Mercedes S-Class saloon: comfortable and advanced

Price: £66,910 - £179,985

Pros:Incredibly quiet, Luxurious interior, Futuristic technology

Cons:Large dimensions, Options are expensive, Some tech only available on top model

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4.2/5, Carbuyer "The Mercedes S-Class is famous for being the German firm's most luxurious and technology-laden model, and this new car is no exception. Comfort is a big priority in a car like this, and the S-Class is undoubtedly one of the most relaxing cars to drive (or be driven in) that money can buy.The long-wheelbase model is particularly luxurious with the Executive pack, which allows the rear seats to recline up to 43.5 degrees, so it almost feels like you're lying down. The range consists of an S350 V6 diesel, an S500 V8 petrol, an S400 petrol-electric hybrid and an S500 plug-in hybrid – all of which are quiet and comfortable on long motorway journeys.The price tag is high, but for many buyers the sheer amount of comfort and technology will make the S-Class an appealing car anyway. For buyers looking for an S-Class with the best balance of purchase price and fuel economy, the S300 BlueTEC Hybrid is the best bet. It returns 53.5mpg and has 115g/km CO2 emissions, so road tax only costs £30 annually – impressive for such a huge car. The S500 Plug-In Hybrid will return an excellent 90mpg and has 71g/km CO2 emissions, though at a much higher list price of around £100,000. It's exempt from both road tax and London Congestion Charge and could cost almost nothing to run if your regular journeys are short enough to remain in electric mode. Our pick as the car with the best performance and economy combination would be the S350 BlueTEC diesel, which is fast and still manages CO2 emissions of just 146g/km.

5/5, Auto Express "The Mercedes S-Class is essentially a showcase for Mercedes – a chance for one of the world's best luxury brands to show what it can really do. The outgoing car was already the best in its class, and this new one has managed to move things on even further. It can drive itself down the motorway, it can give you a hot stone massage, it's even available with a system that can see bumps in the road and effectively iron them out."

5/5, Parkers "The Mercedes-Benz S-Class has always represented the ultimate in technology. It's the car that the German manufacturer's engineers and technology experts really go to town on, pushing the envelope of what's possible in production cars today".