- Doors and Seats
4 doors, 5 seats
- Engine
4.0TT, 8 cyl.
- Engine Power
345kW, 700Nm
- Fuel
Petrol (98) 8.5L/100KM
- Manufacturer
RWD
- Transmission
Auto
- Warranty
3 Yr, Unltd KMs
- Ancap Safety
NA
2018 Mercedes-Benz S560 review
- Effortless performance
- Cutting-edge safety
- Superb comfort
- Polarising cabin design
- Conservative exterior styling
- Poor resale value
What is it?
It's one of the most refined and technologically-advanced vehicles on the planet, with the S-Class recently undergoing a mid-life update that brings a range of new engines, safety systems and conveniences.
The Mercedes-Benz S-Class has always been the machine that defines the German luxury brand; a car that breaks new ground while cosseting its occupants in ultimate luxury.
How much does it cost and what do you get?
The S560 variant we're testing here is probably the most conventional model in the range, featuring an effortlessly powerful V8 engine and a price tag that positions it between more affordable six-cylinder options and either the opulence of the Maybach S650 or the ludicrous performance of AMG S63.
With a starting price of $270,000 in regular wheelbase configuration – or $295k for the long wheelbase with even more space in the rear seats – it is a lot of money, but also a lot of car, not just in terms of its size but what you get.
Standard equipment includes a sumptuous leather-lined cockpit with automatic everything, seats that can heat, cool and massage your bum and back, an in-built perfume dispenser and a pair of 12.3-inch digital displays that house a fleet of functions, including internet connectivity, smartphone mirroring, controls for the ambient lighting, high-grade sat nav and a booming Burmester audio system. The upgraded S-Class also now includes an Energizing Comfort system that adjusts the lighting, smell and temperature of the cabin, as well as tapping into your music library to play suitable tunes while changing the style of massage function in the seats, depending on the mood you've chosen. It even has an in-built yoga-style instruction session to ensure you're both comfortable and alert behind the wheel.
From any seat, the S-Class is a genuinely pampering experience.
What's under the bonnet?
The S560 is powered by a unique version of the AMG-developed 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 that powers nearly all of Benz's ballistic hotrods, from the C63 muscle car to the GT sports car, the E63 executive express and the new G63 four-wheel drive.
But it has been de-tuned (slightly) for the mainstream Mercedes model to give it a more relaxed character, using an average of 8.5L/100km to generate 345kW and 700Nm, and driving the rear wheels through a conventional torque converter-equipped nine-speed automatic transmission.
It's a beautiful motor that offers effortless performance at any speed, with masses of low-down pulling power that ensures it can either cruise lazily or quickly overtake out on the highway. It is superbly accompanied by the automatic transmission that shifts seamlessly between gears, and is quiet when you need it to be while having a sonorous V8 exhaust note (without being as brash as a genuine AMG) when you stretch it past the middle of the rev range.
What's it like to drive?
There are so many words that define the driving experience of an S-Class, but the one that sits like an umbrella over them all is sublime.
Despite riding on large 20-inch tyres with low-profile tyres, the standard air suspension soaks up any road irregularities as if they don't exist while laminated glass and sound deadening materials also cacoon those inside the cabin from the outside world with almost peerless insulation.
While it feels as though you're driving on a cloud, the S560 is far from being a wallowing sea liner with excellent body control thanks to its continuously active dampers, well weighted steering and those grippy tyres.
If you choose the long wheelbase configuration, you can option Mercedes' Magic Body Control system which uses cameras and sensors in the front of the vehicle to map the road ahead and pre-emptively change the suspension settings to keep it sitting flat over any bumps.
What's it like inside?
The S-Class manages to fuse modern technology with classic luxury like few other limousines.
There's the usual array of traditional soft-touch leather throughout the cabin and large comfortable seats with plenty of adjustability and, as mentioned previously, the ability to cool or warm your back while having a massage makes long journeys thoroughly relaxing.
But then it never feels like an old man's machine with beautiful open-pore wood and real metal trim details, while the digital experience through the massive twin screens, and the ability to tailor the ambient lighting – including having different colours light-up individual areas of the cockpit – gives it a real sense of modernity.
In any case, even in short wheelbase configuration, there's plenty of space in the front and back seats, and the cavernous boot can easily swallow enough luggage for four adults on a weekend getaway.
Is it safe?
The S-Class has a long history of introducing cutting-edge safety technology to the automotive industry, as the first vehicle to feature systems such as anti-skid brakes and airbags – to name a few – over its lifetime.
The current rate of development in safety has meant Mercedes could no longer afford to wait for an all-new S-Class to debut its latest technologies, but this upgrade brings it in-line with the new E-Class that first introduced the company's full suite of semi-autonomous driver aids.
Essentially, the S560 is one of the smartest, safest cars on the planet with functions that form the foundations for the future of a driverless car, including adaptive cruise control and lane keeping assistance that can control the car for short periods of time in heavy traffic, as well as semi-autonomous parking, a 360-degree camera and nine airbags throughout the cabin.
Would I buy it?
It's a lot of money to spend on a car, but I'd definitely have an S-Class in my dream garage for its superb blend of comfort, refinement, convenience and driving dynamics.
The S560, in particular, sits in a sweet spot within the range, offering the kind of relaxed performance Benz's big limo is renowned for.
What else should I consider?
The S-Class' arch rival is the BMW 7-Series, which is just as opulent and up-to-date in terms of technology, but a little sportier in its driving character yet more conservative within the cabin. Then there's the new Audi A8 that is due to arrive in Australia within the next few months and promises to take the next step in driverless functionality while offering a beautifully Teutonic interior.
Or, for those after something with a bit more focus on the drivers there's the Maserati Quattroporte, Porsche Panamera or the ageing Jaguar XJ. At the other end of the spectrum, the new Lexus LS500 is a little more affordable yet equally as refined but doesn't quite have the same heritage or driver focus as the Europeans.
2018 Mercedes-Benz S560 Price and Specifications
Price: $270,000 (plus on-road costs)
Engine: 4.0-litre V8 twin-turbo petrol
Power: 345kW at 6000rpm
Torque: 700Nm at 1400rpm
Transmission: Nine-speed automatic, RWD
Fuel use: 8.5L/100km