Mercedes-Benz S 580e: First impression

There are three reasons for buying an S-Class Mercedes-Benz instead of a BMW 7 Series which is its nearest rival in Malaysia and in most ASEAN nations.

It is absolutely magnificent to drive. But, at the same time, you cannot help but feel that it's just a statement-making machine.

Your second and third impressions of the S-Class car are likely to relate to its sheer size. It is a large automobile and it looks even more massive than it really is with slim headlights and a somewhat understated grille.

The latest styling tweaks that have been applied for this W223 2021 model lessens the appearance of bulk, including the addition of a horizontal body-side crease, but the look of substance and luxury remains as before.

On closer inspection, it quickly becomes apparent that size has its virtues. Huge doors with pneumatic close tightly silently and effortlessly. The rear occupant is promised easy access to the cavernous interior which is fitted with top-grade materials and with enough mood lighting to entertain any fellow passengers.

So, why this all-new S-Class?

• You travel long distances and need room for tall people with long legs in the back seat.
• You have got a new large business contract coming and the profit margin is just very fat.
• You are a head of state and there is no better transport.
• You are a person of influence and you need to make a statement when you arrive anywhere.
• Your business partners have a lower-priced model and you want to be above them.
• You are in a position of authority in a large organisation and so this is part of your remuneration package.

Fact, almost 99 percent of S-Class customers in ASEAN countries will spend their time in the rear and there will be a paid employee to commandeer this luxury sedan for its owner daily.

Opening the doors is a pleasure not just because such action reveals a truly sumptuous cabin but because the fit of the doors is so precise where there is no resistance when the nicely-detailed handles are pulled.

You will be greeted by black leather swathed in beautifully styled, thickly-padded, auto-adjustable, individual memory seats, even in the rear. Softer than some first-class airline cabin seats, you will not find a more comfortable place to rest your weary body, especially as electric lumbar support, massaging, and cooling are available. Everywhere you look and touch, you will find soft-touch surfacing and stitched leather panels.

Storage receptacles abound, all beautifully lined and flawlessly-finished, and the ambient lighting which swathes the cabin in soft blue tones (lighting hues can be changed) is frankly exquisite. So too are the subtle LED lights at various points within the cabin.

Over the generations, the S-Class has become the technology standard-bearer for the world’s oldest car company and this latest award-winning S-Class generation simply reaffirms this trend.

While the application of all this high tech may at first seem a little overwhelming, there is no doubt in my mind that once the handbook is presented to the chauffeur, he or even she will have ample time to absorb and learn all the functions and features.

Also read: Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Kuala Lumpur returns bigger with latest fashion trends