2011 Mercedes-Benz S-Class Malaysia Reviews & Ratings, Expert Car Reviews on LIVE LIFE DRIVE

Combining unparalleled comfort, refinement and luxury with an unsurpassable image, the 2011 Mercedes-Benz S-Class is probably the most accomplished luxury sedan money can buy.

2011 Mercedes-Benz S-Class quick specs

Body Style	Sedan
Class	Large Luxury
Assembled	-

Engine Range	-
Fuel Options	-
Seating Capacity	5

2011 Mercedes-Benz S-Class ratings (overall rating : 4/5.0)

Styling
Handling
Comfort
Quality + Reliability
Performance

Roominess
Running Costs
Value for Money
Equipment
Environment

Styling

It is not easy designing a high-end luxury car to suit the tastes of diverse buyers around the world. The 2011 Mercedes-Benz S-Class has arguably succeeded with its massive road presence and aggressive lines. It may have lost some elegance in the process of bulking up, but there is no denying the sense of opulence that the 2011 Mercedes-Benz S-Class possesses in abundance. This is without doubt a car that turns heads and attracts envious stares.

Handling

For a car so large and heavy, the 2011 Mercedes-Benz S-Class handles impressively, thanks to its adaptive damping system that adjusts the suspension firmness according to road conditions. The tightly controlled body movements, masses of grip and superb agility are accompanied by an accurate, communicative steering, making the 2011 Mercedes-Benz S-Class a surprisingly entertaining car to drive. The title of the ultimate luxury driver's car still belongs to the BMW 7-Series, but the margins between the two arch-rivals are finer than ever before.

Comfort

Air suspension and adaptive damping combine to produce an amazingly supple ride over all types of road surfaces. Refinement is equally impressive, except for a little wind noise that is audible while cruising, but only because the engine and tyres are so muted regardless of the speed. The cabin is wonderfully comfortable for the driver as well as passengers. A multitude of seating and steering adjustments are available to the driver, and the COMAND control and display system has been improved upon, although Audi's MMI is still more intuitive.

Quality + Reliability

The beautifully crafted cabin is made from the finest of materials, with an abundance of polished wood and quality leather. Each and every panel is fitted and finished faultlessly. The switchgear works with the utmost precision, too. Judging from the attention to details, the cabin feels hand-built instead of mass-produced. Given the depth of engineering involved in building this car, the 2011 Mercedes-Benz S-Class should remain reliable for a long time to come.

Performance

Three engines are available for selection: 3.0-litre V6, 3.5-litre V6 and 5.5-litre V8, all of which are mated to the silky smooth 7G-TRONIC seven-speed automatic transmission. The 3.0-litre V6 takes only 8.2 seconds to complete the century sprint, but sometimes struggle with the Mercedes-Benz S-Class' sheer mass. The 3.5-litre V6 feels more up to the task of wafting the 2011 Mercedes-Benz S-Class around effortlessly, while the 5.5-litre V8 unleashes enough pace to embarrass Porsche owners. But when buying and running costs are taken into consideration, the 3.5-litre V6 is easily the pick of the bunch.

Roominess

Not that the previous S-Class was lacking room in any way, but the current-generation Mercedes-Benz S-Class has been made longer, wider and taller, translating into more room than occupants will ever need. For Malaysia, long wheelbase versions offering even more legroom are standard. The 560-litre boot is large and beats the BMW 7-Series' by 60 litres.

Running Costs

The running costs are competitive by high-end luxury class standards, but are crippling when considered in the absolute sense. Fuel consumption ranges from reasonable (10 km/litre for the 3.0-litre V6; 9.8 km/litre for the 3.5-litre V6) to heavy (8.4 km/litre for the 5.5-litre V8). Servicing and repairs are costly, although Mercedes-Benz S-Class owners can worry less about depreciation as the S-Class typically retains values in class-leading manner. That said, given the high original price, the depreciation amount is still substantial, especially for the V8.

Value for Money

Taking comfort, refinement and luxury to another level, the 2011 Mercedes-Benz S-Class also offers an unsurpassable image to match. The status quo between the two great foes remains unchanged, however: the BMW 7-Series still makes the more involving driver's car, while the Mercedes-Benz S-Class remains the more comfortable, refined passengers' car. It is extremely expensive to buy and run, but that changes little the fact that the 2011 Mercedes-Benz S-Class is probably the most accomplished luxury sedan money can buy.

Equipment

The S300L comes with all the equipments you will ever need: 17" alloy wheels, electrically adjustable front seats/steering/side mirrors with memory function, rain sensor, electric sunroof, independent front/rear climate control, COMAND APS with navigation and voice control system, 6-disc DVD changer, front/side/curtain airbags, and Electronic Stability Program (ESP). The S350L adds 18" alloy wheels, night view assist, rear seats with massage and memory function, refrigerator, TV tuner, and dual 8" displays with DVD player at the rear. The S500L further adds 19" alloy wheels, reverse camera, DISTRONIC PLUS, and front seats with massage function.

Environment

Both V6 engines emit 220-225 grams/km of carbon dioxide, which is in fact excellent for a high-end luxury car of this size. That, when considered alongside the reasonable fuel consumption, makes the 2011 Mercedes-Benz S-Class a relatively “green” luxury car. The V8, with 281-286 grams/km emissions and heavier fuel consumption, is of course significantly more polluting.

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2011 Mercedes-Benz S-Class Review

2011 Mercedes-Benz S-Class at a glance