Mercedes S-Class Saloon 2006 - Present

When you enter a Mercedes showroom with the intent on making a purchase you can virtually be assured of one thing – that you’re going to leave in a powerful car.  Most models have great powerplants throughout their ranges, but the S-Class probably starts at the highest point.  Having said that the entry level model retails at more than £50k, so you’re starting at a pretty high level of both cost and expectation. 

The new S-class oozes quality and workmanship from every part. The doors and boot shut with a gentle thud, the sort you imagine would accompany shutting a safe at Fort Knox.  In case you’re a bit light shutting the doors you’re helped by electric servomotors that finish the job for you.  Inside the car the leather trim is soft and sumptuous. Thin bright-metal inlays augment the glossy wood trim, everything feels smooth and solid and fits as perfectly. This is one quality object; let's just hope all that sophisticated technology proves robust.

On the road there are no dud choices, only better ones.  The start point engine wise is the 3.0L oil burner, which can get from rest to 100 kmh (62mph), in 7.3 seconds and has a top speed of 143 mph.  It can do this while offering 34mpg economy and the very impressive 398 lb-ft of torque delivered low down the rev range means that power is delivered throughout the rev range and is pulls like a horse.  Further up the range of engines the engines are all serviced by the excellent seven speed automatic gearbox.  The auto shifter can be overridden with steering wheel mounted override buttons.  As you go up the range there are small changes of acceleration and increasing feelings of effortless speed and power.  The 65L Bi-Turbo petrol engine can get to 60 mph in 4.3 seconds and is clipped to 155 mph at the top of it’s power, but it’s economy is 19 mpg, great fun if you can afford it!  The rest of the range also boast top speeds of 155mph and fast acceleration times. 

The S-Class is a heavy car which is never conducive to easy handling, but this Mercy uses technology to impressive effect. It has a very smooth ride as could be expected of a heavy car, but as the speed rises, the suspension adjusts itself, lowering the car and firming the suspension to improve body control to superb effect. The speed of the change in suspension settings can be set by the driver via the Sport or Comfort settings for the gearbox, Sport activating a firmer setting. The suspension is also able to monitor the way that the car is being driven and alter the suspension to give more control as required. The effect is to make the S feel much lighter and more manageable than it has any right to. In addition to this there is the option of an Active Body Control system which comes as  standard on the S600L and keeps body roll when cornering to an absolute minimum.

What the S-Class offers it’s owners is a limousine style ride, with all the trappings of wealth on the inside of the car, coupled with the performance of a high octane sports car.  In the Large Executive category it really is the car to beat and while it has a high price tag it certainly justifies every penny.

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