Mercedes-Benz S280: First Drive

Date: 27 February 2007   |   Author: John Mahoney

Prices: £54,215-£102,000 Category: Luxury Key Rival: BMW 7-series

What's new: We try the entry petrol engine to the sumptuous S-class range and see how costs compare with the excellent diesel version.

Excellent: Mercedes nails the nigh-on perfect blend of a luxurious interior and top-draw quality with great handling and classy looks. Base petrol engine copes well with the weight, sprinting to 60 in just 7.3secs.

Good: S280 averages an impressive 28.5mpg on the combined cycle, only 5.5mpg adrift from the diesel. That's good for a big, heavy saloon, although we'd expect the real-world diesel advantage to be greater.

Average: Seven-speed auto occasionally delivers clumsy changes. Our modestly specced car was fitted with £7000 worth of options.

Poor: If you can afford a car at this level, a CPM of 70.7p won't scare you. However, the diesel's added torque makes for a more relaxing drive.

Verdict: The petrol's fractionally greater refinement doesn't exceed the diesel's all-round watftability and efficiency at the pumps.

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