The S-Class four-door spans a wide gulf at the top of the Mercedes range. 90,000 in its least expensive form and more than doubles that in AMG tune. Across the spectrum, the S-Class models share plenty of good things, from the latest safety technology to serenity at high speeds to a very spacious backseat fit for anyone with more than a "Mr." or "Mrs." prefix in their name. New in 2007, with a facelift this year, the big S-Class cruises in the pack of top-rated luxosedans along with the BMW 7-Series, the Audi A8, the Lexus LS, and the Jaguar XJ. AMG versions can rightly be compared with the Bentley Continental, Rolls-Royce Ghost, and Aston Martin Rapide. The S-Class has veered from bank-vault thick lines in the early 1990s to a more feminine sculpting late last decade to the current shape, a more masculine mix of crisp creases and subtle arcs.
It's not entirely cohesive, but the S-Class' sheetmetal conveys great road presence, especially from the rear quarters, where the perfectly blistered fenders intersect with a rising bumper line. This year the sedan gets a reshaped grille, new and smoother front bumpers, new rear bumpers, and LED turn signals in the headlamps. AMG versions also wear a new grille (louvered on the S65), deep air dams, and new 19- and 20-inch wheels. Hybrid versions can be identified by their round fog lamps and daytime driving lights. Aesthetics are calmer and more relaxed inside the S-Class, where a wide, ornately grained wave of wood bridges the cabin, capped by a large LCD screen for secondary controls and adorned by a minimum of buttons and switches. Gauges are lit in bright white. The shift control sits on the steering column, which frees the dash from the clutter that afflicts some competitive cars. Only a glitch or two, like the tacked-on ergonomic pad behind the COMAND controller, disrupts the cabin's design clarity.
Five distinct models make up the S-Class range; two offer V-8 engines, two have V-12s, and one melds V-6 and electric power. 92,000 S550, powered by a 382-horsepower, 5.5-liter V-8. Coupled to a seven-speed automatic and driven by either the rear or all four wheels, it can spool up to 60 mph in about 5.5 seconds while earning an EPA-rated 15/23 mpg. 150,000 price tag, its 510-hp twin-turbo V-12, its 0-60 mph time of 4.5 seconds, its peaceful whir-and its 11/17 mpg fuel economy. The V-12's five-speed automatic has manual-shift programming, but could use more gears for no other reason than total world domination. Thanks to a host of electronics, these S-Class sedans handle quite well. The standard air suspension gets adaptive damping in the S600, which tailors ride quality to suit rough roads or fast-change switchbacks. Even without it, the S-Class has a very absorbent, well-settled ride that manages to soak up small potholes with little jarring inside the cabin, while remaining remarkably quiet. One note: The base S550 adopts electric power steering that can feel relatively lifeless compared to the hydraulic-steering systems in other versions.
Two AMG models flip the S-Class' intensity switch to exotic mode. 134,000 S63 AMG installs the in-house tuner's 6.2-liter V-8 worth 518 hp, a 0-60 mph time of 4.5 seconds, and fuel economy of 11/18 mpg. 202,000 S65 AMG throttles the turbo V-12 for a stupendous 604 hp, ekes out a 4.3-second time from 0-60 mph, hurtles to a limited top end of 186 mph, and gulps premium gas at the rate of 11/17 mpg. The former uses the same seven-speed automatic as the S550, while the latter gets the five-speed automatic; both adopt AMG's SpeedShift controls, with three shift modes (Comfort, Sport and Manual) for near-total control of power changes. New algorithms for the AMG cars' Active Body Control settles the suspension more firmly in crosswinds, while a torque-vectoring system applies brakes to inside wheels to give the sports sedans better, quicker turn-in. Adaptive braking primes the pedal and pump so that drivers can call on full brake force more quickly, too.
88,000 S400 Hybrid is new for 2010. It pairs a lithium-ion battery pack with 20-hp-equivalent electric motors, a 275-hp V-6 gas engine, and a seven-speed automatic to provide relatively brisk acceleration and much better fuel economy than the V-8 S550. With 0-60 mph acceleration of about 7.2 seconds, it's the slowest and most fuel-conscious S-Class, with EPA figures of 19/26 mpg. The only thing missing from the S-Class experience with the Hybrid, aside from some steering feel lost to its electric power steering, might be engine noise at parking lot speeds, when the Hybrid runs on battery power alone. No matter which drivetrain fits, the S-Class' seats will accommodate four adults very, very well. The cabin's spacious and well designed, with tall and wide door openings for easy access. While the standard front seats are power-adjustable, leather-trimmed, and suitably wide and firm, we like the dynamic multicontour seats even more.
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