Mercedes S320
by David Rose
After 400 miles of motorways and country roads, the S320 we hired for the weekend proved a highly impressive experience for both driver and passengers. We all liked this car - and so we should, given it costs nearly £50,000. I would never have believed that such a large car could be so wieldy around bends. The 3.2-litre V6 engine seemed more than powerful enough, too.Likes: - Spacious, airy cabin
- Cabin silence at all speeds
- Driving position
- Acceleration, lovely throaty engine sound and seamless gearchanges
- Braking - power and pedal feel
- Incredibly smooth ride over the roughest roads, and adjustment for sportier driving
- Sound from standard stereo
- Fuel economy - 30 mpg from 80 mph motorway cruising
Dislikes: - Cabin ergonomics, with buttons and switches all over the place. The seat, radio and climate controls are awkwardly placed, requiring you to look at them to operate them
- Some cabin fittings are of poor quality, eg under-seat bins, cup-holders, stiff switches
- Overcomplicated screen/computer displays
- Omission of seat memory - surprising in view of the rest of the equipment
- Some crude details, eg the boot hinge mechanism, and noisy steering-wheel adjuster
- Foot-operated parking brake (as with all Mercedes)
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