It is so odd to come across a car that a lot of people that come across it do not regard it as a “drivers” car but rather a car one needs to be driven in – in this generally sums up our review on Mercedes-Benz S350d. The S350d would be regarded as a classic car, essentially stemming from a history of being “no fuss” luxury transporter that most people would regard as opulence. The cabin is clearly laid out in Mercedes-Benz’s clean layout with the big infotainment screen being the center of attention on the dashboard. The cluster screen has also been updated with a digital cluster that also gives the driver the ability to switch between layouts.
Interior
Now we need to switch to the front of the vehicle for a bit – the driver and passenger can adjust the seats through the electronics laid out on the side of the doors, with the added benefit of the driver being able to adjust the passenger side setup through a push of a button on the driver door alongside the seat warmers and ventilation. The center console has a fixed screen that has the major controls of the vehicle, a slight space behind the screen that can be used as a small storage area, USB-C ports below the screen and in the center storage area. Overall, the font of the car is laid out with comfort being the center of the focus and, honestly, the trimmed soft & supple white leather, was a lovely cherry on top.
The rear of the car is more directed to a comfortable drive more than anything else, with the luxury elements directed to the passengers in the rear. The rear occupants also have the option to stretch their legs with a switch of a button from the rear seat or the rear connection screen. The digital platform allows the rear occupants to have a range of options, such as retracting the sunroof, completely adjusting the front-passenger seat to give them extra leg room, changing the ambient lighting or taking up the privacy shades when needed(also known as the “hater shade”) to close off the rear windows from the world.
Exterior
Let’s take a walk on the outside for a bit – the current S-Class has grown over the years. Taking motivation from the generation that was, the current model has grown up and yet remains sophisticated in its design. The exterior is remanence of the classic clean look that has been the S-Class and it has been cleaned up in a grown up way. The flush handles that retract into the doors add a clean look to the exterior.
The presidential tint for the rear occupants adds an element of presidential exclusivity – who wouldn’t like an element of privacy when being driven in an exclusive car?
The black finishes on the wheels also compliments the Mojave Silver, and the front grill looks to pay homage to the likes of the W126 S-Class – a classic of note.
Under the hood
The Mercedes-Benz S350d is powered by a 3.0L turbocharged diesel engine with Mercedes-Benz’s well-known EQ mild-hybrid system that enables the car to push 247Kw at 650Nm through the rear wheels – definitely not lazy considering that the car weighs just under 3 tons(approx. 2765Kg). The drive is also soft as the suspension rides on an adaptive air suspension system, making a solid effort on the ride quality. The fuel consumption is rated at 6.3L/100km and we managed 6.8L/100km, which was not far from the acclaimed fuel consumption.
Conclusion
The Mercedes-Benz S350d L-Base(long-base) starts at R 2 435 939 with the long-base starting at R 2 736 468 before one adds all the optional extras and Mercedes-Benz’s 5 year / 100 000 km Premium Drive maintenance plan. Personally, I’d take it with the driver. The plush finishes of the S350d make it all that worth it and enjoyable, whether you are being driven or are the driver.
And yes, in a time where BMW’s 7-series has bounced a leap ahead, does it really make a difference? Hopefully we can answer that soon.
