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Tags: TheCarEnthusiast - Mercedes-Benz S320 CDI

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TheCarEnthusiast - Mercedes-Benz S320 CDI
Inside & Out: (5/5 stars)

Mercedes' designers pursued a completely different school of thought with the new S-Class and the looks are a departure from those that have gone before. Where the older generation S-Class designs looked every inch their size, Mercedes has consciously set out to answer critics by using subtle shape and form to disguise the newest S-Class's true dimensions. The long wheelbase car we tested is a full 5.3-metres long, but in isolation it doesn't look it; only when you try and slide it into a normal size parking bay does the enormity of the car become clear.

Inside, that long wheelbase pays huge dividends when it comes to occupant space - especially in the rear. Even with front seats at the full extent of their rearward travel, passengers in the rear enjoy an expanse of leg room found in very few other cars on sale. As you'd expect, comfort is top of the agenda and the focus is perhaps even more on those in the rear than the passengers up front. In either space, the occupants enjoy wonderfully comfortable seats and plenty of room. There is a full complement of toys, as you'd expect, and the 'Comand' centre does integrate these quite effectively. However, there are still an awful lot of buttons spread around the cabin that take a good amount of time and familiarity to interface with effectively.

Engine & Transmission: (4/5 stars)

A new three-litre six-cylinder diesel engine provided the propulsion in our test car and proved itself to be a smooth and willing unit. Outright power of 232bhp isn't that impressive compared with some rivals, but 398lb.ft of torque - available from 1,600rpm - is the much more important figure. Thanks to this low and mid-range urge, and combined with the smooth shifting seven-speed automatic 'box, it's possible to drive this car around at a reasonable pace without ever seeing more than 2,500rpm.

That's not to say that the S 320 CDI can't provide more sporting intent when called upon, the gearbox keen to shift down and exploit the power available, but in most cases, and in the hands of the majority of customers, the relaxed nature and delivery of the engine and gearbox combination suits a limousine perfectly. Needless to say it's also quiet and refined and an average economy of 30mpg effectively renders the S 280 petrol model redundant.

Ride & Handling: (5/5 stars)

Active air suspension allows the driver to tailor the chassis settings for the type of driving involved. Be it wafting around town, accruing motorway miles or a spirited B-road drive, the suspension does a very good job of containing the S-Class's size and bulk. The three settings can be selected at the press of a button on the fly (though unfortunately this isn't independent of gearbox function) and the cosseting nature it provides in the urban environment is perhaps only overshadowed by how agile and capable it proves to be when pushed hard.

Equipment, Economy & Value for Money: (4/5 stars)

As you'd expect in an S-Class, the list of equipment is expansive. To fully appreciate all of the options would take well over a week's worth of motoring and extracting the best from the systems and their interfaces takes time and patience. The list of technologies and associated acronyms is too long to explore in detail here but we'd pick the Comand system and Distronic adaptive cruise control as the two highlights that provided most benefit during our time with the car.

Of course, the raft of safety features normally associated with an S-Class are ever present, perhaps only making themselves felt on the one occasion they may be needed, when the worst happens, but their presence and functionality are reassuring. Value is a very subjective parameter to judge at this end of the market. In isolation £60,000 seems an awful lot of money for a car, but consider the space, technology, equipment, comfort, safety and style offered for that price and it's hard not to consider such an elevated cost as reasonable value for money.


Overall: (4/5 stars)

The Mercedes-Benz S-Class always impresses in almost any guise. This diesel version brings added benefits in terms of running costs with relaxed and muscular performance. Other rivals may offer a more exciting driving experience, but as a car to be driven in, the S-Class takes some beating. The Best Car in the World moniker may be reserved for the high-end petrol version, but this car runs it very close. Read Article
TheCarEnthusiast - Mercedes-Benz S320 CDI



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ErichHartmannErichHartmann - 3/23/2008 9:15:44 PM
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The same engine is already sold in the US in the E, R, ML and GL320 CDI models. For the S-Klasse there currently exists no market for a diesel version in the US.

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jeffy210jeffy210 - 3/23/2008 9:23:03 PM
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I don't know if Americans would be keen on it, seeing as how the S-class it the flagship model and thus people are expecting it to have a large engine. If a diesel came over I could see the 420 CDI being used, but then there is the 50-state emissions problem.

On a side note. I saw more current S-classes in Hong Kong when I was there last week then I've seen anywhere in the US so far. It looked to be the chaufered card of choice.

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1995e341995e34 - 3/23/2008 10:37:31 PM
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didn't we get the gas powered s320 a few years back?

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Htay7500Htay7500 - 3/24/2008 10:19:32 AM
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s350. and it was gone in 05 or 06.

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investor27investor27 - 3/23/2008 11:00:29 PM
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I thought Mercedes is bringing the next-generation S-class, with a diesel-electric hybrid, over to the us in 2009 as a 2010 model.

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xj13xj13 - 3/24/2008 6:54:21 AM
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love this machine.

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djrickpdjrickp - 3/24/2008 7:40:15 AM
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Is it me or does the leather picture on the drivers seat look worn in the article?

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TurboSpyderTurboSpyder - 3/24/2008 12:01:06 PMView My AgentSpace
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Go0bama, if you recall, AutoExpress compared the LS600h to the Audi A8 4.2 TDI and found that the Lexus only got 19.4 miles per imperial gallon:

"After covering more than 1,000 miles, the LS600h’s average consumption was only 19.4mpg. This is highly disappointing from a car that claims to achieve 30.4mpg"

but the Mercedes-Benz S320 CDI is a true 30mpg car just like the Audi A8 in the AutoExpress article:

"The Audi averaged a far more frugal 31.5mpg, proving that the A8’s light weight and diesel power are a better formula for real-world economy. This means a huge 624-mile range."

http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/carreviews/grouptests/211689/lexus_ls600h_vs_audi_a8.html

And the AutoExpress review is pretty typical of all of the Lexus LS600h reviews as you would know by now if you weren’t in denial.


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CzelinskiCzelinski - 3/24/2008 9:14:40 AM
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This is even funnier! Go0bama needs to make retarded comments to feel valued.

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TurboSpyderTurboSpyder - 3/24/2008 12:11:50 PMView My AgentSpace
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From the last paragraph of the article:

"The Best Car in the World moniker may be reserved for the high-end petrol version, but this car runs it very close."

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Htay7500Htay7500 - 3/24/2008 6:49:26 PM
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what makes you say that?


TurboSpyderTurboSpyder - 3/24/2008 7:27:48 PMView My AgentSpace
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’Cause he’s delusional and wants to believe what he wants to believe in spite of the facts.



TurboSpyderTurboSpyder - 3/24/2008 7:34:20 PMView My AgentSpace
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Lexus LS600h finishes last in a Motor Trend Comparison of four luxury cars:


"4th place: Lexus LS 600hL
Overpromises and underdelivers on performance, fuel economy, and even luxury."


http://www.motortrend.com/roadtests/sedans/112_0712_high_end_luxury_sedan_comparison/judgement.html


Lexus LS460L finishes last in a Car and Driver comparison of five luxury cars:


http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/comparison_test/sedans/chauffeur_showdown_comparison_test+page-2.html
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