Review of the new Mercedes-Benz S-Class

Every few years, Mercedes-Benz shows off its best stuff, an approximation of what the company understands to be the current state of the car maker's art. It's called the S-Class. The brand's luxury saloon flagship comes from a lineage that can be tracked back to the 1951 model 220. In every version since then, its aim has been to raise the bar in terms of engineering, design and technology, not for Mercedes-Benz, not for the luxury saloon segment but for the car industry as a whole. More often than not, the S-Class has hit its target.

The latest S-Class is a progression of the W 221 series model which debuted in 2005. Since that car was signed off, the Stuttgart firm's Research and Development operatives have been beavering away in laboratories, on test tracks and out there in some of the world's most demanding natural environments trying to make this version the best it can be. Being an S-Class, it not only needed to persuade the world's plutocrats of it's superiority over BMW's 7-Series, Audi's A8 and Jaguar's XJ, it also needed to serve as a window on the future with its array of technology. It's a tough gig in anyone's book, but Mercedes is confident of bringing the house down.

The S-Class engine range is weighted in favour of petrol with five of the six available units supping unleaded. The solitary diesel model is nevertheless, likely to be an important car in the UK and wider European markets. It's called the S 350 CDI and it develops 235bhp using its six-cylinders and advanced common-rail diesel injection system. The petrol line-up kicks off with the S 350's 272bhp six-cylinder engine and from there it's the 388bhp V8 power of the 5.5-litre S 500. The flagship S-class is the S 600 with its 517bhp biturbo V12 giving the potential for a 4.6s 0-60mph sprint. That only leaves the AMG models with their more sporting focus. The lesser derivative, the S 63 AMG, can hardly be described as such with 525bhp pumping from its 6.2-litre V8 but alongside the otherworldly shove of the S 65 AMG, it is overshadowed. Buyers who simply must have the most capable S-Class can shell out for this 612bhp V12 model.

".it's cleverer than ever and comes as close to the cutting edge of automotive technology as any car currently on sale."

The look of the S-Class has evolved down the years but slowly, in the style of all the best evolutionary processes. Sure enough, the latest car displays only a few minor nips and tucks to separate it from the previous version. The radiator grille apparently has more of an arrow shape to it but we'll take Mercedes' word for that and the 'discreet light-catching contour' that's been added to the bumper. More noticeable are the LED light clusters front and rear but the car's imposing presence comes more from its prodigious size than its detailing and that remains intact. It's the technology that usually provides the big story with the S-Class and with Night View Assist, Adaptive High Beam Assist, Attention Assist, Lane Keeping Assist and Active Body Control available, the car is certain to get its share of headlines.

Drivers will still need to resist the urge to clamber into the back seat for a snooze on their way home but if the S Class is any indication, the day when the car can tackle the commute without our input draws nearer. An array of cameras and sensors feed information about the car's surroundings and the forces acting upon it into a computer and form the basis of the high tech systems on the S Class. The car can detect pedestrians in the dark and highlight them on a screen to warn its driver. It can see approaching vehicles at night and dip its headlights to avoid dazzling other drivers. It knows when you're getting drowsy and can take measures to wake you up. It can vary its speed to maintain the gap to the car in front and it will warn you if you unintentionally drift out of your lane. The ESP stability control system is also taken to the next level with a crosswind stabilisation function that compensates for gusts of wind and Torque Vectoring Brake that applies braking to the inner rear wheel to give more precision when cornering.

As cars get more complex, the challenge of creating a control system to marshal all the functions without alienating owners becomes more demanding. Mercedes answer in the S-Class is the latest generation of the COMAND control system. The latest version features Splitview technology which enables driver and passenger to view different content on the same screen at the same time. It's necessary too, when you consider that the satellite navigation, internal music jukebox, DVD player, Bluetooth phone system and numerous other functions may all need to be operated.

The latest S Class innovations aren't restricted to safety and the control interface, Mercedes has also devoted considerable effort to giving its palatial luxury saloon a light environmental touch. All models benefit from aspects of the marque's BlueEFFICIENCY technology which runs to aerodynamic optimisation, demand-controlled fuel pumps and efficient gearbox programmes. The S 350 CDI is the star performer in this regard with its 37.2mpg economy and 199g/km emissions.

The Mercedes S-Class has always been a formidable rival for the rest of the luxury car sector to get to grips with. In its latest form, it's cleverer than ever and comes as close to the cutting edge of automotive technology as any car currently on sale.

TOP 5 S CLASS DEALS

The results below show the top S CLASS deals on buyacar

Mercedes Benz S Class S320 CDi 4dr Auto Diesel Saloon
Price £24,040 Read S Class Reviews	Save
Mercedes Benz S Class S350L CDi BlueTEC 4dr Auto Diesel Saloon
Price £53,081 Read S Class Reviews	Save £11,659
Mercedes Benz S Class S350 BlueEFFICIENCY 4dr Auto Saloon
Price £50,853 Read S Class Reviews	Save £11,412
Mercedes Benz S Class S350 CDi BlueTEC 4dr Auto Diesel Saloon
Price £49,481 Read S Class Reviews	Save £11,259
Mercedes Benz S Class S350 CDi BlueTEC 4dr Auto [AMG Sport Pack] Diesel Saloon
Price £54,579 Read S Class Reviews	Save £11,826
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