Mercedes-Benz S Class takes on new BMW 7 Series

Can the latest Beemer depose the S-Class?
1/9
Graham Scott|Whatcar14 October 2016

This is a major push by BMW to take the luxury limousine crown, a crown which has been worn by the Mercedes S-Class for many years. This is a full-on assault, with a new car, new platform, new equipment and uprated everything. Can it finally succeed?

In a car like this, executive comfort is critical, and to this end the BMW has a new platform featuring light plastics reinforced with carbon fibre. Also, on our test car, the standard adaptive air suspension had some more extras added in a bid to perfect the performance.

Active anti-roll bars are part of Executive Drive Pro, and they are joined here by Integral Active Steering to add four-wheel steering to the mix. That’s over £3500 of extras yet despite all this the BMW still doesn’t quite trump the Mercedes in this critical department. True, it corners flatter and would probably be better when pushed to the edge, but the steering isn’t as satisfying as it is in the S-Class. The result is that you have a touch more confidence in the Mercedes to thread the large car through fast bends or city traffic.

At lower speeds the Mercedes is more serene even over rough surfaces, and the 3.0-litre diesel is extremely easy to waft around in. However, when you need to press on the seven-speed transmission is a touch slow and occasionally has a moment of dither, which isn’t welcome when you’re about to pull out of a junction.

In contrast the BMW’s eight-speed box is quicker and sharper and helps its 3.0-litre six-cylinder diesel push on hard and get ahead of the Mercedes.

Whichever car you’re in, you’ll be in one of the most luxurious and sumptuous cabins on the market. If you’re in the back then you are lounging in an extended wheelbase space in either car, but even the standard level of luxury wasn’t enough for either manufacturer for this test. Both added rear-seat comfort packs, which added everything from rear-area entertainment, bigger and more comfy seats, better sound systems and the like. That’s at a cost of about £3500 in the S-Class and £4815 in the 7 Series.

In either cabin you’re spoilt rotten, with gorgeous materials, even nice aromas, subtle lighting and all the things you can’t afford at home. Drivers sit in front of a row of technology with a 10.3in dashboard screen in the BMW and a 12.3in screen in the Mercedes. The BMW has perhaps the slightly better interaction but the Mercedes has the slightly more luxurious cabin, although we’re talking at the very top of the spectrum for either.

Needless to say, both cars come heavily equipped with pretty much every trinket you could think of and then some more. However, we do note that both cars came with a long list of extras. There’s also tit for tat on equipment choices. For example the BMW has rear-area climate control as standard, yet that’s a £1170 extra on the S-Class. But the Mercedes responds with adaptive headlights as standard, yet they’re a £1360 extra on the BMW.

If you’re paying cash then the Mercedes would work out cheaper both in terms of purchase price and depreciation, but for leasing or as a company car the BMW comes out on top. We thought we’d let you know that, as if you cared, if you can afford either.

Taken in the round, the BMW 7 Series has made strides forward and now beats the Mercedes S-Class. In some areas. It’s a terrific limousine, yet even with these latest advancements it still can’t quite match the S-Class for overall refinement in important areas like ride, cabin and steering. Close but no cigar. 

Mercedes-Benz S350d SE Line L - Rated 5 out of 5
Engine size 3.0-litre diesel
List price £68,870
Target Price £56,266
Power 255bhp
Torque 457lb ft
0-60mph 7.2sec
Top speed 155mph
Gov't fuel economy 52.3mpg
True MPG 34.7mpg
CO2 emissions 148g/km

BMW 7 Series 730Ld - Rated 4 out of 5
Engine size 3.0-litre diesel
List price £67,480
Target Price £58,728
Power 261bhp
Torque 457lb ft
0-60mph 6.3sec
Top speed 155mph
Gov't fuel economy 58.9mpg
True MPG N/A
CO2 emissions 127g/km

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