Mercedes-Benz S 350 CDI - The Long-Anticipated Diesel Version Of Mercedes’ S-Class Flagship Luxury Sedan

Mercedes-Benz S 350 CDI Front View

Even when it comes to super-luxury sedans like the Mercedes-Benz S-class, it’s always the diesel versions that outsell their petrol counterparts in India. Even though petrol engines are inherently smoother and quieter than diesel ones – which is important in a luxury car – they lose out heavily on fuel economy – and that’s a benefit even a crorepati can’t ignore. Now, six months after the S 500 petrol, Mercedes has launched the S 350 CDI diesel, and here are our impressions.

A very important point for S-class buyers is that the S 350 CDI doesn’t look any different from the top-of-the-line S 500. Unless you spot the ‘350 CDI’ badges on the boot and notice that the alloy wheels are a smaller, different, 18-inch design, there’s no way to tell from the outside that this is the ‘lesser’ S-class. It still has that massive Mercedes chrome grille with a star emblem placed atop the bonnet, the intricate full-LED headlights are still there, and the rear of the car still looks very stately.

It’s when you step inside the car that you notice some differences. This diesel S-class has a little less equipment than the petrol, so, what all are you missing out on? Our earlier petrol test car had an ‘executive-spec’ rear cabin, with just two seats and a big central armrest, containing two fold-out tray tables, and heated and cooled cup-holders; this is sadly no longer available. What you get instead, however, is still very luxurious and a touch more practical. The super-softly cushioned seats can still be reclined, heated or cooled, and they can give you a massage too. And if you lift up the armrest, a fifth passenger can sit here as well. At the push of a button, you can move the front passenger seat all the way forward to give the rear left-side passenger a whole lot more legroom, and a footrest, which folds out from underneath.  The front seats are a great place to sit in as well, with soft bolsters, plenty of support and lots of adjustability.

“The diesel is still every bit as luxurious as the petrol version.”

Diesel engine is smooth, powerful

Other equipment that’s missing on this S 350 CDI is the night vision camera that helps you see better after dark, the 360-degree cameras that show you all four sides of the car (you still get a rear-view camera though), the position memory function for the front seats, and a motorised boot  lid. We’re sure your chauffeur won’t mind these omissions. Since most S-class owners are chauffeur-driven, the driving experience isn’t vital. That said, the 3.0-litre V6 diesel engine suits this luxury limo well. It’s nearly silent on the move and has more than enough pulling power to allow this 2,132kg car to cruise effortlessly. There’s no strong punch when you accelerate, but rather, a smooth surge, and in case you want it to be more responsive, there is a Sport mode. The seven-speed automatic gearbox also works well, but we felt it could’ve been a bit quicker to react.

 The highlight of this car though is its ride comfort, and few other cars on sale today can even come close. The suspension has two settings – Comfort and Sport – and both are very comfortable. We recommend the firmer Sport setting for driving over very bumpy roads, as the car will bounce around less, but Comfort is ideal for most situations. And if you tackle a really big speed breaker, there is a ‘raise’ button to temporarily increase the ride height of the car using the air suspension. In either setting, the way this car cocoons you from the road is just sublime.

With the S 350 CDI, it’s clear that Mercedes has retained virtually everything that made the S 500 a superb luxury car. You won’t really miss the gizmos that have been removed, and you’ll be driven around in one of the best rear seats money can buy. The engine is smooth and quiet enough for a luxury car like this, and that it will save you money at the pumps is just an added bonus. This is truly one of the best cars in the world.

Mercedes-Benz S 350 CDI Rear View