Review and photos by Jonathan Yarkony
 2014 Mercedes-Benz S-Class. Click image to enlarge |
Toronto, Ont. – The Mercedes-Benz S-Class has long stood as the pinnacle of that brand’s luxury offerings, and even as the pinnacle of luxury motoring in any form, excepting such extravagant machines as from Rolls-Royce and Bentley. As per Mercedes’ history page: “There is hardly any other vehicle with which Mercedes-Benz is identified more closely than the S-Class.” The S-Class is Mercedes-Benz, although the brand has grown to encompass much more than just that model (the SLS and AMG brand come to mind).
For example, let’s say you’re watching a movie, and know nothing about the character yet, but see him or her get out of the back of a big black S-Class; well, it’s pretty clear right then and there that he or she is a big shot.
Mercedes-Benz hasn’t bought its way into product placement for that role or association. They’ve earned it the hard way, by building what they feel are the absolute best, most luxurious vehicles for over one hundred years. Clearly, many people agree.
 2014 Mercedes-Benz S-Class. Click image to enlarge |
What I’m trying to get at here is this: The S-Class is a big deal. It’s also big money, so very few are actually privileged enough to share in that club, but it’s a fair reward for whatever hard work or good fortune its owners have experienced.
Leading technology has also been a key trait of the S-Class, whose industry firsts include electronic stability control, crumple zones and anti-lock braking systems (ABS).
For this generation the most revolutionary advance is in the comfort technology department, possibly the most dramatic improvement since the pneumatic tire. Mercedes-Benz has created what they term Magic Body Control, a system that hydraulically adjusts the base upon which the spring sits according to input from stereoscopic cameras in the windshield. It allows the S-Class to absorb even severe bumps with, well, magical ability. A bump that would normally upset the whole vehicle no matter how well the suspension absorbs impacts was reduced to a whisper of a thump only barely heard through the blankets of sound insulation packed throughout the S-Class. My immediate reaction: “Mind blown.”
 2014 Mercedes-Benz S-Class. Click image to enlarge |
This feature will not be available with the initial Canadian models, which include the S 550 4Matic in long and short wheelbase.
Before you go feeling all sorry for Canadian S-Class owners, or for Mercedes-Benz Canada’s dealers, the forthcoming S 600 will add this feature. Magic Body Control, because it depends on complex physical mechanisms for the hydraulics, fits only in rear-wheel-drive models. Here in Canada, the S-Class is sold primarily with 4Matic AWD, so both long- and standard-wheelbase S 550 models come equipped with standard AWD.
Anyhow, despite the slight disappointment that Magic Body Control will not be available at launch on any model available in Canada, the S-Class is nonetheless still chock full of technological, comfort and safety advances. While I could provide endless pages of commentary on said advances, let’s talk about the drive and see which items we noticed and sampled in our all-too brief time in this luxury cruiser.
First of all, the S-Class has improved upon its already indomitable appearance. As soon as you walk up to it, you recognize that this is a large, luxurious car, and I find that the traditional three-box sedan design with fluid, rounded edges works quite well for me. It will remain a car that other lesser brands will seek to imitate in an effort to seem luxurious. It’s a study in not trying too hard to break ground in the styling department, and suits this class well.
