Road test: why the Mercedes S-Class is a tech-loaded glider

Since the W116 S-Class debuted back in 1972, the Mercedes flagship sedan has set the bar for luxury limos, with other manufacturers subsequently playing a hurried game of catch-up to try and reach the Merc’s lofty standards.

In recent years, it’s evolved into a more level playing field as fellow Teutonic brands Audi and BMW have become innovators in their own right, with the A8 and 7 Series often debuting pioneering technology ahead of the S-Class. Even so, the world sits up and takes note whenever a new S-Class is unveiled, and so it is with the latest W223 generation.

The newcomer has just landed in local showrooms and is initially offered in S450 4MATIC and S500 4MATIC guises, with the former priced from Dh477,726 and the latter from Dh498,542. Our test car is a fully loaded S500 4MATIC, bringing the price up to a dizzying Dh682,850, so be warned, the spend escalates rapidly once you start ticking option boxes.

Alternative engine

In the past, ordering an S500 meant you’d get a V8 under the bonnet, but this designation now corresponds to a 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo engine that ekes out 435 horsepower and 520Nm. It’s supplemented by an EQ Boost mild hybrid system that kicks in an additional 22hp and 250Nm for short bursts. Drive is relayed to all four wheels – hence the 4MATIC suffix – by a nine-speed automatic transmission.

Mercedes claims a zero to 100 kilometres per hour split of 4.9 seconds and top speed of 250kph, and these numbers seem perfectly respectable on paper. Out in the real world, though, the six-pot turbo motor can't match the effortless, silky-smooth urge that was provided by the twin-turbo V8 in the former S500. You need to get the revs up to get the best out of the new engine, and this entails greater noise levels and harshness than one might have expected. Fear not, though, as a V8-powered S580 model is in the pipeline and it lands here in a few months.

Lux design

Other than this minor gripe, the new S-Class comprehensively over-delivers in every facet. For starters, its design is an absolute masterpiece, both inside and out. Merc's stylists are always conscious of preserving visual links to past S-Classes while still moving the game on, and they've struck a fine balance with the W223. It has a wow factor and gravitas that's slightly lacking in its A8 and 7 Series rivals, even though these two are highly accomplished cars in their own right.

The cabin has a real sense of occasion, thanks largely to the cutting-edge virtual instrument cluster and huge OLED centre touchscreen that eliminates the need for buttons and switchgear as virtually every vehicle function is controlled via it.

There’s also voice activation that’s triggered by saying the words “Hey Mercedes”. It can even tell you a joke, if you ask it to. For the most part, the voice recognition works flawlessly, although occasionally it fails to comprehend what you’re asking of it.

Smooth ride

One of the hallmarks of an S-Class is impeccable ride quality and refinement, and the newcomer's E-Active Body Control, which features air suspension that can individually control each wheel, doesn't disappoint. The S-Class floats along serenely for the most part, yet select Sport+ Mode and it corners with remarkable agility for a limo that stretches almost 5.3 metres in length and weighs more than two tonnes.

New for the W223 generation is four-wheel steering, which reduces the turning circle by 1.9 metres by steering the rear wheels in the opposite direction to the fronts at low speeds.

Tech-tastic features 

The latest S-Class is loaded with too much tech to delve into all of it here, but one of the interesting features is PRE-SAFE Impulse Side, which raises the side of the car by 80 millimetres if sensors detect a side-collision is imminent. This enables the car's doorsill to absorb most of the crash force, which helps keep occupants safe. There are also cushions in both front seats that inflate in microseconds to push occupant towards the centre of the car, reducing their vulnerability in T-bone crashes.

The new S-Class is a tech powerhouse, as well as a thing of beauty. Job done, Mercedes.