Then there’s the matter of fuel efficiency. The S350 CDI L sold in India, at 2,132 kg, is not going to break any efficiency records, but with 8.75 km/l overall and 11 on the highway, it won’t worry the green brigade much. It is also the first S-Class to have its body locally manufactured in India and that means a lower price tag: Rs 1.07 crore (ex-showroom, Pune) plus tax. Not bad for a car which lets you add colour to suit your mood as well.
That makes the S350 diesel a serious contender when looking for a sensible luxury car. Yes, you have the BMW 7 Series, Jaguar XJ and even the Porsche Panamera as rear-wheel drive options, and the A8 L quattro is in the same league as well. But then, the S-Class is the pioneer, the one that started it all, the one created to define perfection and is definitive of Mercedes-Benz and all the company stands for. It was the one which was inspired to creation by the founder’s famous words: ‘the best or nothing’.
