S-Class W223 [Official] Mercedes-Benz S-Class (W223)

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[leylandi]

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[Pagani]

Do we know when the 63e will debut?

 

[leylandi]

Do we know when the 63e will debut?

end year

 

[Evgeny]

 

[Mick Briesgau]

I’ve driven a S400d 4Matic for 4 days/600 kilometers. I promised you girls&guys to write about it, so I will. But...I’m afraid I can’t hide my disappointment. Try to keep this as objective as a subject/person can be, can’t make any promises though.
How does it drive
In one word? Excellent. It’s drive is even more comfortable than that of the W222 (and of the A8, which I found more comfortable than the W222). The suspension really adds a noticable improvement. Partly because the wheelbase has grown of course. The NVH (noice, vibration, harshness), sound insulation as such, again a real improvement. Let’s say it this way, if the W222 felt like a cocoon, the W223 feels like a cocoon with 3 or 4 extra layers of the finest of silk. The outer world just isn’t there; you see it, but you can barely hear it.
Due to the fact the car was brand new (17 kilometers driven so far) fuel figures aren’t a good indicator. Driving at an average speed of 100-110 km/h it consumed 6,5 litres per 100 kilometer. I think a S350d non 4Matic will be able to reach below the 6 liter mark.
How does the machine interact with the human (HMI)
In one word? It sucks. First of all, I’m not a fan of touch screens in moving objects, like a car. So please keep that subjective factor in mind. The reaction speed of the very crisp looking touch screen is quick. On first face, it even looks rather nice, but it’s just not clever using it whilst driving. No matter how large the icons are, it just distracts from what you’re supposed to be doing: driving the car in a reponsable way. Ok, than let’s use the touch fields on the steering wheel, one might think less distracting and the eyes don’t have to move too far away from looking on what’s happening on the road in front of you. I felt like gambling in Vegas. Without exaggeration, I tried at least 2 or 3 times before it reacted the way it meant to do. A clear step back from the W222.
Voice control? Better than the steering wheel, but very far from being perfect. Yes, it reacts on a sentence like “I’m cold”. But taking navigation commands was sometimes a problem or not well understood. I did those voice commands in two languages, Dutch (mother tongue) and German. In both situations far from perfect, alas. MBUX 7, seen by many bloggers and magazines as the non-plus-ultra, not in my every day car use.
Varia
A car like an S class needs to cover the basics (driving, suspension, steering). To me, to those basics also belongs the quality of the used materials, exterior and interior.
1. Black glossy plastic used in many places is real dust/grease/scratch magnet. I can’t fathom why MB uses this inferior material in the W223. Especially after all the complaints that came from the W213 (E class) community. Can only imagine how this will look like after a few months of usage.
2. Every part that’s painted metallic/aluminium lookalike, feels like plastic. In the W222 at least one or two are made of real metal.
3. The central, large vertical touch screen has also a silverish painted outline, which of course is made of plastic. But this outline consists of two parts coming together at the edge which constitutes a very sharp, thin plastic ‘fish bone’ (don’t know how to put this in correct English). This sharp edge can cause a cut in your flesh, when you touch it with the back of your hand or your fingers. If your driving with female companion, you must warn them to come to close to the middle console/touch screen with stockinged legs/Nylons; they’ll be ruined or run as fast as a road runner. I still can’t believe it.
4. Seats are perfect.
5. The new 3D screen in front of the driver is a nice gadget. You can see an extra layer of depth indeed. I put it off, because it irritated my eyes after some time.
6. The gear stick and the direction indicator etc. stick feel and look like the cheapest of plastic there is. If you ever get the chance of sitting in or driving a W223 please do so and be sure to take a look at and feel those two parts.

Coming to a conclusion. It’s a S class, that still covers most basics. To me, it’s not a must have car (anymore). Believe it or not, but that’s saddening me. The interior and I’m sorry to say this, shows serious cost cutting. To me personal, the haptic and looks of interior is one of the most important aspects of a car. I’m sitting right in middle of it, every day of the week.

Thanks for reading.
Mick

 

[Deleted member 1071]

I’ve driven a S400d 4Matic for 4 days/600 kilometers. I promised you girls&guys to write about it, so I will. But...I’m afraid I can’t hide my disappointment. Try to keep this as objective as a subject/person can be, can’t make any promises though.
How does it drive
In one word? Excellent. It’s drive is even more comfortable than that of the W222 (and of the A8, which I found more comfortable than the W222). The suspension really adds a noticable improvement. Partly because the wheelbase has grown of course. The NVH (noice, vibration, harshness), sound insulation as such, again a real improvement. Let’s say it this way, if the W222 felt like a cocoon, the W223 feels like a cocoon with 3 or 4 extra layers of the finest of silk. The outer world just isn’t there; you see it, but you can barely hear it.
Due to the fact the car was brand new (17 kilometers driven so far) fuel figures aren’t a good indicator. Driving at an average speed of 100-110 km/h it consumed 6,5 litres per 100 kilometer. I think a S350d non 4Matic will be able to reach below the 6 liter mark.
How does the machine interact with the human (HMI)
In one word? It sucks. First of all, I’m not a fan of touch screens in moving objects, like a car. So please keep that subjective factor in mind. The reaction speed of the very crisp looking touch screen is quick. On first face, it even looks rather nice, but it’s just not clever using it whilst driving. No matter how large the icons are, it just distracts from what you’re supposed to be doing: driving the car in a reponsable way. Ok, than let’s use the touch fields on the steering wheel, one might think less distracting and the eyes don’t have to move too far away from looking on what’s happening on the road in front of you. I felt like gambling in Vegas. Without exaggeration, I tried at least 2 or 3 times before it reacted the way it meant to do. A clear step back from the W222.
Voice control? Better than the steering wheel, but very far from being perfect. Yes, it reacts on a sentence like “I’m cold”. But taking navigation commands was sometimes a problem or not well understood. I did those voice commands in two languages, Dutch (mother tongue) and German. In both situations far from perfect, alas. MBUX 7, seen by many bloggers and magazines as the non-plus-ultra, not in my every day car use.
Varia
A car like an S class needs to cover the basics (driving, suspension, steering). To me, to those basics also belongs the quality of the used materials, exterior and interior.
1. Black glossy plastic used in many places is real dust/grease/scratch magnet. I can’t fathom why MB uses this inferior material in the W223. Especially after all the complaints that came from the W213 (E class) community. Can only imagine how this will look like after a few months of usage.
2. Every part that’s painted metallic/aluminium lookalike, feels like plastic. In the W222 at least one or two are made of real metal.
3. The central, large vertical touch screen has also a silverish painted outline, which of course is made of plastic. But this outline consists of two parts coming together at the edge which constitutes a very sharp, thin plastic ‘fish bone’ (don’t know how to put this in correct English). This sharp edge can cause a cut in your flesh, when you touch it with the back of your hand or your fingers. If your driving with female companion, you must warn them to come to close to the middle console/touch screen with stockinged legs/Nylons; they’ll be ruined or run as fast as a road runner. I still can’t believe it.
4. Seats are perfect.
5. The new 3D screen in front of the driver is a nice gadget. You can see an extra layer of depth indeed. I put it off, because it irritated my eyes after some time.

Coming to a conclusion. It’s a S class, that still covers most basics. To me, it’s not a must have car (anymore). Believe it or not, but that’s saddening me. The interior and I’m sorry to say this, shows serious cost cutting. To me personal, the haptic and looks of interior is one of the most important aspects of a car. I’m sitting right in middle of it, every day of the week.

Thanks for reading.
Mick

Great review,@Mick Briesgau

 

[.Wyatt]

As much as I hate a host of things going on at Daimler, as much as i dislike Gorden Wagener and his stupid mentalitiy the very last thing I believe is that the Comand and the W222 are anywhere near the current S-Class.
Believe it or not, but I have never heard of any of my clients that they prefer the old POS Comand over Mbux 6 or 7. Thats like saying Windows-Phone is better than Apple OS.
Whenever I drove a Mercedes with the NTG 5.1 or 5.5 I was extremely happy to get back behind the wheel if my 5 - Series. So... I do respect his opinion but after so many people trying out the MBUX7 (and all the the feedback we recieved from our clients) it feels weird to see someone saying that.


Disliking a car because of the piano trim or the touchscreen, despite the currents S-Class advancement.... well... classic naysayer mentality ;-)


Summing up (and after my personal experience with the new W223) I dont think the W222 is anywhere near its predecessor. Still not a fan of Mercedes cars though, but the progress they made in the last years with each generation was/is HUGE!

 

[CrunchSlaughtered]

Disliking a car because of the piano trim or the touchscreen, despite the currents S-Class advancement.... well... classic naysayer mentality ;-)

And you said you have clients, do you? These must be some very confused people.

 

[fortuner]

As much as I hate a host of things going on at Daimler, as much as i dislike Gorden Wagener and his stupid mentalitiy the very last thing I believe is that the Comand and the W222 are anywhere near the current S-Class.
Believe it or not, but I have never heard of any of my clients that they prefer the old POS Comand over Mbux 6 or 7. Thats like saying Windows-Phone is better than Apple OS.
Whenever I drove a Mercedes with the NTG 5.1 or 5.5 I was extremely happy to get back behind the wheel if my 5 - Series. So... I do respect his opinion but after so many people trying out the MBUX7 (and all the the feedback we recieved from our clients) it feels weird to see someone saying that.


Disliking a car because of the piano trim or the touchscreen, despite the currents S-Class advancement.... well... classic naysayer mentality ;-)


Summing up (and after my personal experience with the new W223) I dont think the W222 is anywhere near its predecessor. Still not a fan of Mercedes cars though, but the progress they made in the last years with each generation was/is HUGE!

To be fair to Mick he always said and even before the S was launched he prefers interiors with less touch...that's his wish or preference so I don't see the issue we all have preferences..

As for the piano finish it's in every bloody car today but do we as fans actually like it..as for me I don't mind it but if I was allowed a choice I would even pay a bit extra and get wood or alliminium depending on if its a AMG or normal spec car..

He has had 2 previous S class so if he finds a few cost cutting I am sure he knows what he talking about ..yes this is sad for all of us MB fans the cost cutting will go deeper I think with OLA taking more charge..

On a side note I still see Mick in a new S class soon lol unless he plans a new EQS ha ha..

 

[SCOTT27]

If things stayed on course you would be seeing the next Coupe begin testing right about now.

 

[AHall42631]

Good review Mick, I was hoping the voice command would be able to be used without the need to touch any buttons or screens, or at least come very close. What are you real life feelings of the exterior? Did you have the digital lights, how were the options in the rear?

 

[martinbo]

Thank you Mick for taking the time to write-up your experiences with the new W223. It's a privilege that we get the opinion from someone who has done literally hundreds of thousands of kilometres behind the wheel of various S-Classes.

 

[Mick Briesgau]

Good review Mick, I was hoping the voice command would be able to be used without the need to touch any buttons or screens, or at least come very close. What are you real life feelings of the exterior? Did you have the digital lights, how were the options in the rear?

Thanks @AHall42631, it was my pleasure.
The exterior design is of course subjective. I think it has a good stance and you can see clearly the car has become wider (+ 5 centimeter if I’m not mistaking). It suits it very well. The digital light is absolute fantastic. It’s very bright and the adaptive functionalities are perfect, the adaptive high beam for instance functions flawless (didn’t got a signal once), it lights the street in front of you as if it were broad day light.
The car I drove didn’t have many rear options (only seat adjustment, heating/cooling). No rear seat entertainment or something like that,
As for voice command, it’s not that bad, it’s just not good enough to replace manual actions. I couldn’t operate the car using voice command only. It’s also too inconsistent, you can’t rely on it.

I forgot to mention it did have the active ambient lighting. Among other functions, it warns you if you want to take over, but the system notices a car in the blind spot. I liked it and it looks good.

 

[Amat46]

As much as I hate a host of things going on at Daimler, as much as i dislike Gorden Wagener and his stupid mentalitiy the very last thing I believe is that the Comand and the W222 are anywhere near the current S-Class.
Believe it or not, but I have never heard of any of my clients that they prefer the old POS Comand over Mbux 6 or 7. Thats like saying Windows-Phone is better than Apple OS.
Whenever I drove a Mercedes with the NTG 5.1 or 5.5 I was extremely happy to get back behind the wheel if my 5 - Series. So... I do respect his opinion but after so many people trying out the MBUX7 (and all the the feedback we recieved from our clients) it feels weird to see someone saying that.


Disliking a car because of the piano trim or the touchscreen, despite the currents S-Class advancement.... well... classic naysayer mentality ;-)


Summing up (and after my personal experience with the new W223) I dont think the W222 is anywhere near its predecessor. Still not a fan of Mercedes cars though, but the progress they made in the last years with each generation was/is HUGE!

Really? How does saying one's own opinion after careful examination of something make them a naysayer?

 

[SKY]

I’ve driven a S400d 4Matic for 4 days/600 kilometers. I promised you girls&guys to write about it, so I will. But...I’m afraid I can’t hide my disappointment. Try to keep this as objective as a subject/person can be, can’t make any promises though.
How does it drive
In one word? Excellent. It’s drive is even more comfortable than that of the W222 (and of the A8, which I found more comfortable than the W222). The suspension really adds a noticable improvement. Partly because the wheelbase has grown of course. The NVH (noice, vibration, harshness), sound insulation as such, again a real improvement. Let’s say it this way, if the W222 felt like a cocoon, the W223 feels like a cocoon with 3 or 4 extra layers of the finest of silk. The outer world just isn’t there; you see it, but you can barely hear it.
Due to the fact the car was brand new (17 kilometers driven so far) fuel figures aren’t a good indicator. Driving at an average speed of 100-110 km/h it consumed 6,5 litres per 100 kilometer. I think a S350d non 4Matic will be able to reach below the 6 liter mark.
How does the machine interact with the human (HMI)
In one word? It sucks. First of all, I’m not a fan of touch screens in moving objects, like a car. So please keep that subjective factor in mind. The reaction speed of the very crisp looking touch screen is quick. On first face, it even looks rather nice, but it’s just not clever using it whilst driving. No matter how large the icons are, it just distracts from what you’re supposed to be doing: driving the car in a reponsable way. Ok, than let’s use the touch fields on the steering wheel, one might think less distracting and the eyes don’t have to move too far away from looking on what’s happening on the road in front of you. I felt like gambling in Vegas. Without exaggeration, I tried at least 2 or 3 times before it reacted the way it meant to do. A clear step back from the W222.
Voice control? Better than the steering wheel, but very far from being perfect. Yes, it reacts on a sentence like “I’m cold”. But taking navigation commands was sometimes a problem or not well understood. I did those voice commands in two languages, Dutch (mother tongue) and German. In both situations far from perfect, alas. MBUX 7, seen by many bloggers and magazines as the non-plus-ultra, not in my every day car use.
Varia
A car like an S class needs to cover the basics (driving, suspension, steering). To me, to those basics also belongs the quality of the used materials, exterior and interior.
1. Black glossy plastic used in many places is real dust/grease/scratch magnet. I can’t fathom why MB uses this inferior material in the W223. Especially after all the complaints that came from the W213 (E class) community. Can only imagine how this will look like after a few months of usage.
2. Every part that’s painted metallic/aluminium lookalike, feels like plastic. In the W222 at least one or two are made of real metal.
3. The central, large vertical touch screen has also a silverish painted outline, which of course is made of plastic. But this outline consists of two parts coming together at the edge which constitutes a very sharp, thin plastic ‘fish bone’ (don’t know how to put this in correct English). This sharp edge can cause a cut in your flesh, when you touch it with the back of your hand or your fingers. If your driving with female companion, you must warn them to come to close to the middle console/touch screen with stockinged legs/Nylons; they’ll be ruined or run as fast as a road runner. I still can’t believe it.
4. Seats are perfect.
5. The new 3D screen in front of the driver is a nice gadget. You can see an extra layer of depth indeed. I put it off, because it irritated my eyes after some time.
6. The gear stick and the direction indicator etc. stick feel and look like the cheapest of plastic there is. If you ever get the chance of sitting in or driving a W223 please do so and be sure to take a look at and feel those two parts.

Coming to a conclusion. It’s a S class, that still covers most basics. To me, it’s not a must have car (anymore). Believe it or not, but that’s saddening me. The interior and I’m sorry to say this, shows serious cost cutting. To me personal, the haptic and looks of interior is one of the most important aspects of a car. I’m sitting right in middle of it, every day of the week.

Thanks for reading.
Mick

Great review there my friend. I surely trust more the words of a seasoned S-Class owner than any mag journalist.

Several parts of your impressions are certainly disappointing. Leaving aside you dislike touch screens, as I do, certain stuff like the cost cutting in the interior are just unacceptable on a car on this class.

 

[Deleted member 1071]

Great review there my friend. I surely trust more the words of a seasoned S-Class owner than any mag journalist.

Several parts of your impressions are certainly disappointing. Leaving aside you dislike touch screens, as I do, certain stuff like the cost cutting in the interior are just unacceptable on a car on this class.

Watch out !! Ola is wielding that red pencil like it's nobodys' business.

 

[Wunderkind]

Watch out !! Ola is wielding that red pencil like it's nobodys' business.

It’s a difficult but clear choice at a time of declining revenues and rising production costs. Add to that Daimler has to put tens of billions into EV, autonomous driving, car operating system technologies over the next ten years. Ola is trying to run ahead of the problem as shareholders will soon call for boardroom changes if profits don’t improve.

 

[Giannis]

I’ve driven a S400d 4Matic for 4 days/600 kilometers. I promised you girls&guys to write about it, so I will. But...I’m afraid I can’t hide my disappointment. Try to keep this as objective as a subject/person can be, can’t make any promises though.
How does it drive
In one word? Excellent. It’s drive is even more comfortable than that of the W222 (and of the A8, which I found more comfortable than the W222). The suspension really adds a noticable improvement. Partly because the wheelbase has grown of course. The NVH (noice, vibration, harshness), sound insulation as such, again a real improvement. Let’s say it this way, if the W222 felt like a cocoon, the W223 feels like a cocoon with 3 or 4 extra layers of the finest of silk. The outer world just isn’t there; you see it, but you can barely hear it.
Due to the fact the car was brand new (17 kilometers driven so far) fuel figures aren’t a good indicator. Driving at an average speed of 100-110 km/h it consumed 6,5 litres per 100 kilometer. I think a S350d non 4Matic will be able to reach below the 6 liter mark.
How does the machine interact with the human (HMI)
In one word? It sucks. First of all, I’m not a fan of touch screens in moving objects, like a car. So please keep that subjective factor in mind. The reaction speed of the very crisp looking touch screen is quick. On first face, it even looks rather nice, but it’s just not clever using it whilst driving. No matter how large the icons are, it just distracts from what you’re supposed to be doing: driving the car in a reponsable way. Ok, than let’s use the touch fields on the steering wheel, one might think less distracting and the eyes don’t have to move too far away from looking on what’s happening on the road in front of you. I felt like gambling in Vegas. Without exaggeration, I tried at least 2 or 3 times before it reacted the way it meant to do. A clear step back from the W222.
Voice control? Better than the steering wheel, but very far from being perfect. Yes, it reacts on a sentence like “I’m cold”. But taking navigation commands was sometimes a problem or not well understood. I did those voice commands in two languages, Dutch (mother tongue) and German. In both situations far from perfect, alas. MBUX 7, seen by many bloggers and magazines as the non-plus-ultra, not in my every day car use.
Varia
A car like an S class needs to cover the basics (driving, suspension, steering). To me, to those basics also belongs the quality of the used materials, exterior and interior.
1. Black glossy plastic used in many places is real dust/grease/scratch magnet. I can’t fathom why MB uses this inferior material in the W223. Especially after all the complaints that came from the W213 (E class) community. Can only imagine how this will look like after a few months of usage.
2. Every part that’s painted metallic/aluminium lookalike, feels like plastic. In the W222 at least one or two are made of real metal.
3. The central, large vertical touch screen has also a silverish painted outline, which of course is made of plastic. But this outline consists of two parts coming together at the edge which constitutes a very sharp, thin plastic ‘fish bone’ (don’t know how to put this in correct English). This sharp edge can cause a cut in your flesh, when you touch it with the back of your hand or your fingers. If your driving with female companion, you must warn them to come to close to the middle console/touch screen with stockinged legs/Nylons; they’ll be ruined or run as fast as a road runner. I still can’t believe it.
4. Seats are perfect.
5. The new 3D screen in front of the driver is a nice gadget. You can see an extra layer of depth indeed. I put it off, because it irritated my eyes after some time.
6. The gear stick and the direction indicator etc. stick feel and look like the cheapest of plastic there is. If you ever get the chance of sitting in or driving a W223 please do so and be sure to take a look at and feel those two parts.

Coming to a conclusion. It’s a S class, that still covers most basics. To me, it’s not a must have car (anymore). Believe it or not, but that’s saddening me. The interior and I’m sorry to say this, shows serious cost cutting. To me personal, the haptic and looks of interior is one of the most important aspects of a car. I’m sitting right in middle of it, every day of the week.

Thanks for reading.
Mick

Thank you Mick for the review. It's always a pleasure reading your automotive thoughts and opinions.

One question if I may. Since you say that the S is not a must have car any more, what does spring to your mind as the next must have thing? Something upmarket like a Bentley or something equally German but less Stuttgart-y?

 

[Mick Briesgau]

Thank you Mick for the review. It's always a pleasure reading your automotive thoughts and opinions.

One question if I may. Since you say that the S is not a must have car any more, what does spring to your mind as the next must have thing? Something upmarket like a Bentley or something equally German but less Stuttgart-y?

To be honest, Giannis, I don’t know yet. Bentley would fit the bill with it’s interior, but I am not willing to pay that much for a car. Besides, I prefer a diesel engine. What I’ve seen so far from the next BMW 7 doesn’t make me hopeful either.
You know what car crosses my mind every now and than? A Volvo S90. It looks gorgeous, it drives rather nicely, it’s a bargain compared to the usual German suspects. On the downside: I4 cylinder only, a central based touchscreen (though there are possibilities to operate it alternately) and a few other things.