models, is out of character with the rest of the car. Most of the time though you would think there was a 3-litre V6 under the bonnet. 

The driving position is superb and compared to S-Class models of old the dashboard is a feast of modern technology but done in a classy way.

There are two 12.3in TFT screens. One delivers computer game style speedometer, rev counter etc and the amazing (optional) night vision assistance display.

It doesn’t just pick up objects but animals and people. You could certainly drive slowly, and illegally, without headlights at night.

The other screen shows satellite navigation information, radio or music choices or how the car is being powered instant by instant. Most info is accessed via the easy to use Comand (their spelling!) rotary control.

Some of the dashboard materials are simply gorgeous and emphasised by exquisite metal air vents.

The sumptuous seats, which along with their armrest are heated, can be upholstered in soft Nappa leather for an extra £1,740.

Incredibly there are no conventional light bulbs anywhere on the car. The cabin has 300 LEDs which can glow in colours of your choice.

Bluetooth and in car wi-fi are standard so you can enjoy 3D mapping with live traffic information.

But I wish they would change the irritating drive selecting lever on the steering column.

Because it is so elegant the big Mercedes disguises its size well until you get up close.

It’s big and sleek but understated with none of the cheap ‘bling’ that pollutes some smaller Mercedes models and there’s a three-pointed star badge on the bonnet rather than a huge one on the radiator grille.

The S-Class is a spacious car anyway but this long wheelbase version has fabulous stretching space in the rear compartment with wonderful seats both front and rear.

The rear executive pack includes powered side and rear blinds and ventilated seats.

There’s plenty of storage space, including a fold-down rear armrest with cup-holders and storage bin.

A 360 degree exterior camera view on the centre console makes manoeuvring less fraught in tight spots.

You only really remember that the S-Class is a hybrid when you open the boot and discover the reduced space needed to house the lithium-ion batteries.

Perhaps that’s why the 510 litre boot was not fitted with the £1,130 optional refrigerator which swallows another 40 litres volume. 

S-Class prices start at £66,910. The test car was £72,260 but options pushed the price to £103,185 so going green in an S-Class isn’t cheap.

But running costs are not so ruinous. True, you won’t achieve the official combined fuel consumption figure of 61.4mpg, but on long enough trips if not snarled up in traffic 40mpg is on the cards.

Some effort at economy driving techniques could push this big car to more than 45mpg and I have got lower figures from a Toyota Prius.

Carbon dioxide emissions on the official combined test are just 120g/km which means no first year road tax and then £30 annually. The warranty is for three years/ unlimited miles.

Service care packs for routine maintenance are available for a monthly charge.

Car residual value estimating companies reckon the S-Class will retain its value better than an equivalent BMW 7-Series. That would suggest around 44% for the diesel, but the verdict is still out on the hybrid. 

Time, of course, will tell, but the build quality of the S300 seemed exceptional.

The previous model suffered from some electrical gremlins; car going into limp home mode, Command system glitching etc and these cars are only getting more complicated. There are 98 computers on the new S63 AMG and we all know how computers can behave.

Older cars are often taken outside the dealer network to avoid £2,000 service bills or £600 to change spark plugs on V12 engines.

The body warranty is for 30 years against corrosion from inside to out. Breakdown assistance is also for 30 years (assuming terms and conditions met) so the S-Class is clearly intended for a long life.

Mercedes-Benz has a leading reputation for safety so it’s no surprise the S-Class again breaks new ground with features which will find their way on to lower models in due course.

Along with a plethora of airbags is traffic sign recognition sent to the instrument panel, a driver drowsiness monitor and electronic stability systems that even help the driver steer straight in a sudden cross wind.

A £2,300 driver assistance pack adds blind spot warning, automatic adaptive cruise control which keeps the car to the speed of the vehicle in front and lane departure warning.

Night vision for £2,250 uses thermal imaging to show pedestrians, animals and obstacles even before the headlights on high beam.

£1,230 rear seatbelts that feature integrated airbags.

You can also order a 360 degree camera system to improve safety when manoeuvring.

The car has not yet been tested by the independent Euro CAP crash testing organisation.