Mercedes S-Class vs Range Rover vs Audi A8 video review
We test the Mercedes S-Class against its luxury car rivals in this group test video
Ever since the first Mercedes S-Class arrived in 1972 it has dominated the Luxury car sector – until the excellent Range Rover came along recently. So can this new one regain its crown?
The Range Rover sets the benchmark for the Mercedes to beat. And starting at around £70,000, this TDV6 Vogue is our pick of the range. By comparison the long wheelbase A8 3.0-litre TDI SE seems a bit of a bargain. At less than £64,000 it’s the least expensive car here.
The Mercedes S350 L SE costs two thousand pounds more than the Audi, but the S-Class is undoubtedly the most luxurious. The Range Rover comes and impressive second though, with the A8 third.
The S-Class is offered with range of seating options. This one has the £4000 Executive Seat package but can pay even more to make them recline up to 43.5 degrees – that’s more than in any other car.
The Audi doesn’t have such versatile seats but in the back it’s no less spacious than the Mercedes. It may be big on the outside but the Range Rover has 80mm less rear legroom than the two Germans.
Bearing in mind that these cars are comfy cruisers, the Mercedes is the best to drive, followed by the Range Rover and finally the Audi – on account of its sporty edge.
Both the Audi A8 and the Range Rover are gadget-laden. You can get posh stereos, high tech screens, surround cameras and huge sunroofs in those cars, but being the newest the Mercedes has an advantage. It gets the latest displays, most advanced nigh vision system and even hot stone massage seats.
So the S-Class leads the field for technology as well as being the most luxurious plus the best to drive and to be driven in. But there’s just one last thing we need to consider.
The S-Class’s boot capacity is a respectable 510-litres, which is the same as the Audi A8. However, the Range Rover has a 909-litre capacity and, with the seats folded, can swallow 2,030 litres.
That means the Range Rover is the most practical and overall it’s a better luxury car than the Audi A8. The thing is though, the Mercedes S-Class is even better.
