New Car Honours 2006

	Utterly silent, soft and relaxing, no matter which powerplant you opt for, this is a cruiser that's unbelievably soothing, and yet also immensely capable.

The Mercedes S-Class is as good as we hoped - and rivals feared. A clear winner of the luxury car crown this year, the flagship model has moved the game on to the next level in this sector. Yes, the ungainly looks mean it lacks a little elegance and sophistication, but rest assured that the brash bodywork doesn't reflect its behaviour on the road.

Inside, there's more than a hint of BMW 7-Series to the bulky dash and rotary control knob, but Merc has paid attention to its rival's faults and eradicated them entirely. It may take a while to become familiar with the vast array of gadgets and gizmos, but the systems are surprisingly intuitive and easier to get on with than we dared hope.

All occupants enjoy sumptuous seats and plentiful space, but it's on the road that the S-Class displays true genius. Utterly silent, soft and relaxing, no matter which powerplant you opt for, this is a cruiser that's unbelievably soothing, and yet also immensely capable. When it comes to building luxury cars, Mercedes is back on top form. No wonder this model scores such an emphatic victory.