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Mercedes-Benz S-Class Saloon (1999-2005) running costs and reliability

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Running costs rating: 3.5 out of 53.5

Written by Parkers Published: 6 June 2019

Miles per pound (mpp)

Reliable fuel consumption data for comparison purposes is not available for this model.

What is miles per pound?

Fuel economy

A more stringent standard for fuel economy (WLTP) was introduced from September 2017, and this model was not required to undergo that test. Its fuel economy measured under the previous test system was 19 - 35 mpg. However these figures are less likely to be achievable in real world driving and so should never be compared to another car's mpg which was measured under the newer, more realistic WLTP system.

View mpg & specs for any version

You can achieve relatively decent economy from the diesel engine, but beware of being hit by big tax demands if you choose it as a company car. Servicing isn’t cheap either and if something does go wrong, expect to pay a premium for parts.

The S-Class is a polluting model. With an average of 271 g/km CO2 across the line-up, its emissions are quite high for an executive saloon. The range is quite thirsty, averaging 26mpg. The S320 CDI is the most economical averaging around 37mpg

Not as good as Mercedes-Benz models of old, but still better than average.