If you are told to think of a large executive sedan that is statement of success and power, what comes to mind? If I were to conduct a survey, I am willing to wager a huge proportion of participants would say the Mercedes-Benz S-Class. And, rightfully so.
The S-Class has been around for ages now and its formula has yet to waiver. It is big, has a distinguishable presence and always is class leading with its technology. But there always seemed to be a lagging problem; efficiency.
What do you expect with over two tons of German over engineering and fit and finish as tight as a carbon fiber weave?
Take for instance the latest city/highway MPG figures for the 2010 S-Classes: S65 AMG - 11/17, S63 AMG - 11/18, S600 - 11/17, S550 - 15/23. And after driving a 2010 CL550, I can confidently say these numbers are assuming you drive like a disciple of the speed limit gods. One hiccup in the traffic flow and you will quickly be looking at 11 MPG.
Thankfully, as we see a push for greener automobiles, Mercedes has taken notice and produced the new for 2010 S400 HYBRID. Staying true to S-Class innovations, it is the first mass-produced vehicle featuring lithium-ion batteries.
Here is the kicker to this very special S, though. It may be the best S-class ever produced.
Yeah, I said it.
Looking around the interior, you will notice that it is very much so a normal S. Everything appears very ho-hum with exception of the "HYBRID" badge that adorns the center stack. The interior accoutrements make it clear, this is only a "mild" hybrid, don't get it twisted. This means everything acts as if it is a normal S. It is not like a Honda Insight that feels like a tin can spruced up with four wheels.
Trying to spot where the batteries may lie? If I let you roam for five minutes in the trunk and cabin, to peer closer where most hybrid cars hide their batteries, you will walk away stumped. That is because they are not clustered in the floorboards or in the trunk. Benz has been wise enough to put the batteries where they belong, the engine bay. That's ingenuity. Thanks to this wise thinking, cabin space remains as plentiful as before and the trunk is still reminiscent of a cave. Pretty sure I saw some bats in there, no joke.
Where you may be disappointed is when you pop the hood. While you may have expected a V8 powerplant, you are warmly greeted with a V6 motor. But do not get bent out of shape because this six-cylinder is more than capable of the task at hand. Churning out 275-horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque, it certainly isn't jaw dropping by today's standards; however, include the 20-horsepower electric motor and -- are you ready for this? – you get an additional 118 lb-ft of torque.
This equates to an overall 295-horsepower and 284 lb-ft of torque. Although that may not be tremendously stirring by today's standards, it propels the 400 to 60 MPH in just over seven seconds and has ample passing power in any situation. It is like having a V8 from years gone by.
Oh, yeah. And it is much more efficient than its big brother, the S550. After a mixed week of city and suburban driving, I walked away with 22 MPG. Assuming you can wrangle out 15 MPG out of the S550, this is nearly a 50 percent increase in fuel economy.
Note: I was not even trying.
You can keep your big honkin' V8s, gentlemen. I will stick with the Hybrid. Boy, I never thought I would be saying that.
Another bonus is that this is the cheapest S-Class available, coming in with a comparative bargain price of $88,825 *including a transportation charge of $875. Oh, and another bonus: it is still eligible for a $1,150 tax credit. Of course it is not saving you a whopping but it still is something. After all is said and done, this winds up being a few grand cheaper than the next rung on the ladder, the $92,000 and change S550.
Let's review. So, the S400 is a "mild" hybrid that does everything an S550 will do just two seconds slower and about 50 percent more efficient at the pumps. What is there not to like?
Well, you certainly cannot dislike the rear seats and legroom. Our tester, which was equipped with the nearly $3,000 rear seat package, throws in power adjustable rear seats that are heated and cooled. After having a colleague chauffeur me around for approximately 45 minutes in the wee hours of the night, I can attest to the fact that this car is bliss for a passenger.
I nearly fell asleep. Scout's honor.
I guess this explains the reason there has been a surge in S-Class Benzes being used as "black cars" in New York and London.
After spending a week with the S, there was only one beef with the car. As most hybrids experience some level of "shock" during the transition of power, I was expecting the S to smooth that over quite a bit. I was wrong. Although it is not going to jolt you, it is still not as refined as a third generation Toyota Prius.
Although many enthusiasts are apprehensive when it comes to hybrid powertrains, I think there is one thing that needs to be said. For the right car, it makes a lot of sense. For instance, a city concentrated vehicle -- like the S-Class -- that is generally inefficient, can get a much-needed boost in MPG thanks to a hybrid system. The perfect candidate is not a performance machine intended for the track, it is built for daily driving and comfort.
Enthusiasts need to recognize this and learn to embrace hybrids because it seems like we will begin seeing these systems working their way into high performance machines. Look at what Porsche is doing with the 997 GT3 R Hybrid and 918 Concept. These are the vehicles of tomorrow, so stop drinking the haterade.
Speaking of tomorrow, rumors hit the 'net one month ago concerning the future of the S-Class line up and it going entirely hybrid, with exception to the AMG variants. Although it seems that there was a bit of negative criticism on AutoSpies, I would welcome this change with arms wide open.
As much as we want to believe that investment bankers need to zip from red light to red light on Park Avenue with 382-horsepower S550s, I am sure that they can survive with a V6.
Not to mention that MB needs to raise its MPG levels in order to produce those AMG fire-breathing monsters.
So, I pat Mercedes-Benz on the back. Job well done.
Oh yes and back to the formula. The S400 was the only hybrid I have ever fully enjoyed because it stuck to a simple equation: top-notch fit and finish + jaw dropping technology + superb ride quality - inefficiency = <3.
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