The Mercedes S-class is one of the best luxury limousines, loaded with gadgetry and creature comforts. The S-class was originally offered as the S320, which was replaced mid-2003 by the S350 L, which had a larger engine and mildly updated styling. When Mercedes designed the S-class, its designers were told to make it look lighter and sleeker than the tank-like earlier car, and they came up with a lovely, elegant look that has now filtered down to all Mercedes models.

 

The changes made when the S350 was introduced are mostly under the skin, but there were some subtle, but effective, styling tweaks as well: the grille was made more prominent, the air intake widened, the lamps given clear lenses. The S-class is a superb example of technology-led engineering, with gizmos like ESP, ABS, Brake Assist and ASR making up for the natural dynamic drawbacks of a large, heavy car.

 

Passenger safety has been taken very seriously, and there are plenty of airbags, seatbelt pre-tensioners and sensors to increase crashworthiness. The interior has been freshened up as well: the big improvement is the replacement of the confusing cluster of switches on the centre console by the COMAND system. This involves a LCD screen, surrounded by more logically arranged buttons that are more accessible and easier to use. Apart from that, no changes were really needed in this large, sumptuous and superbly ergonomic interior.

 

Comfort levels are sky-high, and there are plenty of goodies to play with. The driving environment is excellent, with great clarity and a highly adjustable driving position; but the rear, where most owners will sit, is exceptional, with the best rear seat in India, loads of legroom and lots of creature comforts. Goodies include heating/ cooling/massaging seats, front and rear, which adjust in over 10 planes, TV/DVD, four-zone climate control and satellite navigation, which as yet is unusable in India.

 

Confusingly, although the car is called the S350, it actually has a 3.7-litre engine, petrol V6 with 230bhp, six more than the 320. The new engine gives only marginally better performance, but with 0-100kph in 9.56sec, and a top speed of 240kph, this is no slouch. And remember the car weighs over 1.8 tonnes.

 

Performance within the city remains effortless and creamy, and you hardly have to kick down on the superb five-speed automatic gearbox; the best bit is that the engine is virtually inaudible at almost all speeds, and the car shuts out most exterior noise. Fuel economy surprisingly is quite decent, at 6.2 and 7.1kpl.

 

Afloat on air suspension, the S350 L literally glides over all of India’s worst roads, and when on its softest setting, you may hear very large bumps, but you feel almost nothing at all. Adaptive dampers mean the S350 L is very agile at high speed and easy to hustle through corners — although it is very large, it’s steering and chassis are so accurate, one forgets the car’s size. The steering is very well weighted, the brakes are awesome, and the car requires surprisingly little effort to drive. There are also parking sensors, which will make urban living easier.

 

The S350 L is, without a doubt, one of the very best sedans in the world – and that’s because it makes no compromises anywhere. Everything you could ask for is there – as standard. It is supremely comfortable, powerful, refined and astonishingly easy to drive.

Filed under: Mercedes Cars in India