The latest fifth generation model continues where its imperious predecessor left off - at the top of the class. At a glance the latest version doesn’t look much different to its stately forebear, but it's packed with fresh design detail that mean it's much more modern but still unmistakably a Range Rover. It also retains the model’s unique blend of talents that sees it blend luxury, comfort and exclusivity with unrivalled usability and, of course, unmatched off-road ability.
Under the skin it’s all-new, featuring the brand’s MLA-Flex architecture that features an 80 percent aluminium construction for lightness and strength - torsional rigidity is up 50 percent over the old car. In combination with finely honed air-suspension, 48 volt active anti-roll bars and the availability of four-wheel steer, it means this is a Range Rover that handles with assured precision and surprising agility. It is also whisper quiet on the move and boasts a sumptuous ride that steamrollers awkward topography into submission.
Solihull’s lately-added straight-six diesel engines are carried over from the old model and with mild hybrid assistance offer all the urge you’ll need and emit only a faint murmur even when extended. For fleet operators looking to keep their CEOs happy, the plug-in hybrid P400e and P510e offer up to 70 miles of EV range, which means company car tax at a laughably low 8%. Those plutocrats more interested in performance than the fate of the planet can tick the box for a 523bhp 4.4-litre V8 taht will allow them to crack 62mph from standstill in a claimed 4.4 seconds.
Whichever model you choose, you’ll benefit from the same interior that effortlessly melds traditional club class quality and comfort with all the latest tech. There’s also more than enough space to lounge around, although that hasn’t stopped Land Rover from offering an extended wheelbase version too.
The S-Class is engineered to operate quietly and comfortably at all times. On both town roads and motorway it rides in isolated comfort and with plenty of trademark waft, although the biggish alloy wheels of current cars make them just a little prone to thumping over raised ironwork and broken Tarmac.
Mercedes’ very latest rear-seat entertainment solutions and sleeping-seat cabin configurations will likely come to the standard S-Class later, once they’ve been rolled out on the pricier Maybach derivative. Even without those accoutrement, though, this remains a mighty luxury conveyance.
Luxury cars – a class comprised in significant proportion of large traditional limousine saloons with one or two oversized hatchbacks and demure SUVs included – are the cars in which high-end executives choose either to drive or to be driven in.
That means they need to offer outstanding comfort both in the front and back seats, a silky smooth ride, excellent drivability and refinement, ample performance – and they must also serve as better status symbols than most things on four wheels. High levels of in-car technology and infotainment are a must, and connectivity systems that will allow such machines to be used as mobile offices are increasingly important.
While customers of the pricier Mercedes-Maybach S-Class get a choice of V8 and V12 powerplants, the regular limousine can be had as a -350d or -400d diesel, or as a -500 petrol - the latter also getting mild hybrid assistance. The diesels are pleasingly real-world frugal and smooth, and the S400d has all the performance that a car of this brief would ever need in any case; but the S500 offers an even quicker (and yet still suitable quiet and smooth) 400bhp+ option should you want it. There's also the plug-in petrol-electric S580e that could just offer the best of all worlds, with a combined might of 503bhp and an ability to travel up to 64 miles in EV mode.
The S-Class is engineered to operate quietly and comfortably at all times. On both town roads and motorway it rides in isolated comfort and with plenty of trademark waft, although the biggish alloy wheels of current cars make them just a little prone to thumping over raised ironwork and broken Tarmac.
Mercedes’ very latest rear-seat entertainment solutions and sleeping-seat cabin configurations will likely come to the standard S-Class later, once they’ve been rolled out on the pricier Maybach derivative. Even without those accoutrement, though, this remains a mighty luxury conveyance.
The latest fifth generation model continues where its imperious predecessor left off - at the top of the class. At a glance the latest version doesn’t look much different to its stately forebear, but it's packed with fresh design detail that mean it's much more modern but still unmistakably a Range Rover. It also retains the model’s unique blend of talents that sees it blend luxury, comfort and exclusivity with unrivalled usability and, of course, unmatched off-road ability.
Under the skin it’s all-new, featuring the brand’s MLA-Flex architecture that features an 80 percent aluminium construction for lightness and strength - torsional rigidity is up 50 percent over the old car. In combination with finely honed air-suspension, 48 volt active anti-roll bars and the availability of four-wheel steer, it means this is a Range Rover that handles with assured precision and surprising agility. It is also whisper quiet on the move and boasts a sumptuous ride that steamrollers awkward topography into submission.
Solihull’s lately-added straight-six diesel engines are carried over from the old model and with mild hybrid assistance offer all the urge you’ll need and emit only a faint murmur even when extended. For fleet operators looking to keep their CEOs happy, the plug-in hybrid P400e and P510e offer up to 70 miles of EV range, which means company car tax at a laughably low 8%. Those plutocrats more interested in performance than the fate of the planet can tick the box for a 523bhp 4.4-litre V8 taht will allow them to crack 62mph from standstill in a claimed 4.4 seconds.
Whichever model you choose, you’ll benefit from the same interior that effortlessly melds traditional club class quality and comfort with all the latest tech. There’s also more than enough space to lounge around, although that hasn’t stopped Land Rover from offering an extended wheelbase version too.
Good luck
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