Bigger is Better (2012 Mercedes-Benz S-Class)

Introduction

Mercedes-Benz S-Class is a reference point for large luxury sedans, with specious coddling interiors, plentiful and useful technology, and a lineup that covers everything from a lower powered engine to the most powerful four-door production car in the world. A true competitor with the best describes the Mercedes S-Class. Names such as the Audi A8L, BMW 7 Series, and to a lesser extent the Lexus LS are often heard in the same breath when comparing the S-Class to other cars of its kind. This S-Class certainly takes it looks seriously, and will see a fair share of glued eyes on it. 

Which S-Class Do You Want? (Lineup)

2012 S-Class (Shown With Xenon Headlights)

The 2012 Mercedes-Benz S-Class line has five models: S550 ($91,600); S550 4MATIC ($94,600); S63 AMG ($133,550); S600 ($149,700); S65 AMG ($201,150).  Breath taking prices certainly, but soon you’ll know why it deserves such a hefty price tag.

All S-Class models include leather upholstery (yes, actual real leather), dual-zone climate control, walnut trim, navigation system with voice recognition and Zagat guide, heated 14-way power front seats with lumbar, heated power mirrors, 600-watt harman/kardon 15-speaker, 6CD, Logic 7 surround sound system with weather band and satellite radio, front/rear illuminated vanity mirrors, air suspension with ride height and damping control, bi-Xenon headlamps, and full power accessories. Most come with a moonroof and 18-inch wheels as standard. 

S550 has a 5.5-liter 382-horsepower V8 engine and an accompanying seven-speed automatic to spin the wheels. The S550 is also available in 4MATIC and it receives 15 mpg in the city and 23mpg on the highway. S600 comes with a 510-horsepower twin-turbo 5.5-liter V12 engine estimated to get a puny 11 mpg in the city and 17 mpg at highway speeds. Additionally, the S600 come standard with a five-speed automatic, wider rear wheels and most technology equipment standard. 

The all-powerful S63 AMG uses a 518-horsepower 6.2-liter V8 and seven-speed automatic transmission. But with such impressive horsepower and bigger engine size comes a suffering in the fuel department as it receives 11 mpg in the city and 18 mpg on the highway. Driving a vehicle like this you wouldn’t even mind that type of mileage considering the fun you’ll be having behind the wheel. Taking a slight step-up in the power department comes the S65 AMG, which boasts a 604-horsepower twin-turbo 6-liter V12 engine. Surprisingly, despite the shocking increase in power gas mileage matches the “smaller” S63 AMG. But price tag wise, you’ll see the S65 AMG stamped virtually every feature one could ask for along with a heart wrenching $200,000 price tag.

Safety features on every S-Class include eight airbags, electronic stability control and PreSafe which will close the roof and windows and reposition the seat and its pneumatic lumbar for an impending collision. Fully equipped models use radar to stop the car automatically from up to 125 mph if the driver fails to pay attention and can alert the driver to unsafe lane changes. Night View offers a black-and-white TV-picture-like image of the road and people ahead in the central dashboard area used for the speedometer (which becomes a bar-graph along the bottom edge while ancillary gauges remain as normal). 

Do You Like What You See?

The 2012 Mercedes-Benz S-Class has many similarities with regards to body panels and lines as it did for its 2007 debut; with excellent aerodynamics and a modern looking style. 

LED lights have become more prominent with most versions sporting white daytime running lights in the lower bumper, standing lights and parking lights that switch to amber for front signals. As parking lights a strip of LEDs below the headlamps and three vertically on the side illuminate, but as standing lights (as you might use when parallel-parked on a dark lane) only the three vertical lights and corresponding rear LEDs glow, so you could leave them on overnight without affecting the battery. New tail lights that get rid of the body-colored strips within are attention-getting LED as well; V12 models get adaptive brake lights that blink rapidly during heavy braking. 

The S-Class design has discernible fender flares front and rear, classic grille more laid back, and a generally flowing shape not unlike the sister-brand Maybach. These lines pay off in minimal noise and aero drag, high-speed stability, and an air of exclusivity afforded by the rear doors more than four feet long and the chrome strip framing the side glass. AMG models get quad oval tail pipes, a more aggressive look and air management with visual mass added to the lower bodywork, deeper grille and larger diameter wheels available with the Sport package on non-AMG models. 

Almost Like Home (Interior)

As expected with the S-Class model it boasts a large, luxurious cabin with all the features and amenities one could reasonably expect. Unlike others similar cars, the S-Class for the United States market comes only in the long wheelbase version. Long wheelbase basically means it is a version of the car with plentiful room up front and even more in the back seats. It appears to be an ideal fit for those tall drivers out there.

Heated, 14-way adjustable powered front seats offer three memory settings. These seats offer a wide ranges of adjustment including seat cushion length and will frequently adjust headrest height automatically, which like many controls, you can manually override if you please.  

Drive Dynamic front seats offer ventilation, four varieties of massage, further adjustments for cushion and back sides, lumbar and shoulders. Also, in what appears to a sport seat with the comfort of a fine armchair, these seats can inflate side bolsters relevant to cornering load to hold you in place without being confining. It is impressive to see what these can do for the driver, and how it can change the whole entire driving experience.

Not only is the driving experience enhance comfort wise, but this S-Class has made it even easier to see the road that lies ahead. Visibility is very good for the driver, with a sloping hood, reasonable pillars, parking sensors at both ends of the car, rear camera, high intensity bi-Xenon headlamps, fine-line defrosters, eight heated windshield washer jets, and rear headrests that drop out of sight at touch of a driver's button. 

Rear seating is not a problem at all in this car. With extensive legroom and four AC/heat vents, separate cabin and reading lamps, and overhead lit vanity mirrors this car is ready for any potential road trip. If those who you are carrying in the back frequently are worthy there is an available rear-seat upgrade package that adds left/right pillar mounted rear climate control, plus heated and ventilated power-adjustable outboard seats and headrests. Maybe for those who carry around young kids, there is the entertainment package adds a height adjustable screen with video inputs behind each front headrest, video inputs and a DVD drive under the center rear seat, dual wireless headphones and an individual remote for each screen and the car's main audio system.  Simply put, this car is as comfortable and roomy as a library.

One of my favorite features to talk about is the night view this car offers. With Night View engaged the screen (located at the top of the dashboard) shows an image of the view ahead with pedestrians highlighted, with speed along the bottom and warning lights superimposed around the periphery of the image. Its central line of sight location and crisp imagery make this the best system of its type. This feature promotes safe and courteous driving in city, suburb, and more importantly rural areas. I’d find it quite difficult to get into an accident in such a car.  Another exciting option to mention is unique to the average driver. Coined “Splitview” by Mercedes this is practically a life-saver for those who seem to have no fun riding shotgun. This Splitview feature lets the driver see one full-size image (map, radio, seat control) while the passenger sees another (a movie with headphones or map if they're navigating) simultaneously on the single central screen. Stunning right? Slide across the rear seat or walk behind the car and you won’t think that such a thing is possible in a car. 

Lastly, Mercedes-Benz dubs their control system COMAND. COMAND uses a round knob that rotates and moves in three dimensions, a mouse-shaped palm-rest that hides a 10-key pad within and four quick-access buttons across the front. Through a series of quick-to-master menus and scrolls it controls hundreds of things, and while you can rotate the COMAND knob to change radio stations you can also use the keypad to punch the number directly. The system is very competitive with Audi's MMI interface, BMW's newest version of iDrive and Lexus mouse controller. 

Bottom-line, this is quite a car. It is one the safest and most comfortable cars on the market today with reason. I could go on for days talking praising the advanced nature of this car. Mercedes-Benz truly out did their selves here with this S-Class, now all you have to do is go buy it and experience first-class luxury and prestige. Test drive it and you won’t question the price tag. Hope you enjoy!