GO
GoAutoLogo
MENU

Make / Model Search

Car reviews - Mercedes-Benz - S-Class - S300 BlueTec Hybrid

Our Opinion

We like
Typical S-Class quality, silky ride, surprising performance, outstanding fuel economy
Room for improvement
Cost - despite being the cheapest, No S400 Hybrid variant

Gallery

Click to see larger images

14 Nov 2014

HERE is some trivia for you. The term S-Class is a shortened version of the German ‘Sodenklasse’, which translates to ‘Special Class’ in English.

While there may be sportier Benzs out there, none will get you from A to B in a more luxurious, technologically advanced and refined way than an S-Class.

The first five variants arrived in November with the final four rolling out this week, and while all variants are truly Sodenklasse cars, the S300 BlueTech Hybrid is notable for other reasons, too.

The S300 Hybrid is an important car for Mercedes-Benz. So much so that at the launch of the long-wheel base S400, S63 AMG and S600, only the BlueTEC Hybrid was on test.

Despite Mercedes' pride in their new machinery we wanted to compare the new S400 and S300 Hybrid back to back-to-back - and Mercedes agreed.

Hybrid cars have been around a while now, but we still find starting them hard to get used to - you press start button and it just sits there in total silence waiting while you wonder if it’s on or not.

It’s the same in the S300 hybrid, only it gets a little creepier as you press the accelerator and 2.1 tonnes of limousine slides quietly through the car park.

As you head out onto the road the diesel engine kicks in and you’re away, almost forgetting what’s powering you.

The drive train is made up of two power plants.

There’s the 2143cc (Mercedes calls it a 2.2-litre) four-cylinder diesel engine which produces 150kW and 500Nm.

The second unit is an electric motor, which makes just 20kW but a more hearty 200Nm and is engineered as part of the seven speed transmission.

Regenerative braking produces electricity, which is stored in lithium-ion batteries housed under the boot area for use when you’re just coasting – say around the car park.

Power from the electric motor is sent to the rear wheels via a regular drive-shaft and the diesel engine only comes to life if you put your foot down further.

We had a good opportunity to drive the S300 on a wide range of different roads and traffic conditions, starting with a 100km/h cruise into the city from Melbourne airport along the freeway.

The diesel engine powers up to 100km/h, but the electric motor can keep it there as you ease off the throttle, and by feathering the accelerator you can make the electric motor do all the work.

As we arrived in the city and joined the a traffic jam, the beauty of the electric motor came into effect again – we were hardly ever traveling more than 15km/h as we made our way silently up Finders Street under just electric power.

Sitting in traffic gives you the chance to look around and it’s hard to ignore where you’re sitting in a car like this.

The interior of the S300 is beautiful and comfortable, with the wood grain and stitched leather dash sweeping across the front passengers and through into the doors.

A blue strip of lighting follows this sweeping line into the rear of the cabin and can be changed through purple, red, orange and white.

The seats in the front are large, but still hold you supportively and they’re leather of course.

The two-spoke steering wheel has Mercedes-Benz written in cursive at the base, while two enormous 12.3inch TFT screens sprawl across the dashboard – one for the digital instrument cluster and the other for the infotainment system.

But confining an S-Class to city driving just wouldn't do it justice, and a jaunt in to the challenging roads and country north of Melbourne showed another side of the big Benz.

Pushing the S300 through twists and turns revealed a car that gripped impressively well for its size with excellent handling too.

The diesel and electric motors were working hard, but the torque from the S300 is more than enough to flatten hills.

Most impressive was the ride. The S300 was bolting along rough roads but the air suspension had it gliding with only the biggest potholes disturbing what was an almost perfect performance.

After swapping in to a more 'regular' S-Class and following the same test route, we were expecting the S400 to be a very different experience.

With the same suspension set up, but twin turbo 3.0-litre 245kW/480Nm V6 instead, the S400’s ride is virtually identical to the S300, so too is the handling.

Sure there’s a bit more power, but it doesn’t have the torque of S300, but if you're wondering whether the S300 drives as an S-Class should, the answer is yes, absolutely.

In actual fact the S300 Hybrid for $195,000 is the identical twin of the S350 for $215,000 in short wheelbase form. The only difference being that the S350 has a 3.0-litre six-cylinder diesel engine in place of the hybrid system, and has the LED intelligent light system and sound package.

Swapping back in to the S300 we reset the trip meter and took the long way back to the hotel on the other side of Melbourne, through the country, then highways, into the city and out the other side.

During our short time with the S-Class we didn't have time to accurately calculate its fuel consumption, but the on-board computer told us that the average fuel consumption for the 49km trip back was 4.7L/100km.

We weren't trying to get a good figure – We had forgotten all about that, and that's what is so special about this car.

The technology in this drivetrain is so good and works so well, that it drives and feels like an S-class should - and that’s special.

Click to share

Click below to follow us on
Facebook  Twitter  Instagram

GoAuto can help you buy a new S-Class

Customer Terms and Conditions – New Car Lead enquires

Agreement

This is an agreement between GoAutoMedia Pty Limited ACN 094 732 457 of PO Box 18, Beach Road, Sandringham, VIC, 3191 (“we/us”), the owner and operator of the GoAuto.com.au website (“the website”) and the person wanting GoAuto.com.au to provide them with a lead for the purchase of a new car (“you”).

By completing a New Car Lead Enquiry, you agree to the terms and conditions and disclaimers and acknowledge the policies set out below.

Terms and Conditions

  • In order for us to effect a lead you must you must complete a New Car Lead Enquiry (“Enquiry”).
  • We will call you as soon as possible after you complete the Enquiry and certainly no later than the next business day. When we call, we will discuss with you your new car requirements.
  • You consent to our passing on the Enquiry and your requirements to an appropriate authorised motor car dealer as a lead.
  • We will contact you again in approximately eight days following your initial enquiry to check on the progress of the Enquiry.
  • While we will provide the dealer with the Enquiry and details of your new car requirements, we take no responsibility for what happens after passing on that material as a lead.
  • You acknowledge that we are a new car information service providing new car editorial information, pictures and prices to our customers as a guide only. Any new car prices published on the website are the manufacturers’ recommended retail prices and do not include delivery charges and on-road costs. Any authorized motor car dealer to which we pass on your Enquiry as a lead will provide you with full details of the price at which the vehicle will be sold to you.
  • You acknowledge that we do not sell motor vehicles. Any sale of a new car to you by a dealer after we have passed on your Enquiry to that dealer as a lead, is a sale by that dealer not by us.

Privacy Policy– New Car Lead Enquires

  • We take privacy very seriously. We understand that you will only complete an Enquiry if you can trust us to protect your personal information and use it appropriately. Our policy is to ensure that the personal information collected when you make an Enquiry is only used for the purposes of connecting you with an authorised motor car dealer.
  • We do not on-sell information collected from you or any other customer.
  • From time to time, we may email you with information or promotions that may be relevant for car buyers. You will continue to receive communications from us unless you tell us that you do not want to receive any advertising or promotional information in the future by unsubscribing from these communications.
close
* Denotes required field
** Australian inquiries only

S-Class pricing

Motor industry news

GoAutoNews is Australia’s number one automotive industry journal covering the latest news, future and new model releases, market trends, industry personnel movements, and international events.

Catch up on all of the latest industry news with this week's edition of GoAutoNews
Click here