The market is filling up with plug-in hybrids that make a lot of sense on paper but whose appeal slowly erodes as you become familiar with their real-world capabilities. The S500 is not one of those cars. It’s as driveable and easy to use as any S-class in the range, but more refined and impressively frugal within its comfort zone.
Once the battery’s flat, in normal mixed-road commuter use, it’ll return around 30-to-the-gallon. Most owners are expected to tackle shorter trips and a greater proportion of city roads than that usage pattern contains, and our test route suggests that doing so could add 50 percent to that real-world return.
The car’s four drive modes allow it to juggle electric and petrol power in ‘hybrid’ mode, to run exclusively on battery power, to maintain the current battery charge level in ‘Save’ mode, or to return the battery to full charge via the combustion engine in ‘Charge’.
The controls are light and undemanding, just as they are in any S-class – designed to be easy to modulate for unerringly smooth progress. The inconsistent pedal response of Mercedes’ lesser hybrids would never do for an S-class, but this one doesn’t suffer with it. There’s pleasing progressiveness to the initial brake pedal travel, and while you can just about hear the petrol engine starting and stopping as you vary your accelerator inputs, the engine response is always predictable.
Having almost 500lb ft available so far below 2000rpm makes a telling contribution to flexibility. You can make supremely laid-back progress in this car without dawdling or holding anyone up, simply because all that torque allows you to slip away from standing so effortlessly.
Refinement in the car is genuinely outstanding. If anything, the absence of combustion noise just gives you a greater sense of awe about the cabin’s suppression of road and wind noise, barely a whisper of air or rumble of tyres being allowed to disturb the onboard calm. The car’s ride is pillow-soft and quiet, taking the edge off both gentle and sharp intrusions brilliantly.
The S500’s luxurious bubble can be burst if you hurry it – not that you ever feel remotely inclined to. This car’s dynamic brief is about as single-minded as they come: be comfy. It’s wonderful if you drive it with the dignified restraint you’d need to keep a knight of the realm in the back seat from looking up from his iPad. Body control becomes imprecise, and the steering a bit vague, if you try to hustle it too quickly.
Join the debate
jtwarwick
Hushed, flexible and remarkable value for money.
jt
Frightmare Bob
jtwarwick wrote:Only a
I have to assume you have not read and understood the article properly.
I'm a disillusioned former Citroëniste.
jtwarwick
never assume ...
I read it very carefully, and again just now, and still i could fine no mention of hideous depreciation over the next couple of years. Good value? haha
jt
Christian Galea
jtwarwick wrote:Only a
As mentioned by other posters, there must surely be several persons who are considering this type of vehicle (even if perhaps you and I can't afford it) and read Autocar.
In addition, considering the reduced taxes/charges, ample performance yet good real-world economy and the fact that this is arguably on par with - and perhaps even better than - the ultra-luxurious Rolls-Royce Phantom costing several times more than this car with significantly higher running costs...then this really does appear 'good value' compared to the RR, Bentley etc.
- Follow your own star -
289
Irrelevant?
Also, when you are in this end of the market, depreciation is irrelevant and tax deductible anyway, so the potential buyer really doesn't give a damn.
Depreciation is only of interest to people like me who enjoy the fantastic value for money premium cars represent at 2-3 years old!!
Cobnapint
@jtwarwick
jtwarwick
please note ....
jt
supermanuel
jtwarwick wrote:i did not say
The first three years depreciation is the real irrelevance here as the vast majority of these cars are leased by business users. I currently lease an E-Class (a wonderful car and genuinely good value as a lease proposition) through my business and have every intention of replacing it with an S-class when the lease is up. It is all about the monthly payment and the BIK. the BIK on this plug-in hybrid version is so low that it would seem stupid NOT to choose it. Depreciation has nothing to do with it.
The Apprentice
I still find it amusing that
winniethewoo
@ Apprentice
Pages
Add your comment