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Luxury Road Liner
The Mercedes-Benz S-Class has long been hailed as not only the epitome of opulence but the precursor of new and exciting technology that will eventually be seen in production cars 3 to 4 years after their introduction in the luxury cruiser. Technologies ranging from infrared cameras and self-driving systems that we are seeing in current production cars were seen as far back as 8 years ago, indicating that the S-Class is the leader in tech introduction but also sets the barre for styling cues and materials that will be used for years in successive vehicles.
Related: Mercedes S-Class (2023) - First Drive Impression
Late in 2022 we attended the local launch of the new S-Class models as well as the ultra-rare Maybach models and have had to wait for the test units to finally make their way into the rotation. The S350d derivative arrived with a little fan fair but created a stir wherever it went and left a plush limousine-shaped hole when it was returned. Our time with the vehicle may have seemed criminally short but it was thoroughly enjoyed from the front and back.
Styling
Coming in at over 5m, the S350d is long and it needs to be to allow the extra-long doors to swing out almost 90 degrees to facilitate maximum ease of entry for the rear passengers. The vehicle is sleek and stylish becoming almost invisible at a glance, there is very little wow factor that attracts attention, most likely to keep the rear occupants as private as possible while navigating the executive boarding gates at private airports.
It may even be said that this a limousine, used exclusively as a passenger conveyance, luxurious but yet nondescript enough to slip by largely unnoticed by the slovenly masses. From the outside, it really is only its sheer size that sets it apart from other Mercedes products. A few standout features for us were the beautiful 20" wheels, crystal clear LED lighting, and imprinted Mercedes embellishments on the retracting door handles.
Although the S350d blends seamlessly into the background, for those that know, there is more going on inside that you cannot see due to the chauffeur package which blacks out the rear windows with privacy glass keeping rear seated passengers from prying eyes. The rest of the metalwork is draped in Mojave Silver paintwork and accompanied by an extra AMG line package to spruce things up.
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Space & Interior
If the outside is nondescript then the inside is an unparalleled luxury experience. Trimmed in a soft, supple white leather and illuminated with a plethora of lighting bands that change colour depending on cabin temperature, the S350d passenger compartment is as welcoming as a first-class suite on a transcontinental flight and that is exactly what this extra fitment is called, a "First-class rear compartment Package" at an extra cost of R 90 000 for the setup which includes a control tablet, wireless charging smartphone cradle, climatised seats, and chilled cupholders.
It must be said that in order to fully enjoy this vehicle, you need to be driven around in it but that doesn't mean that the driver gets excluded, quite on the contrary, the driver gets many of the same features and can be just as comfortable as the passengers but gets the added benefit of the control of the vehicle.
Comfort & Convenience
Comfort is first and foremost, at the centre of the S350d's purpose. The climatised seating will either cool or warm depending on the temperature set and individuals have the option to select from a list of body massages. Rear passengers have a detachable mini tablet to take control over climate, lighting, infotainment and privacy shades, allowing the driver to get on with driving and leave the passengers to their own devices.
The passenger side rear occupant is also able to, at the touch of a button fold the front seat forward, recline their own seat and release a foot rest essentially turning their pod into a comfy bed to get in some beauty sleep before arriving at their destination.
Performance
The S350d is equipped with a 3.0l in line 6 cylinder that delivers 210kW and 600Nm and then directs that power to rear wheels via a 9-speed G Tronic transmission. This results in a 6.4 second 0-100km time with the vehicle going on to a limited top speed of 250km/h.
As a passenger, or driver for that matter, the speed and how it is achieved is barely noticeable with the S-Class achieving its numbers with little theatre. The ride is pliable thanks to the adaptive air suspension that cushions and irons out road undulations that results in a carefree ride.
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Fuel Economy
In Mercedes' official literature, the fuel economy is quoted at 7.6l/100km. After spending time both being driven and driving ourselves the S350d returned very close figures, at a base of 8.0l flat and worst of 9.8l on the combined cycle.
We compared Mercedes-AMG S-Class engines, and the efficiency crown goes to…
Safety
With the S350d being largely a passenger transporter, it is loaded with safety and driver assistance systems to make the drive as safe and seamless as possible. ABS, EBD, TSC, and a full complement of 11 airbags as well as adaptive cruise control, lane keeping assist, surround view cameras, PDC and automatic systems functionality.
Top 5 safety features on a Mercedes-Benz S-Class
Price
There is an old saying that luxury doesn't come cheap and for all intents and purposes sporting a price tag of just shy of 2.5 million rand, the S Class doesn't sound cheap. However, if you take into consideration that a Volkswagen Golf 8 R is now 1 million rand, the price starts to sound pretty good, especially considering what you are getting for your randelas.
| Model | Price (incl. VAT) |
| Mercedes-Benz S350d L | R 2 435 939 |
| Mercedes-Benz S350d L AMG Line | R 2 512 639 |
| Mercedes-Benz S500 L 4Matic | R 2 735 064 |
| Mercedes-Benz S500 L 4Matic AMG Line | R 2 811 764 |
Competitors
With this class of vehicle operating in its own sphere of existence, there are not many competitors to consider. You have the likes of the BMW 7 Series the Lexus LS500 and Audi A8.
Mercedes-Benz S-Class colours and price guide
Verdict
If you are in the market for a vehicle of this kind, you are most likely not driving yourself and will sat in the back perusing the Financial Times being unconcerned about the price of fuel. With that being said, there are not many vehicles that operate in this market segment and the Merc is going to be a front runner and represent a decent balance between driver, passenger, tech, luxury, and convenience at a keen price.
