Mercedes S-Class S350

Despite being seven years old, the outgoing Mercedes S-Class is still competitive with the best cars in its sector. This, of course, has heaped even more pressure on the firm to create a fitting successor. We hit the road in the new entry-level petrol model to see if it's up to the task.

There's no denying that the S-Class has retained its imposing appearance, while inside, the BMW 7-Series-inspired cabin is claimed to take its cues from a luxury cruise liner. Attention to detail is exquisite; even the iDrive-style mouse which controls the communication sys-tem is relatively easy to use.

Having already proved itself in other Mercedes, the petrol unit is a fine performer. In the new S-Class it is adequate, but not as special as the rest of the car. The diesel, which we haven't tried yet, is likely to be a better bet.

Thanks to a slick seven-speed auto box, 0-60mph takes 7.3 seconds, while 27.9mpg is excellent. Air-suspension helps combine comfort with dynamic agility and amazing refinement. The new S-Class moves the benchmark up again; there's no better luxury car for the money.