Mercedes-Benz gives some models in its S-Class flagship line a stupefying amount of horsepower for a dignified, prestigious sedan. The S-Class once stood alone as the ultimate luxury car in America, far outdoing Cadillac. The higher-horsepower versions deliver a miserable 11-12 mpg in the city and 17 to 19 on highways.
(A fuel-stingy 241-horsepower diesel is scheduled for later introduction in 2011, but buyers best have easy access to diesel fuel.)
Introduced for 2010, the S400 was the first Mercedes with hybrid drive. Cruising at high speeds is effortless. “Smooth” is this car’s middle name, which can’t be said for some gas/electric hybrid autos.
It has sport and comfort shift modes and easily used steering wheel paddle shifters for manual operation. Outside of the outlandish high-horsepower versions, the S-Class isn’t meant to be driven really hard.
It has precise speed-sensitive steering with the right amount of power boost, secure handling, reassuring ride control and strong braking, with an easily modulated pedal. The S400 looks as impressive as other Mercedes S-Class models. Especially noteworthy are long, wide-opening rear doors. Mercedes long has prided itself on safety, and the S400 is packed with comfort, convenience and safety features. Lock the car remotely and the large outside mirrors automatically fold flush with the front-door glass to prevent expensive damage to the mirrors.
Comfort features include a dual-zone automatic climate control system and heated and ventilated front seats. The large, nicely shaped trunk has a wide, moderately high opening, and the trunk lid has an automatic closer.
The Mercedes Benz S400 Hybrid is the world’s first mass produced car with a lithium ion battery. It’s the first Mercedes with a hybrid drive. The S400 Hybrid arrived in US showrooms in August 2009.
HybridCars.com did our own mileage test of this big luxury sedan on the roads of Southern Germany. We achieved an impressive 29.3 miles per gallon—not bad for a car that weighs almost 5,000 pounds. The buyer of the S400 hybrid is probably just as interested in pairing the Mercedes three-pointed star emblem with a hybrid badge, to demonstrate a combined interest in luxury, refinement, and green status. As the hybrid version of the Benz flagship S-Class sedan, the S400 is powered by a mild hybrid system with a 3.5-liter V6 gas engine. Engineers made this hybrid system as well-packaged and light as possible.
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