The ultimate in luxury travel

 If you want arguably the best luxury car on the market, then step right this way. The Mercedes S-Class makes a case for itself as the ultimate luxury saloon thanks to a combination of cutting edge technology, impeccable comfort and incredible refinement.

Even in world where the likes of the Bentley Flying Spur and Range Rover exist, plus rivals like the Audi A8 and BMW 7 Series, the Mercedes S-Class still leads the way. Why? Read our in depth Mercedes S-Class review to find out why.  

There is an argument that big luxury saloons like this are now irrelevant but don't let Mercedes-Benz hear you saying that. True, they are not as popular as they once were - the rise of the luxury SUV has seen to that - but the S-Class remains the flagship in the Mercedes-Benz range and the innovations that debut here will filter down to the rest of the Mercedes range. 

The interior is a tour de force. The sleek design and impeccable build quality are everything you'd expect from a top of the range Mercedes-Benz and the seats are so comfortable you'd happily sell the house and move in. As you'd expect, it's incredibly roomy inside with the back seats of long wheelbase models feeling appropriately limousine-esque.

The MBUX infotainment system comes into its own in the tech and feature-laden Mercedes-Benz S-Class. Rather than having more buttons than a haberdashery, pretty much everything is controlled through the big screen on the dash. It's easy to use once you've mastered it and means a less cluttered interior layout.

On the move, the Mercedes S-Class proves it's one of the most comfortable cars money can buy with the refined suspension ironing out road surface imperfections with ease. We can think of no better car for covering long distances in. True, it's not the most dynamic of cars to drive - a BMW 7 Series is better - but the S-Class is reassuringly capable nonetheless.

The engine range includes two six-cylinder diesels - the S 350 d and S 400 d 4Matic - as well as an S 500 4Matic petrol - the quickest in the range. However, it's the S 580 e plug-in hybrid which really appeals thanks to an electric range of 65 miles and low running costs when it comes to VED. This would be our choice.

Whichever engine you choose, the Mercedes S-Class is suitably hushed at motorway speeds which makes for serene progress. It is of course fitted with pretty much every bell and whistle you'd want - and if not there's always the extensive optional extras list to keep you occupied.

While the latest Mercedes S-Class has hardly rewritten the luxury saloon rulebook, Mercedes-Benz has managed to refine and noticeable improve on the previous S-Class. It's not as brash as an SUV and while there is the whiff of the 'chauffeur driven', it's still the pinnacle of luxurious travel.

The Mercedes-Benz S-Class has long set the benchmark for luxury saloons, despite strong competition from its noisy German neighbours. The popularity of luxury SUVs means even more pretenders to the crown. But the latest Mercedes-Benz S-Class shows exactly how its done. It remains unrivalled among its peers.