The Mercedes-Benz S-Class has been labeled
“Best Car in the World” more times than Prince Harry has been stalked by
iPhones. But at no time has it deserved that title more than now.
Breathtakingly refined, yet agile far beyond what you’d expect of a car like
this, the W222 S-Class sets a new standard for luxury sedans on Australian
roads.
Our introduction to the new S-Class begins
at Melbourne airport, riding in the back seat of a long-wheelbase S500L on
20-inch wheels. It’s fully loaded with a 1540-watt Burmester High- End 3D
surround-sound stereo that shows off its credentials via retro,
perforated-metal speaker grilles littered throughout the cabin. Opulent almost
to the point of going overboard, the sense of luxury inside this S500 is
incredible – from the pillowy, suede-covered, goose-down-filled headrests to
the wonderfully smooth and level ride, to the uncanny silence. It’s an
unmatched first impression.
The
Mercedes S500 gathers miles effortlessly, pampering its occupants with low
levels of noise and miraculous ride comfort
Next comes another realisation. Not only is
our car not fitted with the Magic Body Control (standard only on S63 AMG) that
reads the road ahead through two cameras in the windscreen header and prepares
the suspension for incoming hits, those 20-inch wheels are wearing run-flat
tyres! So accomplished is the ‘standard’ air-sprung, self-levelling set-up that
you could easily be fooled into believing it’s the ‘Magic’ variety.
The road loop reveals one particular bump
that could’ve perfectly demonstrated Magic Body Control. After revelling in the
newfound turn-in through a preceding corner, both the 19-inch-wheeled S350 and
20-inch-wheeled S500 (each with 245-wide fronts and 275-wide rears) strike a
pothole with their front-left wheels that becomes the only chink in their
iron-clad refinement. Otherwise, S-Class’s dynamics are superb.
The Mercedes
S500’s interior is everything you expect it to be and more
With just 2.25 turns lock-to-lock and a
beautifully measured keenness, it’s the steering that highlights the huge gain
in this car’s agility. In either wheelbase, the S-Class shrinks around you,
devouring road lumps and challenging cambers with disdain.
You can choose between Sport and Comfort
modes, each altering the damping firmness and steering weighting, yet it’s the
Comfort mode that best suits the car, feeling crisper at the helm and gliding
more serenely over surfaces you expect an S-Class to waft over. If only the
Sport-Comfort switch wasn’t still set-up for left-hand drive. From the driver’s
seat, you can’t see it unless the leather sheath that covers the
proximity-sensitive numberpad is retracted.
Boot
capacity measures at least 510 litres; it's larger without the optional
Burmester High-End stereo system
Australia will receive three hugely
impressive drivetrains to begin with – a 190kW/620Nm 3.0-litre turbo-diesel V6
in the S350 Blue Tec (0-100 in 6.8sec), a 335kW/700Nm 4.7-litre twin-turbo V8
in S500 (0-100 in 4.8sec) and a 430kW/900Nm 5.5-litre twin-turbo V8 in S63 AMG
(0-100 in 4.4sec). Coming on stream in May will be an S400 with a 3.0-litre
twin-turbo petrol V6, an S600L V12 and a super-efficient S300 Blue Tec Hybrid
with a 2.1-litre turbo-diesel four and 20kW electric motor.
Mercedes claims each new model offers
between $7,500 and $15,000 worth of added “customer advantage”, and a
mind-blowing level of standard and optional equipment. Solar sensors for the
four-zone climate control that adjust fan speeds according to where the sun is?
No problem, sir. As you’d rightfully expect from an all-new S-Class with some
aborted May-bach in its DNA, the overwhelming feeling of this car is superior
to first-class air travel. Its stunning retro/modern interior fails to be
matched by an equivalent exterior, but the real beauty in this car is in the
details. And the driving.
