Test drive Mercedes-Benz S-class against Audi A8
The question of whether there is an executive sedan better than the Mercedes-Benz S-class belongs to the category of eternal. Moreover, you can argue, sitting not only on the back sofa, but also in the driver's seat
Paradoxically, there is quite a lot of eternal things in our fleeting life. This is not only art, but also a series of questions. Most of them, of course, are existential, but there are also practical ones, because of which wars constantly start. At least on the Internet.
First of all, of course, this is a dispute about winter tires: Velcro or spikes. Fans of Mitsubishi Evolution and Subaru WRS STi are also breaking verbal spears against each other, not sparing their belly. Finally, another eternal question - is there a better executive sedan than the Mercedes-Benz S-class. We will not give an answer to this question, but let us compare the class flagship with the Audi A8.
I have never thought that the Audi A8 is the third extra in the duel between the BMW 7-Series and the Mercedes-Benz S-class for the title of the most comfortable, prestigious, and so on. Well, with the release in 2017 of the last generation of the model from Ingolstadt, the number of people who agree with me should have increased significantly.
For me personally, as a person who is unlikely to ever buy a car of this class, the question has always been that it is strange to drive executive sedans. Behind - no questions asked. Opened a laptop, newspaper, magazine and work or play. In the case of the A8, by the way, you can also enjoy a foot massage - for the first time in the history of this class of cars.
But behind the wheel, you usually miss only the driver's cap and classic gloves. This, by the way, is also understood by downstream neighbors, who show much less respect for a car than for cars of a similar cost, but from a different segment. So with the A8 (and I'll note, I'm talking about the long-wheelbase version) this is absolutely not the case. If I look like a driver, then I am no more than Sylvester Stallone in the movie "With all my might."
I don't know if this is due to the cosmic appearance (if I already bought one, then I personally would be sorry to give it to the driver). Or maybe a cool air suspension, which is not only capable of raising the body by 12 cm, but also provides a huge (5300 mm long) sedan with a sports coupe. Or maybe in the classic quattro all-wheel drive, which not only differs from any other 4 × 4 system, but is also the recognized trump card of Audi, which competitors still have nothing to beat. Well, in a 340-horsepower engine, of course, which accelerates the same colossus to 100 km / h in just 5,7 seconds. And this is the very case when the passport numbers coincide with the sensations.
And also, of course, that there are a lot of unobvious entertainments for the driver and front row passenger. Well, let's say a smart touch screen with stove control. Like the advanced MacBook touchpad, it understands, for example, multi-finger touches. And there are deflectors with touch control only in front. And at the back - everything is standard for cars of this class: spacious, expensive, rich, but somewhat more boring than driving.
Price? $ 92. So much is the extended version of the A678L with a 8-horsepower engine as standard. Slightly cheaper than its main competitors. And, in my opinion, this is another big trump card. For all this, I would be ready to forgive the main and, perhaps, the only drawback that drove me crazy - constant fingerprints on a huge touch screen.
The door closer pressed the door tightly behind me, and I again observe the bustle of the surrounding world as if from the side - so quiet and comfortable in the S-class cabin. A rare truck rushing by can break the shrill silence inside. To get a comprehensive picture of the soundproofing level of a flagship sedan, all you have to do is press the horn. At this moment it will seem that someone is honking three cars ahead.
Calm on board is maintained even when driving on less than ideal roads, which is especially important for an executive sedan. My usual route to the house is replete with holes and irregularities of all kinds, although it runs along the central streets of the city. But the S-class shows a surprising indifference to the topography of the road surface. At some point, I even wanted to check if the asphalt was shifted on the streets familiar to me. No, they didn't.
However, the active suspension Magic Body Control, which lifts the body in a split second before passing road irregularities, made a lot of noise even on the pre-styling S-class. Then talk that the smoothness of the executive sedan from Stuttgart was absolutely inaccessible to competitors sounded louder than ever. But even now, sitting behind the wheel of the updated S 560, I tend to agree with this, and the sales figures indicate that not only I think so.
During the test, I had two non-obvious observations. And both relate to the driver's seat. First, it's time to say goodbye to the stereotypes that a big sedan should only be driven with a driver. Perhaps someone needs it if the status obliges. But if you are free from corporate formalities and are used to enjoying driving, then the S-class will definitely not disappoint you. And yes, in this case it makes sense to choose a color other than black.
Secondly, I was genuinely surprised at how spacious the driver's seat is. There is really a lot of air in the cabin and there is no need to reach for anything. Due to its well-thought-out shape, the front panel does not in the least oppress the driver and front passenger at the feet, and due to the extended wheelbase (other S-classes are not supplied to Russia), the car can comfortably accommodate four adults. And although the car plays in a completely different league, at the moment it is one of the best options for long-distance travel.
Moreover, a wide range of power units is available to the buyer to choose from, from an economical diesel engine to a daring V8 for the AMG version. The S 560, which I spent a little over a week at the wheel, is also equipped with an eight-cylinder unit.
True, the number of cylinders is almost the only thing that makes it similar to the AMG engine: it has its own connecting rod and piston group, other attachments and individual settings of the control unit. But this particular motor seems to be the most suitable for the tasks that the S-class will have to cope with. It is flexible enough not to push the accelerator unnecessarily, and at the same time is able to save fuel by shutting off half of the cylinders.
The harmony of this car is that an excellent interior relies on excellent technology. And this is what captivates in addition to the rich finish: Mercedes was able to install state-of-the-art electronics on the car, abandoning the many touch panels and touch screens, as is done in Audi.
Although in some places sensors still appeared. For example, on the steering wheel spokes. Small buttons respond not only to pressing, but also to swiping, by analogy with a smartphone. They can switch between different modes of the dashboard or manage menu items on the central screen. Touch surfaces appeared on the Comand multimedia system control unit, but this is exactly the case when accidental presses occur more often than planned.
A separate pleasure is the Energizing Comfort Control relaxation system. With the help of one of six programs that control climate control, interior lighting, seat massage, audio system and aromatization, you can instantly tone yourself up or, conversely, relax. The main thing is to maintain control over the car. However, even if you have lost touch with reality, one of the electronic assistants will come to the rescue. Actually, cameras and radars on board are needed in such an uncountable quantity.
| Body type | Sedan | Sedan |
| dimensions (length, width, height), mm | 5302/1945/1485 | 5255/1905/1496 |
| Wheelbase, mm | 3128 | 3165 |
| Curb weight, kg | 2020 | 2125 |
| Cargo space, l | 505 | 530 |
| engine's type | Gasoline V8, turbocharged | Gasoline V8, turbocharged |
| Working volume, cubic meters cm | 3996 | 3942 |
| Power, hp with. at rpm | 460 / 5500-6800 | 469 / 5250-5500 |
| Max. cool. moment, Nm at rpm | 600 / 1800-4500 | 700 / 2000-4000 |
| Transmission, drive | AKP8, full | AKP9, full |
| Max. speed km / h | 250 | 250 |
| Acceleration 0-100 km / h, s | 4,5 | 4,6 |
| Fuel consumption (city, highway, mixed), l / 100 km | 13,8/7,9/10,1 | 11,8/7,1/8,8 |
| Price from, $. | 109 773 | 123 266 |
