• No S-Class is particularly inexpensive to run
• Diesels make for the best all-round buys
• Ensure your pockets are very deep for a V12

Diesels will be the way to go for manageable everyday running costs, with fuel economy ranging between 38.7mpg and 44.1mpg for the S 350 d and S 400 d models. The S 450 L and S 500 L both claim up to 36.2mpg, while the S 560 e L offers up to 128.4mpg, but this is only achievable if you make full use of the plug-in drivetrain and charge it as often as psosible. 

Unsurprisingly, the AMG model and you can expect pretty woeful fuel economy. The S 63 L manages 23.2-24.4mpg, while the V12-powered S 65 L musters just 18.6mpg on the combined cycle.

All petrol S-Classes suffer in terms of depreciation, too, potentially retaining only a third of their value after three years and 36,000 miles-worth of driving. Diesels perform better, but still only hover around the 40% mark.

If you’re of the opinion you’ll be able to run an S-Class inexpensively, think again before you make a serious mistake. This is a big, heavy and powerful car, meaning consumables such as tyres and breaks, let along services, will be wallet warping.

If CO2 emissions are your priority, the S 560 e L is what you’ll want, with a figure of as little as 57g/km. Moving up the range and the S 350 d emits just 158g/km (AMG Line), with Grand Edition models emitting 2g/km more. Even the S 400 d emits the same despite its higher power output. 

Petrol models aren’t much worse, with both the S 450 L and S 500 L producing 169-171g/km. 

Go for an AMG models and things are slightly different. The S 63 L emits 231g/km which isn’t too bad considering its 612hp output, but the V12-powered S 65 L emits a whopping 325g/km of CO2. 

Is it reliable?

• A dozen recalls so far for this S-Class
• Seven of those relate to stop/start system
• No issues so far with raft of safety kit

Think Mercedes-Benz and you invariably think of its high-quality range of cars, with premium prices to match, yet this generation of S-Class Saloon has so far been subjected to 12 recalls by the vehicle inspectorate, the DVSA. That’s both eye-opening and disappointing.

By now these issues should have been remedied by a Mercedes-Benz dealer, but it’s worth confirming this if you’re considering buying a used S-Class. Somewhat alarmingly, seven of the recalls relate to problems with the stop/start system, while a further two concern the automatic transmission. Two more recalls were airbag-related, while there was another one linked to the seatbelts.

Searching for some good news, none of the recalls relate to the raft of electronics for the cabin or the safety-related equipment. We’ve heard of several electrical problems blighting S-Class owners too along with some rattling trims after not many miles at all.