2017 Mercedes-Benz S-class Hybrid Review
2017 Mercedes-Benz S-class Hybrid Review - Navigating through a metropolitan canyon, high-rise buildings to either side, the 2017 Mercedes-Benz S550 Hybrid moves along quietly, its air suspension smoothing the pockmarked pavement as well as the cabin shielding me from the midtown bustle. I anticipate these fine-tuned high qualities from the Mercedes-Benz S-Class, yet this brings additional silent, as an electric motor drives the wheels, leaving the engine briefly dormant.
The S550 Hybrid not only brings a full crossbreed drivetrain to Mercedes-Benz's front runner S-Class, it adds plug-in capacity, allowing owners demand its 8.7 kilowatt-hour lithium ion battery pack from the grid.
Unlike the totally electrical B-Class, which makes use of driveline technology from Tesla, the S550 Crossbreed's drive system comes from Mercedes-Benz, with a gas engine and electric motor mixing power through a seven-speed transmission to the rear wheels. I might pick its electrical drive method, however the S550 Crossbreed only goes 20 miles on a complete cost before the Crossbreed drive method instantly takes control of. Still, that 20 miles must be enough to beat London's congestion or sneak right into your estate's driveway to catch the aid stealing cutlery.
The S550 Hybrid not only brings a full crossbreed drivetrain to Mercedes-Benz's front runner S-Class, it adds plug-in capacity, allowing owners demand its 8.7 kilowatt-hour lithium ion battery pack from the grid.
Unlike the totally electrical B-Class, which makes use of driveline technology from Tesla, the S550 Crossbreed's drive system comes from Mercedes-Benz, with a gas engine and electric motor mixing power through a seven-speed transmission to the rear wheels. I might pick its electrical drive method, however the S550 Crossbreed only goes 20 miles on a complete cost before the Crossbreed drive method instantly takes control of. Still, that 20 miles must be enough to beat London's congestion or sneak right into your estate's driveway to catch the aid stealing cutlery.
Extremely, the S550 Hybrid comes in at the very same base price as the basic S550 sedan, $94,400 in the United States. With the crossbreed, you will certainly sacrifice 13 horsepower, 436 complete system result compared with 449 horsepower, and also 0.4 second of your zero-to-60 miles per hour time compared to the S550's V-8, yet average energy economic situation ought to hop by 5 or 6 mpg, right into the high 20s. The S550 Crossbreed I drove included a variety of plans, jumping the total rate to $117,515 with location. You won't find anything labeled as an S550 on UK or Australian Mercedes-Benz supplier lots. The UK equivalent is the S500 e L, with a base price of ₤ 88,620, while the only S-Class crossbreed Mercedes-Benz offers in Australia is the short-wheelbase S300 BlueTec Hybrid.
Similar to all new S-Class cars in the United States, the S550 Hybrid is a long-wheelbase design, suggesting a giraffe's worth of legroom in the rear seats. Include the rear-seat power change, environment control and cosy headrests, as well as I would certainly nearly prefer to be chauffeured around in this auto, with the exception of that it is so intriguing to drive.
As with other plug-in hybrids, I could marvel at and partially regulate the interplay in between gas engine and electric motor. The online tachometer showed on the big LCD panel showed me when the engine switched off, either at a stop in website traffic or when there was enough charge in the battery pack to drive the wheels. I can bring up a power circulation animation, showing the mix of power in between engine and motor, and also whether the battery was collecting energy from braking regeneration.
Similar to all new S-Class cars in the United States, the S550 Hybrid is a long-wheelbase design, suggesting a giraffe's worth of legroom in the rear seats. Include the rear-seat power change, environment control and cosy headrests, as well as I would certainly nearly prefer to be chauffeured around in this auto, with the exception of that it is so intriguing to drive.
As with other plug-in hybrids, I could marvel at and partially regulate the interplay in between gas engine and electric motor. The online tachometer showed on the big LCD panel showed me when the engine switched off, either at a stop in website traffic or when there was enough charge in the battery pack to drive the wheels. I can bring up a power circulation animation, showing the mix of power in between engine and motor, and also whether the battery was collecting energy from braking regeneration.
2017 Mercedes-Benz S-class Hybrid Review
Much more directly, I could pick Hybrid, E-mode, E-saver and Charge methods for the crossbreed system, and also E, E plus or S for the drive methods. Amongst the previous selections, Crossbreed mixes fuel and electrical easily, E-mode drives for as long as feasible under pure electric power, E-saver maintains the battery cost by relying a lot more on the engine and also Charge attempts to put juice to the battery pack with the engine and regenerative stopping. Meanwhile, S is for Sport, honing throttle and tightening up guiding, while E and also E plus maximize fuel economic situation. It's a bewildering collection of selections, although a lot of drivers will certainly simply compliment the default Hybrid as well as E methods.
Beginning fresh with a complete cost, the S550 Hybrid's instrument panel showed 18 miles of estimated electric array, based upon just how the car had actually most recently been driven, less than the possible 20 miles. I switched over to E-mode for the crossbreed system and the E plus drive setup, as well as removed into San Francisco's heavy urban website traffic. The engine continued to be off as I increased from each stoplight, the 85-kilowatt motor verifying ample to obtain relocating.
Beginning fresh with a complete cost, the S550 Hybrid's instrument panel showed 18 miles of estimated electric array, based upon just how the car had actually most recently been driven, less than the possible 20 miles. I switched over to E-mode for the crossbreed system and the E plus drive setup, as well as removed into San Francisco's heavy urban website traffic. The engine continued to be off as I increased from each stoplight, the 85-kilowatt motor verifying ample to obtain relocating.
The silence of the ride and the smooth velocity matched the S550 Crossbreed's opulence for a truly sublime encounter. To thoroughly enjoy the drive, I turned on my massage therapy seat and also played songs from my phone through the 13-speaker Burmester audio system. The audio quality was crystal-clear, highlighting each tone and refined sound from the songs I played. Ever before hear the mild coughing as well as consumption of breath at the start of Pink Floyd's "Wish You Were Here"? Those sounds came through extremely accurately with this Burmester system.
Tipping the scales at over 5,000 extra pounds, the S550 Crossbreed is a great deal of car to relocate, as well as I felt that weight each time it gathered momentum, however the electrical motor met the challenge. Nevertheless, those 18 miles verified illusory, as after just 7 actual miles I had burned up 14 miles of prospective range. I ascribe that variety burn to a damaging environment, with traffic signals at every crossway as well as a couple of hills on my route. But those electric miles had a very favorable impact on my total fuel economic climate.
I took the contrary tack for an additional drive, taking the S550 Hybrid right into the hills, along the same twisty track over which I had actually examined its non-hybrid brother or sister, the S550. Selecting Crossbreed and also Sporting activity for the drive settings, and also changing the air suspension to Sport, I left all idea of energy performance. When I hammered the accelerator, the 3-liter V-6, with a turbocharger for each and every cylinder bank, made an aggressive growl as it grabbed its peak 329 horse power. Assisted by the electrical motor, there was no doubt on power distribution and the auto built up steam like a freight train.
In the turns, the air suspension confirmed its worth, battling the inertial pressures attempting to make use of suspension traveling. An edge stopping system, applying light inside wheel stopping, assisted in the turns, making the S550 Crossbreed feel much shorter compared to its 17.2 feet. Even with the wheels squealing, it really felt manageable and fine-tuned.
Tipping the scales at over 5,000 extra pounds, the S550 Crossbreed is a great deal of car to relocate, as well as I felt that weight each time it gathered momentum, however the electrical motor met the challenge. Nevertheless, those 18 miles verified illusory, as after just 7 actual miles I had burned up 14 miles of prospective range. I ascribe that variety burn to a damaging environment, with traffic signals at every crossway as well as a couple of hills on my route. But those electric miles had a very favorable impact on my total fuel economic climate.
I took the contrary tack for an additional drive, taking the S550 Hybrid right into the hills, along the same twisty track over which I had actually examined its non-hybrid brother or sister, the S550. Selecting Crossbreed and also Sporting activity for the drive settings, and also changing the air suspension to Sport, I left all idea of energy performance. When I hammered the accelerator, the 3-liter V-6, with a turbocharger for each and every cylinder bank, made an aggressive growl as it grabbed its peak 329 horse power. Assisted by the electrical motor, there was no doubt on power distribution and the auto built up steam like a freight train.
In the turns, the air suspension confirmed its worth, battling the inertial pressures attempting to make use of suspension traveling. An edge stopping system, applying light inside wheel stopping, assisted in the turns, making the S550 Crossbreed feel much shorter compared to its 17.2 feet. Even with the wheels squealing, it really felt manageable and fine-tuned.
2017 Mercedes-Benz S-class Hybrid Review
There is no Sport mode on the stalk drive selector, but the Sport drive method made changing from the seven-speed automatic transmission much more threatening. And paddles on the steering wheel let me hold it in 3rd gear for a great collection of turns, the online tachometer pressing to the 6,500 rpm redline.
Merely cruising down the highway confirmed a delight in the huge, comfortable S550 Crossbreed, particularly with adaptive trip control and also lane-keeping help active. Mercedes-Benz actually improved these innovations to a high level, making them run smoothly even when various other automobiles cut in front of me.
A fairly brand-new vehicle driver assistance feature from Mercedes-Benz, Traffic congestion Help, verified its mettle as I drove back right into San Francisco one afternoon. All freeway ramps into the city revealed red, indicating severe congestion, on the S550 Crossbreed's navigating system, its detailed maps showed on huge LCD panel equal to that of the instrument cluster. I took my location in a bumper-to-bumper line up of autos, after that activated flexible cruise ship control, setting my speed to 25 mph.
As web traffic sneaked along, the S550 Crossbreed kept reasonably close to the car ahead, slowing as well as starting as required. Trusting the modern technology, I took my hands off the wheel and also the car guided itself, maintaining its position as it tracked the painted lane lines with its video cameras. A number of times I felt it came too close to the left street line, however I never ever had to step in. Under close supervision, I allow it drive itself up until I attacked surface roads and took over once again. Mercedes-Benz does not explicitly permit hands-free driving, as well as at speeds above 20 mph the auto would have issued an advising to get my hands back on the wheel.
Merely cruising down the highway confirmed a delight in the huge, comfortable S550 Crossbreed, particularly with adaptive trip control and also lane-keeping help active. Mercedes-Benz actually improved these innovations to a high level, making them run smoothly even when various other automobiles cut in front of me.
A fairly brand-new vehicle driver assistance feature from Mercedes-Benz, Traffic congestion Help, verified its mettle as I drove back right into San Francisco one afternoon. All freeway ramps into the city revealed red, indicating severe congestion, on the S550 Crossbreed's navigating system, its detailed maps showed on huge LCD panel equal to that of the instrument cluster. I took my location in a bumper-to-bumper line up of autos, after that activated flexible cruise ship control, setting my speed to 25 mph.
As web traffic sneaked along, the S550 Crossbreed kept reasonably close to the car ahead, slowing as well as starting as required. Trusting the modern technology, I took my hands off the wheel and also the car guided itself, maintaining its position as it tracked the painted lane lines with its video cameras. A number of times I felt it came too close to the left street line, however I never ever had to step in. Under close supervision, I allow it drive itself up until I attacked surface roads and took over once again. Mercedes-Benz does not explicitly permit hands-free driving, as well as at speeds above 20 mph the auto would have issued an advising to get my hands back on the wheel.
Efficiency as well as links
While testing the S550 Crossbreed for gas economic situation, I utilized all its numerous drive methods, however I discovered E plus the most interesting. Similar to its E drive method, E plus enables what Mercedes-Benz describes as "cruising," decoupling the wheels from the transmission when coasting to save energy. Nevertheless, E plus uses the auto's radar to check out web traffic in advance and also forecast when cruising may not be the very best strategy. If web traffic is slowing ahead, the auto involves the transmission to create use of its regenerative braking. I ended up failing to E plus, as it in no way disrupted my driving.
Mercedes-Benz posts EPA mileage numbers for the S550 Crossbreed of 24 mpg city and also 30 mpg freeway, suggesting a standard in the mid-20s. Nonetheless, laying out with a full fee on the battery, driving a path that included dreadfully slow traffic in the city, hammering it along a mountain highway, navigating down the freeway as well as bargaining rural streets, I attained a 29 mpg average, an excellent number.
2017 Mercedes-Benz S-class Hybrid Review Nevertheless, before carrying out the gas economy test, I saw the trip computer average dropping here 12 mpg in city driving with no grid charge on the battery. As is the case with all plug-in crossbreeds I've evaluated, ordinary gas economic climate will certainly vary substantially with how frequently you plug it in.
To assist find areas to plug in, Mercedes-Benz consists of an app in the S550 Hybrid's infotainment system together with Google neighborhood search, TuneIn and also Yelp. This application let me see a list of nearby electrical automobile charging terminals, including some standard info on charges as well as plug kinds. The S550 Crossbreed consists of a plug-in port at the back, so you will certainly intend to back right into parking spaces, and needs regarding 2.5 hrs for a complete charge.
Obtaining the car's native applications running took a fair bit of patience, as I needed to wait a significant amount of money of time seeing a screen that said "Establishing a Net connection." This has been an issue with Mercedes-Benz's app connectivity, at the very least in the US, as the auto does not appear to maintain an always-on link with its mobile network.
Controlling the S550 Hybrid's apps and also other infomercial features, such as the stereo and also hands-free phone system, is something of a challenge. Mercedes-Benz adds a touchpad hanging over its previous dial controller that allows motions and alphanumeric tracing input, amounting to two unique techniques of selecting onscreen content. While I had fun having fun with both input techniques, it would probably be much less distracting if Mercedes-Benz simplified the system. In the plus pillar, the system was very responsive.
Electric luxury
The present generation of the Mercedes-Benz S-Class is an astonishingly extravagant and comfy vehicle. The 2017 S550 Hybrid puts the interesting twist of the plug-in hybrid drivetrain, letting S-Class proprietors experience totally electrical driving. I extremely doubt that prospective customers in this price range penny-pinch over fueling expenses, but it can act as a minor bit of environmental cred compared with the remainder of the S-Class lineup. Proprietors could connect in next to their associates' Teslas in the company parking lot.
The rich tech nerd will get a bang out of the gasoline-electric drive interplay while delighting in one of the most comfy autos when driving. Mercedes-Benz's vehicle driver aid attributes go to the cutting side of the industry for production automobiles, because of very early research and also financial investment in the modern technologies.
The big screens making up the control panel and infomercial system are impressive, especially when considering a forest of provided buildings in an urban location on the navigating system's maps. The infotainment system includes an excellent collection of digital audio resources along with a hands-free phone system, yet Mercedes-Benz should do some deal with this user interface, as the touchpad does not match the dial controller well, instead composing a separate, duplicate control system. Web apps can additionally be better integrated within this system, although the majority of motorists won't have the perseverance for the automobile making its data link
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