Mercedes-Benz's flagship sedan – the S-Class, is referred to as being the 'Best Car in the World', and for a reason. As the generations have gone by, the S-Class has progressed in terms of luxury, comfort and technology and has rivaled some of the best flagship vehicles in the business. The improvements aside, the 2017 S-Class gets six-cylinder and eight-cylinder engines to choose from.
Exterior
Up-front, the headlamps boast of three LED strips, called the 'Triple Torch' design. There are also projector lights incorporated that look pretty modern. Mercedes states that the beam from the lamp is so powerful, it can throw light up to 650m away. The large grille's vertical strips get a gloss-black finish, while there is a panel in the middle of the grille. The lower half of the bumper has large air intakes that give it a somewhat aggressive and sporty appearance from the front. Along the side, the S-Class looks elegant with those two creases converging towards each other. And the 18-inch wheels look quite nice. At the rear, the bumper gets a chrome strip in between the twin exhausts, while the crystal-effect tail lights look beautiful at night.
Variants
The Mercedes-Benz S-Class variants are as follows: S 350D, S 450, Maybach S 560 and Maybach S 650. Features include a panoramic sunroof, multi-function steering in nappa leather, two 12.3-inch displays with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, thermotronic automatic climate control, Burmester surround sound system with 13 speakers and ambient lighting in 64 colours, among other goodies. On the safety front, it comes equipped with Active Blind Spot Assist, Active Steering Assist, Active Braking Assist and Active Distance Assist, traction control and EBD.
Interior
The cabin of the S-Class feels very special. There's a lot of chrome, leather and wood around, and the infotainment system looks very modern. The steering wheel looks great and is rather cluttered with a lot of buttons. Many functions are found on the steering, and are user-friendly. There's even a touchpad at your disposal. Space at the rear is unmatched, and the seats are perfectly bolstered and provide great support. Push-button start is standard, and you get heated, cooled and massaging seats as well. The S-Class is rated a Level-2 autonomous car.
Engine Specifications & Performance
The Mercedes-Benz S-Class is powered by a 3.0-litre diesel engine that makes 282bhp and 600Nm of torque and a 3.0-litre petrol engine that produces 362bhp and 500Nm of torque. The former is paired to a 9-speed automatic transmission, and the latter is paired to a 7-speed automatic transmission. The diesel engine meets the latest BS-VI emission norms on BS-IV fuel. The engine is truly responsive, quiet, and there is barely any turbo lag, and the car picks up pace in a brisk manner. For a diesel, it is surprisingly quick with the 0-100kph sprint coming up in just 6.8 seconds. The gearshifts are smooth and it doesn't make a fuss to kick down Over bad roads, the S-Class simply excels with its comfortable ride, and there's very little body roll.
Mileage
The Mercedes-Benz S-Class' ARAI-certified fuel efficiency figure is rated at 13kmpl for the S 350D diesel model, and 7kmpl for the S 450 petrol model.
