Tinashe Makichi Motoring Correspondent
The 2011 Mercedes Benz S350 BlueTEC has maintained its presence on the market in spite of the different brands, the German car manufacturer has churned over the past three years. The vehicle boasts a 3- litre six-cylinder turbo-diesel, seven-speed automatic gearbox. Merc S350 can also be found on a 3,5 litre petrol V6 engine and has a seven speed automatic transmission.
Exterior wise, the updated S-Class remains largely unchanged from the previous model, but it is under the bonnet where you will find most major improvements.
The vehicle’s power delivery is silky smooth, and unless you have good reason to stand hard on the throttle, there is very little turbo lag, and it all feels and sounds like petrol power.
The vehicle has been growing in presence on the local market and some celebrities have since joined the mould of being S-Class owners.
The 2011 S350 offers an astounding level of quality, terrific refinement and it has been proven that none of Merc’s rivals can match the comfort and technology available in the vehicle.
Even cars like these can appeal on value; the S-Class looks astonishing against its peers. It’s more than worthy, again. When it was launched, the latest generation of Mercedes-Benz S-Class set new standards by ramping up its performance in every key area.
Now the S-Class remains a sublime luxury car that feels like it should cost double what it does. It’s still more than a match for anything in this price point.
The key strengths of the S350 are its beautifully finished cabin and impressive refinement from the 3.0-litre diesel engine.
Power and torque in the vehicle was increased by 15 percent over the previous model, while fuel consumption fell by 9,1 percent to a highly commendable 7,0 litres per 100km.
The S350 BlueTEC is not only one of the world’s cleanest diesel cars, but it is also the first EU6 compliant vehicle with an emissions output of just 185g/km.
Like all S-Classes, the S350 is basically a rolling living room on wheels and you can buy it with massaging front seats which comes with multiple massage styles.
Headrest video monitors are an option, as are electrically reclining rear seats; a split-view front screen and the driver can view the navigation system while the front-seat passenger watches a DVD radar cruise control and a host of other high-tech options.
In typical Mercedes Benz fashion, all of them work exceedingly well and do exactly what they are designed to do.
The big pull on this luxurious vehicle is that it is a no excuses large diesel sedan, with everything that entails. The S350 2012 version’s biggest advantage is the balance and it is a subtle piece, an advanced, confident car that does not broadcast it’s necessarily broadcast its worth.
It offers all the power, remarkable fuel economy, and just as much comfort as anything else on wheels.In that sense, the vehicle is the most old school machine Mercedes offers.