2018 Mercedes S-Class Test Drive Review

Performance – The biggest and the most important change comes under the hood. The Mercedes S-Class is offered in both petrol and diesel engine options. The German automaker is offering the S450 with 3.0-litre gasoline engine which produces 367 HP of power. We got a chance to try out the S350d and this is the model which will churn the bulk of the volumes for the German brand. The S350d comes with next generation OM656 oil burner. After nearly 2 decades, Mercedes has ditched the V6 layout and now gone for a more compact in-line 6-cylinder arrangement. The S-Class is the only car in the Indian market which caters to BS-6 emission norms well ahead of time. However, doing all this on BS-4 fuel is nothing less than a technological marvel. Under the fuel filler lid are two openings, one for diesel and the other for AdBlue. In layman speak, it’s the AdBlue which does the magic of taking BS-4 fuel while delivering BS-6 emission standards. Don’t worry, you don’t have to top up AdBlue by yourself. There is a 25-litre tank next to the fuel tank which stores this magic liquid. One full tank of AdBlue is good for approximately 15,000-20,000 kms and the good guys at the Mercedes service centre will top it up for you when your car goes for routine service, all you have to do is fuel up your car with diesel, that’s it.

Acceleration in the 2018 S-Class is brisk

To cater to BS-6 emission requirements, Mercedes had to add a lot of tech in the engine bay and this is where the in-line arrangement has helped free up some space on the sides from the conventional V6 layout. This space is now used to pack the hardware to treat the exhaust gases which along with the larger catalytic converter, diesel particulate filter and Selective Catalytic Converter (SCR) along with the AdBlue tank keep the emissions as per BS-6 levels. The latest OM656 churns out 286 HP of power and a mind numbing 600 NM of torque. All this for a car which takes pride in having the ‘Best Rear Seat’ in the business is something to talk about. Power has been bumped up by 28 HP over the previous model and this engine now comes mated with a 9-speed multi-clutch transmission which in one word, is brilliant. Compared to the torque converter, this new transmission offers slick shifts and all this happens so effortlessly, you can barely feel anything while driving. The previous generation car wasn’t the best when it came to downshifting, especially when in a hurry. It would take its own sweet time but this new gearbox downshifts like a charm.

Performance is brisk with absolutely no turbo lag, the torque being available from as low as 1200 RPM. Give it the beans and the S-Class effortlessly darts forward with renewed enthusiasm and in doing this, is extremely refined. The previous OM646 engine had a distinct diesel rumble and was audible at maximum revs, but this one is so refined that it sets a new benchmark for engine refinement. Not only that, we were so amazed by this 3.0-litre in-line 6, it would be safe to say that this is currently the best 6-cylinder engine out there. Let’s talk times now, this car is over a second faster to the ton than the outgoing model and sprints from 0 to 100 km/hr in under 6.5 seconds which is pretty quick for a car of this size.

Driving Dynamics – The S-Class is famed for its stupendous ride quality and although there has been no change to the suspension, it still does a great job of filtering the undulating surfaces into the cabin. The sad bit is that Mercedes’ famous ‘Magic Body Control’ has not made it to this facelift. The reason for that is that the Indian government doesn’t allow certain radar frequencies for private use as they are exclusively limited for military use. ‘Magic Body Control’ uses radar technology to scan the road surface ahead (nearly 650 meters) and it alters the suspension settings real-time. This means no matter what the surface is, you get a supremely comfortable ride at all times. The suspension leans towards the softer side which certainly keeps the rear passengers happy. The steering is light, weighs up well at high speeds and does the job with utmost satisfaction. But if you are the one who feels at home on the racetrack all the time, then be aware this car is not meant for corner craving as its primary objective it to transport you in luxury. The BMW 7-Series feels better when it comes to driving around corners in a hurry but the S-Class does the job pretty well. That said, if you are the one who likes to take the wheel more often, you will be surprised by how easy it is to drive, plus Mercedes has added a lot of driver aids to make things little easier.

You now get ADAS or the ‘Active Distance Assist Distronic’ function, an adaptive cruise control system which uses radars to detect a car in front and the system can follow the car, make subtle steering inputs and even stop if needed and then start again. It can maintain a fixed speed on an empty stretch. The ‘Active Steering’ wheel detects lane markings on the road and will keep the car in the requisite lane if the car is drifting out of them. You also have the Blind Spot Assist and the Braking Assist which can automatically apply brakes when the radars detect that there is a chance of collision. Body roll is surprisingly well contained for a sedan of this weight (1990 Kgs) and you have the usual Comfort, Sport, etc. modes. The ride quality is best in the Comfort mode and once you move into the Sport setting, the steering weighs up, the suspension stiffens up a bit and these changes are obviously noticeable when you are behind the wheel. Moreover, if you are caught out on a bad patch of road, you can raise the ground clearance by 30 mm by the press of a button. The suspension will automatically lower itself by 20 mm in ‘Sport’ mode at 100 km/hr and in the ‘Comfort’ mode by 10 mm at 120 km/hr and by another 10 mm at 160 km/hr. This not only improves the handling characteristics but also reduces fuel consumption. Brakes bite well with high predictability.