2013 Mercedes-Benz S-Class S300 BlueTEC HYBRID RWD (231 HP)

Vehicle Overview

Mercedes-Benz’s flagship model, the S-Class, entered into a new era when the German automaker unveiled the sixth generation of this nameplate in 2013 by boosting the technology package and improving the interior comfort and features.

Like its predecessors, the S-Class had to be fitted with the newest technologies Mercedes-Benz had in its basket. In addition, the vehicle was garnished with enough standard features to make a full-optioned former model turn yellow. Interestingly, the S-Class was the car that dethroned its more expensive sibling, the Maybach 57, which went belly-up in 2013. It just couldn’t match the level of comfort and the image of the S-Class, the best-selling car for governmental officials around the world.

For the 2013 model, also known as the W222, the S-Class came with a new look. The design team led by the Slovenian Robert Lesnik extensively used the organic lines envisioned on the 2007 Mercedes-Benz F700 concept car. As a result, the car sported swept-back headlights adorned with daytime running lights that looked like a line of pearls. The massive grille sported the traditional chromed horizontal slats. Behind them, the automaker installed the radar for the adaptive cruise control and other safety features. From its profile, the car lost the prominent wheel arches that made the W221 look sporty. The automaker tried, and succeeded, to create a luxurious-looking vehicle with a commanding look of the road, but without being aggressive. At the back, the corner-mounted taillights featured LED lights featuring three oblique elliptic shapes. Depending on the engine version, the dual exhausts were concealed under the bumper or exposed with chromed trims around them.

The S-Class was all about the comfort of the rear seats. For those, the automaker created a wide seat bench where three adults could sit comfortably. Even the middle-seated one could sit well, thanks to the low profile of the transmission tunnel that crossed the cabin from front to back. At the front, the seats featured mild bolstering since it was a vehicle fit for luxurious, comfortable rides, not sporty ones. Fronting the driver was a new, completely digital instrument panel extended over the center stack by the COMMAND infotainment unit display. The controller for that was housed on the center console, next to an armrest that concealed a storage compartment. Mercedes-Benz used man-made leather for the base models, including on the dashboard, while the upper trim levels were garnished with expensive, natural materials. Unusually for such a vehicle, the automaker installed a split panoramic roof, which opened above the front seats, but the glass area above the bench was fixed.

Mercedes-Benz created a new platform for the W222 and introduced one of the most comfortable air suspensions in the business. Its adaptive features allowed it to “read” the road ahead and prepare for the dampening of road irregularities. Under the hood, the German automaker installed a wide range of gasoline, diesel, and hybrid engines paired with seven-speed automatic transmissions that sent the power to the rear wheels. For selected markets and engines, the three-pointed star brand offered all-wheel-drive versions.