Mat Watson tests the new Mercedes S-Class: see why it’s not quite as good as a BMW 7 Series

This is the new Mercedes S-Class. While it’s technically just a mid-life update for this luxury saloon, it’s the most extensive one Mercedes has ever done. Around 50% of this car is all-new to make sure it’s the most luxurious model in its class, but I don’t think they’ve quite pulled it off.

I’m going to tell you why by walking you through the changes to this car’s design, the new interior, I’ll see how practical it is and I’ll also take it for a drive to see what it’s like on the road.

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New Mercedes S-Class design: it doesn’t quite work for me

The entire front end of this updated Mercedes S-Class is all-new. It has some snazzy-looking headlights with three-pointed stars in them, but I’m really not convinced by the massive new grille.

The AMG-Line model I’m testing has a blacked-out front end, and I just think it looks a bit plasticy. You can get it with chrome surrounds, and doing that makes the hundreds of Mercedes logos much more noticeable, but even then I think it looks a bit tacky.

Changes down the side are less dramatic. There are some new alloy wheel options, and there’s a new camera pod on the front wing as well. The S-Class still has the silly pop-out door handles, which I really don’t like because they just feel a bit naff.

I do like the changes to the rear of the car. The new taillights look posher than before, and the entire bumper is also new and looks much cleaner. I prefer the back to the front, but I reckon this car looks the best from the side.

New Mercedes S-Class interior: better than a BMW in some ways, worse in others

The biggest and most obvious change inside the Mercedes S-Class is the massive new screen setup. Mercedes calls it the Superscreen, and it blends a massive central infotainment system with a smaller passenger display under one sheet of glass.

I think it’s a huge step up from the old interior layout, and I also prefer it to the slightly busy array of screens you get in the new BMW 7 Series. The infotainment system itself is really bright and easy to use, and it’s packed with clever features such as the ability to join video calls using the dashboard-mounted camera.

The only slightly annoying thing is the angle of the passenger display. It’s angled slightly too far away from the person using it, which means you have to awkwardly lean forward to see what you’re doing.

Mercedes has also updated all the materials in the S-Class. You can choose between loads of different wooden trims, as well as carbon fibre. You can also get more colours for the leather, including a green option which I quite like.

What’s not so good though is the interior quality, because it doesn’t feel quite as solid as a BMW 7 Series. Some of the plastics feel a bit cheap, such as the cover for the driver’s vanity mirror and the button to open the centre console, and I think the BMW’s seats feel nicer as well.

New Mercedes S-Class rear seats and practicality: lovely, if a bit dated

As you’d expect in a limo like this, the Mercedes S-Class is really spacious in the back. I tested a car with the ‘First Class’ rear seats, meaning instead of a rear bench there are two separate chairs which can recline, and it’s a really comfy place to sit.

While you’re laying back you can watch movies or join a video conference using the screens on the back of the front seats, and you even get a little remote control to operate things when it’s out of reach. That’s a clever touch, but it’s still not as impressive as the 32-inch cinema screen you can get in a BMW 7 Series.

I’m also not a fan of the wireless phone charger in the rear, which juts out of the centre console like an unnecessarily large appendage which doesn’t fold away. At least you do also get four USB-C ports to keep all your devices topped up.

Driving the new Mercedes S-Class: this is where Mercedes has nailed it

The best part of the new Mercedes S-Class is the driving experience, because the engineers have totally nailed the brief.

It feels like you’re sealed away in your own little cocoon as you waft down the road. The air suspension soaks up every lump and bump with ease, and it’ll even remember where the worst potholes are and send that information to other S-Classes. This way when you get to that area again it’ll slacken off the suspension to absorb the bump. It’s really clever.

What’s also clever is the autonomous driving aids. I was really impressed with the self-parking feature, which can detect a parking space before you get to it. This makes it much more useful than other systems which require you to drive past the spot.

I love the satellite navigation system. It’s an augmented reality setup which can project directions onto the road ahead of you in the head-up display making it almost impossible to get lost.

Cruising on the motorway is a breeze as well thanks to the excellent adaptive cruise control system. It steers to keep you in lane and maintains a safe distance from the car in front, as well as handling lane changes automatically.

My final verdict on the Mercedes S-Class: why does it fall short?

To drive, the Mercedes S-Class is my favourite luxury car of them all. No other car glides down the road like this one does, and while the BMW 7 Series does feel a bit more sporty through the bends I don’t think this is the point of a big luxury saloon.

However, where the engineers have excelled themselves, I think the accountants have held the S-Class back. It just doesn’t look or feel quite as posh as it should do for over £100,000, and if I was a buyer looking for top-of-the-range luxury, I’d buy the BMW 7 Series.

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