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Statistics

How much? £59,885
Engine: 2987cc 24v turbodiesel, 232bhp @ 3800rpm, 398lb ft @ 1600-2400rpm
Transmission: Seven-speed automatic, rear-wheel drive
Performance: 7.5sec 0-62mph, 155mph, 33.6mpg, 223g/km CO2
How heavy / made of? 2030kg/steel
How big (length/width/height in mm)? 5206/1871/1473
Need to know

CAR's rating

Rated 4 out of 54

Handling

Rated 4 out of 54

Performance

Rated 4 out of 54

Usability

Rated 5 out of 55

Feelgood factor

Rated 5 out of 55

Readers' rating

Rated 2.5 out of 52.5

Mercedes S320 CDI LWB (2008) CAR review

By Ben Pulman

First Drives

02 June 2008 12:30

The best car Mercedes makes? Surely it’s got to be the S320 CDI. The S-class absolutely dominates its market segment and, according to Merc, nearly 25 percent of all limos sold in the UK are the diesel S320 CDI. That’s absolute hegemony in the car market, and it’s not like there isn’t any opposition from BMW, Audi and Jaguar.

But if you wanted to dismiss the opponents off-hand, then you can do so rather easily. The Audi A8 is too hard-riding and too numb at the helm, the BMW 7-series is too dated, and the Jaguar XJ is too cramped and old-hat. And don't get us started on the VW Phaeton. That leaves us with the Mercedes S-class as the default choice. But don’t think the big Merc isn’t there without its own merits. This is one exceptionally good car.

Fair enough, but I’m not sure I like the look of the Mercedes S320 CDI...

Looks are of course subjective, but when this W221 S-class was released it didn’t have the style of the CLS, or the teutonic tough looks of previous big Mercs. Blame the extravagantly flared wheelarches, double-decker boot lifted from the Maybach, and the headlights that don’t run in line with that glitzy grille.

But the current S-class has been around for a few years now and constant exposure has either bred indifference or appreciation. Those wheel arches look pleasingly muscular when fitted with the default option 19-inch AMG rims, and our test car looked great on its £680 18-inch wheels

Click 'Next' below to read more of our Mercedes S320 CDI first drive

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Average rating: Rated 2.5 out of 52.5 (86 votes)

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Mercedes S320 CDI LWB (2008) CAR review

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ga41

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ga41 says

RE: Mercedes S320 CDI LWB CAR review

Antiq, o_0 (?)

08 March 2009 21:32

 

Antiq

Antiq says

RE: Mercedes S320 CDI LWB CAR review

The Antique Autos are considerate real treasures and many people pay a lot for them,? the quality of a good antique autos especially the classic ford cars represent many money, are a exception of the rule because can have higher prices in the market, the antique autos are a good option for some part of the society like the classic ford cars too, that meaning power, and position in a society that every day need it more of course, and the antique cars or classic ford cars like for example the Buick classic, the classic corvettes, classic ford cars, classic Chevy cars or the hemming classic car are a long and expensive in investment and of course if one day the owner of these antique autos want to sell the cars is possible that they can sell the antique autos around double or more than the original price that they buying the antique autos or the classic ford cars, well if you are a fans of the antiques autos is possible that you want to know that many of the most expensive cars in the world are classic ford cars or antique classic cars and that the difference with the new cars is not to much.

08 March 2009 17:32

 

Yellowdog

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Yellowdog says

RE: Mercedes S320 CDI LWB CAR review

Mercedes seem to be climbing back in terms of design and quality, but they'll probably never get back to the over-the-top levels of the '60s, '70s, and '80s. The current S-Class will never quite overcome the cartoon wheel arches and instrument cluster. Undoubtedly it's a great car in other respects. BTW, I have an '07 C350 (previous generation). The car has been absolutely flawless for 17K miles, but it doesn't quite have that 'hewn-from-the solid' feeling that the old Mercs had... but it's by no means a tin can. Overall, I'm very pleased with it.

23 December 2008 13:42

 

niallec2000

niallec2000 says

RE: Mercedes S320 CDI LWB CAR review

Thats a lovely looking creamy merc cruise mobile, but is it up to scratch for the long run and dare i say it, high milage.. Sure the recent mercedes lineup is a total revelation in terms of engineering, refinement and overall structural solidity, quality and integrity compared to the millennium lineup of mercedes, but heres the thing... I really appreciate and bow down to mercedes incredible, world beating efforts that they have humbly bestowed on in recent years.. such as there groundbreaking safety systems that are sheer innovations to the car industry throughout, who have influenced many (yes, im talking to you scandinavia) car companies, and ultimately but most importantly, have saved many lives in these years. Despite all these remarkable achievements that mercedes has self aspired and invented, i would choose a merc of early 90's or before, as mercedes of these time periods were renowned as the best built, most reliable and the best mercs wholeheartedly. Classic mercs have a great appeal, they have such a strong brand image compared to mercs of any era, but theres a slight twist. Some of the old mercs engines are a bit more rebust because there made of more solid, heavy materials and the enginners didn't acknowledge safety as highest priority, so in other words.. the engines weren't made to crumple in an impact. Which means that they can last many miles, some even more so than modern mercedes. And the great thing about classic mercs (possibly late 60's and above) is that you can use them daily, if you're so inclined. Say a 1980 280 ce for example, a highly desirable mechanically robust machine that would never let you down..that is the mercedes way.. would be a nice first classic too... Somehow though, i would choose a modern mercedes.. just to be on the safe side, but having said that, never dismiss mercs of old, as they in themselves truly stand many tests of time and have relentlessly masoned new cornerstones that the car industry nowadays take for granted. And having said that... the new slc supercar sure looks nice...

10 June 2008 13:29

 

eahmmoa

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eahmmoa says

RE: Mercedes S320 CDI LWB CAR review

First of all, i want to say that i love mercedes and i have a kind of believe that this is the best car brand forever (with all respect to other exclusive brands). BUT... the recent models from mercedes some how look....not well designed to me. i thought that the E-class is just one model i did not like but the new C and S clases also are not up to my taste. the previous C class was a revolution design when it was launched. the previous S class was a dream but the new models are... ok models not WOW. the quality is super, the technology is up to the highest levels, but for some reasons i dont feel attracted to any model from mercedes in the range (except the SL and SLR ;-)) may be earlier mercedes was very far from comitition and now the the competitor has raised the bar and making good models (especially Audi, for god sake they are making beauiful designs these days). anyway, i hope that mercedes do better designs i the their fuure models as the car market with mercedes out of its best shape is like the foolball with Brazil team not doing very well.

04 June 2008 17:06

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