Mercedes-Benz’s S-Class has been a standard-bearer in the large premium luxury class of motorcars since the line was first officially introduced in the early 1970s. In fact the S-Class roots can be traced back to the 1950s when the so-called Ponton 220S was produced, and then through the early 1960s with the descriptively-named Fintail Mercs.
The W108 series that began in 1968 was a squared-off design that also had a number of “S” derivatives. In South Africa the most popular was the six-cylinder 280S and 280SE. A few 3,5-litre and 6,9-litre V8s were imported here and are very sought-after as collectibles.
Since 1972, the S-Class was freely available here in V8 form, and the current generation is the sixth. Since that time there have been many challengers to Mercedes’ crown as the producer of the best premium luxury car in the world, notably cars from BMW (7 Series), Audi (A8), Jaguar (XJ) and Lexus (LS). But none of them have been able to wrest the crown from Mercedes, and in most experts’ opinion, the current S-Class can in fact lay claim to being The King.
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The Current S-Class
The current Mercedes-Benz S-Class has been with us since late 2013, and was face-lifted in early 2018 when a whole raft of new technology was added to the car. It is a modern mechanical marvel that features a high degree of autonomous-driving capability, the car being able to follow well-marked lanes (good road paint bordering the edges of the road) even through a series of bends with the driver in “hands-off” mode! Automatic collision avoidance systems have been refined to a high degree.
Yet the main selling point of the S-Class is its overall integration of design, mechanical refinement and quite extraordinary ride-quality. The current car is so accomplished that when you drive it you never feel like you are wielding a machine that is over 5,2 metres in length! The seats are superb, the cockpit layout is a masterpiece of hi-tech that is extremely accessible, and the build quality is the best Merc has to offer.
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The Range
The Mercedes-Benz S-Class range was again re-configured in early 2019 with the introduction of some new models. The S-Class is only available here in long-wheelbase form, and all models here carry an “L” designation for “Long”. The models can be ordered in standard trim, or with more sporty AMG-Line trim. These are not to be confused with the sole Mercedes-AMG model, which is available in the S-Class range as the AMG S63. The two diesel offerings carry a “d” suffix.
Mercedes-Benz S350d L. R1 723 304
This is the entry S-Class model and has the lower-powered (210 kW, 600 NM) version of the 2,9-litre 6-cylinder on offer in the range.
Mercedes-Benz S450 L. R1 725 581
This is the entry-level petrol model in the range. The engine is a 2,9-litre turbocharged straight-six (286 kW, 500 NM).
Mercedes-Benz S400d L. R1 797 604
This is the more powerful diesel model with 250 kW and 700 Nm of torque.
Mercedes-Benz S560 L. R2 175 349
This is the acclaimed V8 petrol model, using a turbocharged 4.0-litre motor producing 345 kW and 700 Nm of torque.
Mercedes-Benz S600 L. R2 780 875
This is the V12 petrol model. The engine displaces 6,0-litres and produces 390 kW and 830 Nm of torque.
Mercedes-AMG S63 L. R2 942 300
This is the AMG-built S-Class. Its hand-assembled 4,0-litre turbocharged V8 produces 450 kW and 900 Nm of torque. The 0-100 km/h time is listed at 4,3 seconds
Which S-Class holds its value best?
It is a well-known fact that cars in this price range don’t hold good re-sale values, no matter what the brand. People who buy them seem quite happy to drop over R500 000 or more on the original list price when they decide to trade.
It is also a fact that cars like the sedan-based Mercedes-Benz S-Class and the BMW 7 Series have had much of their thunder stolen by the physically larger and thus more instantly-imposing SUV offerings in the upper price ranges.
Go for the S560 L
A sales executive we spoke to at Sandton Mercedes said that the most popular S-Class model of all is the S560 L. This car has the best blend of what most buyers in this league are after, notably that gorgeous V8. The standard, non-AMG spec of the S560 L also best represents the effortless power expected of an S-Class Mercedes, alloyed to amazing ride quality and an array of tech and creature comforts.
The second-best bet as far as value retention is concerned is the diesel-powered S400d. After that, the next most popular choice is the Mercedes-AMG S63. AutoTrader currently lists over 150 New and Used Mercedes-Benz S-Class models for sale. Bear in mind that some of these are coupe and cabriolet models not covered in this article.
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