Used Mercedes-Benz S-Class 2006-2013 review

Category: Luxury car

The Mercedes-Benz S-Class is regarded by some as the best luxury car in the world, but does it make for a sensible used buy?

Used Mercedes-Benz S-Class 06-13
  • Used Mercedes-Benz S-Class 06-13
  • Used Mercedes-Benz S-Class 06-13
  • Used Mercedes-Benz S-Class 06-13
  • Used Mercedes-Benz S-Class 06-13
  • Used Mercedes-Benz S-Class 06-13
  • Used Mercedes-Benz S-Class 06-13
  • Used Mercedes-Benz S-Class 06-13
  • Used Mercedes-Benz S-Class 06-13
  • Used Mercedes-Benz S-Class 06-13
  • Used Mercedes-Benz S-Class 06-13
  • Used Mercedes-Benz S-Class 06-13
  • Used Mercedes-Benz S-Class 06-13
  • Used Mercedes-Benz S-Class 06-13
  • Used Mercedes-Benz S-Class 06-13
  • Used Mercedes-Benz S-Class 06-13
  • Used Mercedes-Benz S-Class 06-13
Used Mercedes-Benz S-Class 2006-2013 review
Star rating

What's the used Mercedes S-Class saloon like?

The Mercedes-Benz S-Class is among the world’s most revered luxury cars. In fact it’s only really Rolls-Royce, Bentley and possibly Mercedes' own Maybach that could truly claim to trump it for reputation, but with those all being more than twice as expensive, that’s hardly surprising.

You could argue that what makes the S-Class special is its history. But in reality it’s the fact that Mercedes uses the S-Class as a showcase for its latest technology that makes it stand out.

Overview

The Mercedes-Benz S-Class is regarded by some as the best luxury car in the world, but does it make for a sensible used buy?

  • Supreme ride comfort
  • Amazing value for money
  • Strong diesel engine
  • High running costs
  • Expensive to fix when it goes wrong
  • Steep depreciation

The 2006-2013 S-Class is no different. For example, it was available with infra-red night vision, seats that massage their occupants and a pre-collision assist system of a type that’s taken almost a decade to become commonplace on other cars.

After reports of dubious build quality linked to the previous S-Class, Mercedes went to town on not only the design of the interior, but also its fit and finish. There was also a larger boot than before (think estate car space in a saloon body) and there’s enough room in the back seats to stretch out, particularly if you choose a long-wheelbase car.

The engine range at launch included three petrols: the S350 (268bhp V6), S500 (383bhp V8) and S600 (510bhp twin-turbo V12). But it’s the diesel S320 (232bhp V6) that's our pick of the range, combining strong performance with decent fuel economy and - crucially - a longer range between fuel stops. We aren’t alone, either, because diesel-engined S-Classes outnumber their petrol equivalents by about five to one on the used car market.

Air suspension ensures the ride is wonderfully cosseting, but not at the expense of handling. It's no hot hatch, of course, but the S-Class can still be steered precisely along a challenging road and hides its mass well.

For those who do crave more performance there’s always the 612bhp Mercedes-AMG S65 model or its baby brother, the 537bhp S63, both of which can crack 0-60mph in less than 4.5sec.

A facelift in 2010 resulted in the S320 CDI becoming the S350 CDI with improved fuel economy, the introduction of a function on the infotainment system that allows the driver and passenger to see different things on the same screen, and a general increase in the amount of standard equipment.

Ownership cost

What used Mercedes S-Class saloon will I get for my budget?

The S-Class is outrageously affordable to buy second-hand, particularly when you consider that it is still regarded by some as the best luxury car in the world. A budget of £5000 will get you into an early S320 CDI with 150,000 miles. At this end of the market, you do, however, need to be careful, and watch out for adverts with telltale warnings such as ‘engine light on’.

Petrol-powered examples of the S-Class are fairly thin on the ground, but with a bit of searching you can pick up an S500 for less than £8000. S600 and AMG models are from around £15,000-£19,000 for a similar age and mileage, but that’s still a fraction of what they cost new.

If you’d prefer a post-facelift S350 CDI, you’ll need a budget of about £10,000 for a high-mileage car. Doubling that figure will get you a sub-50,000-mile car from 2011 or 2012.

Used Mercedes-Benz S-Class 06-13

How much does it cost to run a Mercedes S-Class saloon?

One of the reasons the S-Class depreciates in value so heavily is that people are put off by the high running costs. Opt for a petrol model and you’ll be lucky to get more than 30mpg (or significantly less if it’s an S500 or S600) and will need to pay somewhere between £240 and £535 in road tax each year. Your annual tax bill on the diesel meanwhile will be £305 for a pre-facelift S320 or £190 for the later S350. Reckon on seeing about 30mpg from the former and 35mpg from the latter in normal driving.

Mercedes servicing costs aren’t cheap, and the S-Class is among the priciest of the lot at about £500 for a basic annual inspection - and that’s assuming wear and tear items such as tyres and brakes don’t need replacing. Being a complicated car, it also generally takes longer to fix when something needs replacing, so labour costs can and will add up. That said, there’s a plethora of independent specialists around, and taking your S-Class to one of them should save you some cash.

Our recommendations

Which used Mercedes S-Class saloon should I buy?

If you intend to use your S-Class as a chauffeur car, it might be worth opting for the long-wheelbase version so that whoever is in the back can stretch out. After that, it’s a case of finding the specification you’re after, which is as much about choosing the correct paint and leather combination as it is anything else, so well equipped is the S-Class as standard.

The temptation will almost inevitably be to go for a car with as many gadgets as possible, but in reality the fewer there are the less chance you’ll have of something going wrong. There’s also some logic in restricting your search to post-facelift cars so that any early glitches will have been ironed out.

Our favourite Mercedes-Benz S-Class: S350 CDI

Used Mercedes-Benz S-Class 06-13

Alternatives

What alternatives should I consider to a used Mercedes S-Class saloon?

When the W221 S-Class arrived. it fairly blew the competition away. In many ways, the same is true when considering used alternatives today. The Audi A8 and BMW 7 Series are equally as well finished, but neither rides with quite the serene composure of the S-Class and they will cost you just as much to run.

Another contender in this class is the Jaguar XJ, which is arguably more stylish than the S-Class and offers a sportier drive, but again the ride isn’t as smooth, plus rear head room is a little more restricted.

Used Mercedes-Benz S-Class 06-13