FIRST CHOICE SALOON (some text hidden) SECTIONED_new_mercedessclass_2021

By Jonathan Crouch

Here is the luxury saloon by which all others are measured. This seventh generation Mercedes S-Class is now even cleverer to use, but its real strengths remain in comfort and refinement. Jonathan Crouch drives it.

Ten Second Reviewword count: 46

You're looking here at one of the most advanced motor cars Mercedes-Benz has ever built. No longer is an S-Class merely about comfort, refinement and performance. This MK7 model also prioritises electrification, digitalisation and connectivity. There's never been a boardroom level luxury saloon quite like it.

Backgroundword count: 160

The Mercedes S-Class. It's traditionally been the sensible answer to the question every motoring expert likes to dodge - 'what's the best car in the world?'. Other vehicles can be more opulent, faster or better to drive but over the years, no other model has so consistently delivered such a technologically-advanced blend of automotive virtues. Here, we're looking at the seventh generation 'W223'-series model. No previous S-Class has ever been as complex, advanced or sophisticated as this one. Delivering this design - and it's all-electric sister, the EQS - has required a greater level of investment than any Mercedes has ever attached to a new model. Not just because of the new EV tech but also because there's a completely different engineering and technical philosophy in play here. A bigger step forward than any made with this model line since the S-Class, or 'Sonderklasse', badging was first introduced in the original 'W116'-series model back in 1972. Let's take a look.

Driving Experienceword count: 297

On the move, there's still nothing quite like the serenity and elegance of an S-Class and the cruising experience on offer here remains a particularly special one, even by the opulent standards of the boardroom segment. Exemplary ride quality remains this model's key calling card, even better this time round thanks to the way the AIRMATIC air springs interact with the heavily re-engineered 'MRA' 'Modular Rear Architecture' platform. The super-slippery 0.22Cd drag factor ensures that highway refinement is class-leading too: which is where you can make use of the segment's best developed 'Level 2' autonomous driving tech - Mercedes' Active Distance Assist DISTRONIC' system, which works with 'Active Steering Assist' to basically look after steering, throttle and braking duties for you at cruising speeds. The car's been engineered for 'Level 3' and 'Level 4' tech too - basically driving itself without you - for whenever legislation permits that to happen. For now though, you might be happy to enjoy driving it yourself, even in town, where this Mercedes eases through urban jams on a different plane to the motoring masses. Beneath the bonnet, all S-Class variants bound for our market feature in-line six cylinder 3.0-litre power, the options beginning with the 286hp S350d diesel rear-driven variant we tried. The same engine features with 330hp mated to 4MATIC AWD in the S400d. Or there's a 435hp petrol powerplant in the S500 4MATIC, which benefits from the brand's current 'EQ Boost' mild hybrid tech. That AMG-derived petrol unit also forms the basis for the alternative plug-in model, the S580e, which uses it in 367hp form, mates it with a 150hp electric motor and offers an impressive 63 mile all-electric driving range. Top Mercedes-Maybach variants get either a 503hp 4.0-litre V8 or, for the embarrassingly wealthy, a 612hp 6.0-litre V12.

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