Overview

Mercedes has launched the face-lift for its S-class and as a bonus has put in a 5.5-litre V8 under its hood. Say hello to the S500L. But how does it compare to its competition, the BMW 750Li? We fi nd out...

It’s obvious, if you are reading this shootout with intent, you certainly want to get up to speed, literally. We are talking about a cumulative output of around 800bhp on offer here between the two cars, after all. Now, the BMW 750Li is a tremendous car, any which way you look at it (just don’t look at the fuel economy fi gures). Moreover, the last time it went head-to-head with the S-class it won. Now though, there’s a more powerful and better looking S-class and maybe the S500L might just be the better bet here, courtesy its larger engine.

Exterior & Interior

BMW insides feel better built and plusher. The clocks look fancier too and have a granite finish to them

Great around bends and great in a straight line

But at the limit around a bend, one is still better off with the BMW. Now, both cars here are rear wheel drive, and with so much power being sent to the rear wheels spinning out unintentionally comes easy if you get too playful with the throttle. It’s more likely to happen on theMercedes though, specifi cally, if you choose to drive with the ESP turned off. The BMW in comparison returns more feel, and though the power is laid down more vigorously, it’s still an easier car to catch being more predictable and talkative.

The 7-series is setup on the stiffer side. Plus, it has better weight distribution, sharper turn in and better body control. As expected, the BMW is more likely to tickle the enthusiast inside you come a twisty section of road.

What is surprising though, is the ride quality on the 7 isn’t too bad. But yes, the S-class is more comfortable, and this is especially true at slower speeds. It does a more commendable job of isolating its occupants from the road below than the 7. Additionally, it gets cushier, more comfortable rear seats.

The S also makes a better case for itself in the styling department. It has got a minor facelift which includes revised headlamps and front bumpers, with LEDs gracing both parts. The front grille is slightly different too and so are the ORVMs and the rear bumper.

New materials for the dash look richer than before. Digital clocks remain unchanged though

The S tends to roll more around bends than the 7

Inside, the Mercedes gets better material for the steering wheel, but the rest remains perceptible the same.

Like we mentioned last time round (Vol 2, Issue No 01), the BMW’s insides are fancier, plusher and better endowed (quoting verbatim from the issue). The only difference being, the S’s driver side of the cockpit feels more upmarket now. Otherwise, the operability, be it the functioning of the numerous knobs, buttons or stalks or their placement, continues unchanged.

The S was short on equipment compared to the 750Li in the S350 guise, but as part of the facelift and the new S500L trim, it now sports some fancy and usable stuff. There’s the parking package which includes parking sensors, a reversing camera and a parking guidance system which lets you in on the available parking spaces around you which can accommodate this mammoth of a car. We also like the improvements made on the command system in the car.

Engine & Gearbox

BMW 7 Series -Smaller V8 engine gets twin turbos and develops more power and torque

And what an engine it is, this 5.5-litre naturally aspirated V8. It has tremendous poke from the word go thanks mainly to its enormous 505Nm of peak torque that comes in as early as 2800rpm. And this is a petrol car. At the top there’s 370bhp to be had which ensures the car’s limited top speed of 250kmph is achieved without much prodding at all.

It’s also a refined engine and one that’s reasonably quiet at low revs but sounds throaty as the revs climb. The 7-speed automatic works well with this engine too; the manual shifts aren’t as lazy as on some other engine confi gurations in the Mercedes range.

Mercedes-Benz S-class -The engine is a brute the V8 develops 369bhp

It is in fact quite agreeable in S mode; the downshifts readily happen even at higher revs lending better control under braking, and even the upshifts aren't completely dependent on throttle inputs as is the case with most other Mercs with 7Gtronic.

But, it’s still no match for the 6-speed auto of the BMW 750Li. In manual mode, the BMW’s shifts are more predictable, swift and sporty, and more enjoyable. The engine here is smaller in capacity displacing 4.4 litres. But, it pumps out more power and signifi cantly higher torque courtesy twin turbos. The power delivery, not surprisingly, is more vicious too compared to the S-class which follows a linear curve.

Dimension

Scorecard & Verdict

BMW 7 Series- The 750Li delivers performance equally, but in terms of image and comfort, the S is a step ahead.

Mercedes-Benz S-Class- If it's a luxury limo you want that packs in the best of performance, comfort and image, the S500L is the car.

Scorecard

Body: The S is more spacious front and back.But, the BMW scores as high as the Mercedes on space because both cars surpass our benchmark figures; Both, the BMW and the Mercedes also score equal points for the safety features. Overall though the S manages to score an extra point thanks to a more usable boot and better visibility. The 7 however scores more on quality.

Drive: Unlike last time round where the BMW simply ran away with points under this head, the S500L and the 750Li score nearly the same points for each category. The S does score more for fuel economy and along with a larger fuel tank, for range as well. As for the 7-series, its 6-speed automatic gearbox is still the better of the two options and therefore, more points.

Comfort: When driven in comfort mode, the BMW rides nearly as well as the Sclass. Both cars are stiff, and the occupants can feel the road surface filtering through inside the cabin nonetheless. The 7 has better front seats and better comfort equipment, while the S is more comfortable at the rear. The 7 however handles better

Dynamics: There's little to choose between the two cars in terms of steering response or directional stability. But the S-class is easier to drive on busy roads and it has a tighter turning radius. It also has better braking ability, taking lesser distance to come to a complete stop from both 80kmph and 100kmph.

Cost: Both the Mercedes S-class and theBMW 7-series in the trims on test here are phenomenally expensive, costing more than a crore each. And the only reason the Mercedes manages to score an additional point here is because of the brand. Overall though the S500L wins by three points.

Verdict

Very little separated the Mercedes S350 and the BMW 750Li in our test rating last time round – if the BMW handled better, packed in better performance and offered better, more usable equipment, the S-class was more comfortable, better looking, airier and cheaper to buy. Now though, the S has closed the gap on the performance and equipment fronts.

Of course, it is also pricier now and in a sense has closed the gap on the cost front as well in the S500L trim. But, on a broader scale, the S500L has managed to keep ahead in traditionally strong S-class areas compared to the BMW while closing in on the 750Li’s strong points. It performs equally well, be it acceleration or driveability. It's also more effi cient and comfortable. Sure, it still can't match the 7's handling prowess, but it's a fun to drive car nevertheless. The S500L wins this shootout then, but only by a close margin of three points over the 750Li, making it the fast and Luxurious limo to buy.