• Two diesels, one petrol and a plug-in hybrid
• S500 petrol is a mild hybrid, best at low speeds
• Plug-in hybrid the most impressive all-rounder

Petrol engine

You can only buy one mild-hybrid petrol model in the UK, the S500. It’s a six-cylinder mild hybrid that’s good for 435hp and 520Nm of torque. It’s also capable of an extra on-demand 23hp from its EQ mild-hybrid system, which adds a little extra punch when needed. As well as silence during ‘coasting’, there’s a mode that switches the engine off when it’s being driven gently.

The standard- and long-wheelbase models sprint from 0-62mph in an identical 4.9 seconds and maximum speed is – yet again – 155mph, limited. On the road, it accelerates without effort, but isn’t as refined when accelerating as we’d hoped for.

The drivetrain is at its best at low speeds, with early gear changes and lots of coasting. Sport Plus drive mode is designed to make it feel sportier, but is at odds with the car’s character and disturbs the flow.

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Diesel engines

There are more diesel than petrol options. The S-Class diesel models are an evolution of the previous generation, and are effectively two different power outputs for the same straight-six engine.

The entry-level model is the S350d, which is effortless to drive, but capable of a fair turn of speed when required. You’re always aware it’s a diesel, but its pulling power, and effortless motorway cruising make this the perfect entry into S-Class life. At no point will you feel this is underpowered or a relatively small engine in a massive car.

If that’s not enough for you, the four-wheel drive S400d 4Matic accelerates more quickly, while the limited maximum speed remains the same. Gone are the days that entry-level S-Class models are slow and cumbersome – both diesels are capable of genuine hot hatch-style performance.

Electric and hybrid engines

The S580e is a massively advanced PHEV, and it’s certainly a leap over the old S560e. It is powered by a 360hp six-cylinder petrol that’s combined with a 150hp electric motor fed by a 28.6kWh battery. It’s capable of an impressive battery-only range of more than 60miles, and can be locked in e-mode up to 88mph.

It automatically switches to battery mode when entering a ULEZ-zone (in Germany at least), and is compatible with all AC and DC chargers from 11 to 60kW. Charging from empty to full takes only 30 minutes. When running on electric power alone, it is sublime – totally silent, swift enough to keep up with traffic and exactly what we’d hope for from an electrified luxury car.

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The S580e is very swift indeed when the petrol engine and electric motor both put their power down, and the engine itself is a smooth six-cylinder rather than the reedy four-pots of some rivals.

There’s only one criticism about how it drives, and that’s in its braking, which lacks feel and progression thanks to the way it regenerates power for the battery pack. Thankfully this is not a safety concern, but the brief delay when you press the pedal is nonetheless irritating.

What’s it like to drive?

• It’s a big car, but it’s clever
• Handling is agile and belies its size
• Steering and brakes are first rate

As you’d expect, this is a car that’s designed primarily for comfort, and it excels in this measure. But don’t think that the S-class doesn’t excel in terms of composure as well, because it’s capable of very impressive handling. There are four different drive modes to choose from: Eco, Comfort, Sport and Sport Plus, and you can also adjust the steering and sensitivity of the accelerator pedal’s response. Comfort is the best for plenty day-to-day driving, suiting the S-Class’s relaxed character.

On the motorway is where the S-Class is at its best. It’s the definitive big-daddy edition that clears the outside lane by its sheer presence when overtaking. Yet on A- and B-roads it’s capable of remarkable agility, thanks to its rear-wheel steering that doesn’t just make low-speed manoeuvring easier, but allows amazing precision around obstacles at speed and perfect arcs through flowing bends. It doesn’t cheat physics – you don’t ever feel the S-Class is a small car – but it controls its weight very well.

The controls are all responsive, and as such you can be confident in pushing this car to its limits in an emergency situation. The nine-speed automatic transmission is polished and slurs its gear changes imperceptably. If you do want to take manual control using the steering wheel paddle controls, shuffling through the gears is simple enough – but probably not needed due to the sheer number to choose from.

The ride is soft without losing body control when in the bends. The suspension soaks up expansion joints and potholes like a huge pillow, while the Airmatic system gives the car a true magic-carpet feel. Add to this the well-suppressed wind and road noise, the quiet drivetrain at low-to-medium revs (the S 500 has a refined, distant growl when pressed) as well as the world-class seats, and it’s clear why S-Class truly encapsulates splendid isolation on wheels.