Mercedes-Benz S-Class Pre Model 65 AMG L 4dr Car Review - March 2012

The S-Class saloon is one of the best luxury cars on the market and the AMG is the ultimate of the S-Class. The engine is huge and the handling and steering are sharp and responsive, especially for such a big car.

The V12 engine is 5980cc and uses super unleaded petrol with a fuel tank capacity of 90 litres. There is a five-speed automatic gearbox, which provides smooth acceleration.

The engine is refined to the point of being almost silent and although there is a tiny bit of wind noise at high speeds, the saloons are incredibly quiet.

The 65 AMG L has a 621bhp engine delivering 737lb-ft of torque at 2300-4300rpm and reaches 0-62mph in 4.4 seconds with a top speed of 155mph.

The interior of the S-Class saloon is well-designed and high-quality, living up to the reputation of Mercedes-Benz as a stylish manufacturer. There is nothing to fault in the cabin, as it is decked out in sleek leather and wood trim.

The seat and steering wheel adjust comfortably and the dash is comprehensive with the Comand system proving easy access to the equipment such as satellite navigation and stereo, although it is a bit more distracting than the BMW’s iDrive system. The seats are supportive and comfortable and the visibility good.

The 65 AMG L comes with leather seats, power steering, cruise control, rear parking sensors, metallic paint, climate control, stability control, alloy wheels, Bluetooth, satellite navigation, MP3 connectivity and stereo as standard.

For fuel economy, the S-Class saloon has a start/stop system, which allows for great efficiency and low CO2 emissions – although the V12 engine all but does away with the efficiency of the rest of S-Class models.

The S-Class saloon comes with all the safety equipment you would expect in a high-quality car including driver, passenger and front side airbags, alarm and immobiliser as standard. It also has the stability control, Attention Assist system, which alerts tired drivers, the Pre-Safe anticipatory crash-protection system and a pop-up bonnet to protect pedestrians in the case of a collision.

Mercedes-Benz has a great record in reliability and came 6th in the 2011 JD Power survey out of 28 other manufacturers.

The boot is a fair size offering 560 litres of space. The S-Class saloon has loads of room in the front and in the rear, with back seat passengers having plenty of space for legs and loads of head room. The 65 AMG L is a long wheelbase version of the saloon so there is even more leg room than the short wheelbase, which will appeal as a corporate/chauffeur driven car, but not so much to car enthusiast drivers.

The running costs are usually surprisingly modest with the S-Class saloons due to the efficient engine stop/start system, but the colossal engine of the 65 AMG puts a stop to any supposed efficiency. The 65 AMG L model costs £163,630 and has a combined economy of 19.8mpg and CO2 emission rate of 334g/km.

The S-Class 65 AMG is incredibly expensive, but the performance of the saloon is brilliant and the V12 engine makes this the ultimate luxury car in one of the best luxury car ranges on the market. The long wheelbase makes it more suited to corporate and chauffeur-driven cars.

For the average S-Class buyer though, the smaller diesel engines will suffice, as they still provide a great performance and won’t prove to be quite such an expense to buy or to run.

The S-Class AMG comes with loads of equipment and is definitely not short on features as standard.

The resale value on the S-Class saloon is not as good as the less expensive E-Class. However, Mercedes-Benz promise good service and reliability as well, but servicing is expensive.