Introduction
You read our review of the S-class powered by the new diesel engine, which has been significantly engineered to meet India’s upcoming BS-VI emission standards. The car we are driving today is a V6 petrol powered S-class. It is the same engine from the older S400. However, being a petrol motor one can expect it to be refined, a feature one would expect from a car like the S-class.
The insides and outsides of the petrol and diesel remain more or less the same. It comes equipped with the same new headlights, taillights and front and rear ends.
On the inside
Just like the diesel, everything is well designed and oozes luxury. The car is also equipped with the updated 64 colour ambient lighting and wireless charging for your smartphone. However, the charging pad isn’t big enough to fit large phones. The car uses a new steering wheel that comes with a lot more buttons this time around, including one for cruise control.
The car also features two mini touch pads that first made their appearance on the new E-class. The car is also equipped with large screens that can be customised to display a variety of information. However, it is the comfort that what the S-class is all about. This car loses out on the massage and memory function on the front seats, this is strange considering its Rs 1.4 crore price tag. However the rear seats do feature this function with the addition of reclining and cooling technology.
How does it drive?
In terms of handling, the diesel S 450 is the same as the S 350d. The car features air-suspension all around offers extremely nice ride quality. One would have to encounter a large pothole or speed breaker to feel any form of discomfort. The tyres on the car have a sidewall that is 50 section which further adds to the comfort levels. The S-class does tend to get wallowy on rough sections of road at higher speeds, best to be in Sport mode at this time. However, don’t except it become a sporty handling car; it just slightly reduces the body roll.
Being the petrol model one can expect a slight gain in performance over the diesel owing to the V6 that makes 367hp and 500Nm of torque. This is an increase of 34hp and 20Nm of torque over the older S 400. The car also has a 0-100kph time of 5.1 seconds which is impressive. This car also gets two additional gears, taking the total to nine.
The car takes off well off the line, shifting through the first few gears quickly. The car lacks the surge that one can find in say, a V8 or V12 alternative. But it is undoubtedly quicker than the diesel even though it has about 100Nm less of torque.
Features
The S-class is a level-2 autonomous driving vehicle, thanks to Mercedes finally being able to bring the radar –based tech in India. The car can park itself and even drive itself for a limited time. The Merc also features Active Braking Assist that will give you a warning and then apply brakes if there is an obstacle in front of the car. Other features include Active Steering Assist, this will keep the car between the white lines for a certain period of time. It can also be set to follow a car ahead of it.
Should I buy one?
The petrol S-class hasn’t ever been a big seller; most buyers continue to opt for the diesel model. This is a big reason why the engine hasn’t been updated in India and we continue to get the same old V6. The company put all its attention on the new diesel motor-powered S-class instead. Most buyers in this market for a petrol S-class end up buying the V8-powered Maybach S-class. However, you do save Rs 57 lakh getting this model combined with all the tech you get as standard it appears to be better value. So, while it may still not be the most popular S-class to buy, it is now a better deal than the previous model.
