Mercedes-Benz 500-Class

Mercedes Benz 500 Series

Mercedes Benz had launched several cars in the 500 series i.e. all the cars made by Mercedes with 5.0L V8 engine under the hood. They all have been designed with the base design of Mercedes Benz S-Class cars and are the best offering under the sedan category of cars. Notable among the Mercedes 500 series are : Mercedes Benz W08- Nurburg500 , Mercedes Benz R107 – 500SL, Mercedes Benz R129-500SL, Mercedes Benz W124 500E, Mercedes Benz W126-500SEC , Mercedes BenzW140 – 500SEL, Mercedes Benz W220-S500  and Mercedes Benz W221 – S500. Although there are few design and colour variations in all these releases they still maintain the class of Mercedes Benz 500 series and have similar interior and engine options.

Models and Features

German automaker Mercedes –Benz launched its S-500 series officially in 1972 with the W116 model and it has been in the market with several variants since more than fifty years. New models and versions were added to the S-500 with changing and emerging technology but it still houses the reliability and royalty of the age old sedan. Notable additions to the technology includes drivetrain technology, interior becoming more comfortable and luxurious and addition of new safety systems. It has always remained the best selling luxury sedan and has grabbed several awards worldwide.

Few awards that Mercedes Benz S-500 have grabbed includes “Best Luxury Car” at What Car? , “ Luxury Car of the year” at Fleet News, “ Car of the year “ for Wheels Magazine from 1981 to 1999, “Safest Passenger Car of the Year” for U.S. Highway Loss Data Institute and last but not the least European Car of the Year in 1974. Having bagged such honors it is the coveted car for many.

Options and Packages

Mercedes S500 keeps up the tradition of Mercedes Benz and has comparative size and royal road presence. The air-con comes with a COMAND system, which is not as good as iDrive of the BMW but is still appreciable. Headlights, wipers and steering adjust is similar to the traditional Merc’s. Still it is tech savvy too with 300 LEDs with seven color choice that lights up the cabin beautifully and aesthetically at night. It also has a 24-speaker Burmester audio system,  massage seats with pillows and standard bluetooth and wifi connectivity for the tech savvy customers.

Fuel Economy

Mercedes 500 comes with a 5.0 litre engine with twin0turbo petrol V8. The number of pistons in the engine is 8 and it is a very fuel efficient car with 453 bhp and 71.3 kgm torque. It can give a smooth drive on steep slopes and curvy roads too. It reaches a 100kph in 4.8 sec proving the capabilities of the car.  The gearbox, is made to glide swiftly through traffic and the gearshifts are very swift too. The car which has a fuel tank capacity of 80 litres and it has fuel efficiency of 94 mpg.

Exterior/Interior/Styling

If we talk about the exterior the grille is massive which is improved to make it around 30% larger than earlier car. Huge all-LED headlights add to its royalty and add to its distinctive front end. The length of the car is around 5246 mm and is further enhanced by flowing curves and character lines along the sides. It is available mainly in four colors i.e. obsidian black, Palladium Silver, Iridium Silver and Polar White.

As far as interior and styling of the Mercedes Benz is concerned, as always there has been no compromise from the Mercedes end. The interior is also royal just like the exteriors and gives you a king like feel. The four doors are light weight and take you inside to broad, adjustable and comfortable throne like seats. Inside the car, you get into a complete new world, away from the noise and pollution of the outside world. The steering wheel is a two-spoke wood and leather made with two large 31.2 cm displays – one for speed and second is tacho. There is optional night-vision camera which can be added as one of the accessory. Other optional includes car info and comprehensive COMAND system. The cabin is made up of wood, leather and aluminum which makes it a sign of luxury.

There is enough legroom in the rear end and those at the backseat can enjoy comfort thanks to the elongated car design. Even tall people can find room for their legs and recline generously over the rear seats. The storage box is located between the individual rear seats and it hides two stow away tables. There is option to have a rear seat entertainment package available in which there is remote operated web browser navigation available.

 Safety Ratings

Mercedes Benz 500 is a long-wheelbase model with more than 50% aluminum content in the chassis and plenty of high street steel in the passenger cell. This reduces the weight of the car considerably to almost 2200kg only which is evenly balanced between front and rear axles for improved comfort, balance and driving safely. Provision of air suspension and adaptive dampers with Active Body Control and Magic Body Control mechanism makes it almost accident proof and guarantees a safe drive. You can drive it with comfort even on stony roads and it is apt for all seasons and works on wet as well as dry roads.

The car has a soft suspension that can switch between ‘Sport’ and ‘Comfort’ modes, but it is more of a business class vehicle rather than a sports car. The sport option gives the steering feel with good body control along with amazing road really great front and rear tires. It is safe to drive even on twisty and turny roads and hairpins.

Mercedes Benz S500 is an exceptional vehicle that is a combination of style and aesthetic appeal. It keeps up the glory of its predecessors and the brand value of Mercedes. Overall the car deserves a 8/10. It is a car that sets benchmark for future versions and its rivals. Also it is moderate in budget so it does not create a big hole in the pocket of its owner.