Used Mercedes S-Class 2006-2013 review

The Mercedes S-Class is among the world’s most revered luxury cars. It’s only really your Rolls-Royces, Bentleys and Mercedes' own Maybachs that can truly claim to trump it for reputation – and cars from those brands have always demanded considerably more money from you.

Nowadays, this 2006-2013 generation of S-Class has aged out of widespread chauffeur use, but on the plus side, it makes for a bargain on the used market.

Engines & Performance: The engine range at launch included three petrols: the S350 (268bhp V6), S500 (383bhp V8) and S600 (510bhp twin-turbo V12). But it’s the diesel S320 (232bhp V6) that's our pick of the range, combining strong performance with decent fuel economy and – crucially – a longer range between fuel stops. We aren’t alone, either, because diesel-engined S-Classes outnumber their petrol equivalents by about five to one on the used car market.

For those who do crave more performance there’s always the 612bhp Mercedes-AMG S65 model or its baby brother, the 537bhp S63, both of which can crack 0-60mph in less than 4.5sec.

A facelift in 2010 resulted in the S320 CDI becoming the S350 CDI with improved fuel economy. It's also worth noting that a general increase in the amount of standard equipment happened during this facelift too.

Ride & Handling: Air suspension ensures the ride is wonderfully cosseting, but not at the expense of handling. It's no hot hatch, of course, but the S-Class can still be steered precisely along a challenging road and hides its mass well.

For those who do crave more performance there’s always the 612bhp Mercedes-AMG S65 model or its baby brother, the 537bhp S63, both of which can crack 0-60mph in less than 4.5sec.

Interior & Practicality: High-quality materials, solid build quality and lots of equipment is what you can expect from the interior. Sure, by today's standard, the design and technology feels dated, but no more so than other cars from the late 2000s and early 2010s.

The S-Class is a large car and even short-wheelbase models are very roomy inside, whether you're in the front or back and whether we're talking head room or leg room. The boot is a decent size – it's large enough to swallow a few suitcases.

Trims & Equipment: The main ones to pay attention to are non-AMG-Line cars and AMG Line ones. The former is more relaxed in its looks, ride and you get a tad less kit. Go for AMG Line and you get sportier styling, larger wheels and more kit.

Bear in mind that your kit list will also depend on your engine choice. For instance, the S63 and S65 is kitted out straight from the get go.

Interested in buying a used Mercedes S-Class? Visit our Used Cars For Sale pages to find lots of cars listed at great prices.

You can buy a used Mercedes S-Class for around £5000 and, for the money, expect an S320 CDI model with less than 80,000 miles to its name. It could be short or long wheelbase and the model years vary. It'll be a non-AMG-Line variant, though, with those pushing the price to around £10,000.

If you want a beefy engine, say, an S500, have upwards of £10,000, rising to £30,000 for the S65 V12.

Late, 2013 S-Class models of any kind are going to cost you upwards of £12,000 in most cases.

Check the value of a used S-Class with What Car? Valuations

Find used Mercedes cars for sale

One of the reasons the S-Class depreciates in value so heavily is that people are put off by the high running costs. Opt for a petrol model and you’ll be lucky to get more than 30mpg (or significantly less if it’s an S500 or S600) and will need to pay somewhere between £240 and £535 in road tax each year. Your annual tax bill on the diesel meanwhile will be £305 for a pre-facelift S320 or £190 for the later S350. Reckon on seeing about 30mpg from the former and 35mpg from the latter in normal driving.

Mercedes servicing costs aren’t cheap, and the S-Class is among the priciest of the lot at about £500 for a basic annual inspection - and that’s assuming wear and tear items such as tyres and brakes don’t need replacing. Being a complicated car, it also generally takes longer to fix when something needs replacing, so labour costs can and will add up. That said, there’s a plethora of independent specialists around, and taking your S-Class to one of them should save you some cash.

If you intend to use your S-Class as a chauffeur car, it might be worth opting for the long-wheelbase version so that whoever is in the back can stretch out. After that, it’s a case of finding the specification you’re after, which is as much about choosing the correct paint and leather combination as it is anything else, so well equipped is the S-Class as standard.

The temptation will almost inevitably be to go for a car with as many gadgets as possible, but in reality the fewer there are the less chance you’ll have of something going wrong. There’s also some logic in restricting your search to post-facelift cars so that any early glitches will have been ironed out.

Our favourite Mercedes-Benz S-Class: S350 CDI

When this generation of S-Class arrived. it fairly blew the competition away. In many ways, the same is true when considering used alternatives today. The Audi A8 and BMW 7 Series are equally as well finished, but neither rides with quite the serene composure of the S-Class and they will cost you just as much to run.

Another contender in this class is the Jaguar XJ, which is arguably more stylish than the S-Class and offers a sportier drive, but again the ride isn’t as smooth, plus rear head room is a little more restricted.

For all the latest reviews, advice and new car deals, sign up to the What Car? Newsletter here

Interested in buying a used Mercedes S-Class? Visit our Used Cars For Sale pages to find lots of cars listed at great prices.