Mercedes-Benz S350d reviews: what the critics say

This is the best car in the world, said The Daily Telegraph. Or at least “it’s supposed to be”. It is the car in which CEOs work, diplomats shuttle to and from airports, and film stars are delivered to premieres. But where the S-Class was once the only contender in this arena, it now has rivals in the Audi A8 and BMW 7 Series, so this latest, seventh-generation S-Class “will have to work hard to maintain its standing”.

Inside, there’s a “mind-bending” array of tech innovation, said Auto Express, including augmented reality naviga­tion, 3-D digital displays and face recognition – but Mercedes’ engineers have been lured so far down the digital rabbit hole they’ve failed to innovate else­where. The steering, for example, feels “flimsy”, and the S-Class’s once impressive performance now “pales beside its electric rivals”.

It has some obvious failings, said Top Gear, including an exterior design that errs on the side of caution, but the Mercedes-Benz S350d is still an “astoundingly complete vehicle”, one that manages to conjure up a “truly contemporary vision for automotive luxury”. But it is also still a car, and whether you’re behind the wheel or sitting behind the person doing the driving, the experience is “deeply satisfying”. Price: £102,335.