2010 Mercedes-Benz S400 Blue Hybrid: Cocooning goes green

PETER BLEAKNEY FOR THE TORONTO STAR

For 2010, the S-class gets a minor facelift. Much of its fuel savings may be due to its efficient V6 engine.

PETER BLEAKNEY

SPECIAL TO THE STAR

CEDAR POINT, OHIO–Call it discrimination of a sort, but the well-heeled looking for a dash of green in their full-sized luxury sedans have had slim pickings in North America. Only the Lexus LS 600h was on the menu, which carries a tag of $119,950.

Rich folks need to assuage their eco-guilt too, and now that green is a growing part of our collective consciousness, Mercedes-Benz jumps in with the 2010 S400 BlueHybrid (long wheelbase only) starting at $105,900.

Mercedes-Benz sells an efficient, clean and torquey diesel variant of its flagship sedan in Europe (as do Audi, BMW and Jaguar). But Mercedes knows that it's a tough sell to peddle an oil-burner S-class here , especially among the more "mature" S-class demographic.

And so I find myself gliding westward along I-90 with the family aboard Mercedes's brand-new gas- and battery-powered eco-cocoon as part of our annual friends and family excursion to Cedar Point. This place features a terrifying collection of stomach-churning rides. My kids love these, but one turn leaves me as green as the BlueHybrid's environmental intentions.

Fine and dandy. Technical gobbledygook and hybrid hype aside, does the limo deliver?

After about six hours of 120 km/h serenity (2100 r.p.m.), the display showed 8.3 L/100 km (34 m.p.g.) of premium fuel consumed. That's impressive for a swift, 2,109-kilogram luxury sedan.

Ah, yes. Luxury.

Mercedes-Benz, more than most automakers, understands the concept of a premium long-distance touring car. The majority of buyers in this segment couldn't give two hoots for sports car-like dynamics, don't want a firm ride and don't want to hear low-profile tires slapping over the tarmac. They seek comfort, stability and refinement, and in this respect, the S-class is arguably the best of its kind.

The S-class cabin is exquisitely crafted and beautiful to behold, and the upgraded COMAND interface with its crisp screen is quite intuitive as far as these things go. Using voice command, programming the navigation is dead simple.

Furthering this coddling experience were the dynamic multi-contour front seats, part of the $6,100 Premium Package. Trimmed in supple perforated beige leather, these infinitely adjustable marvels massaged our backs, ventilated our butts and actively bolstered us while cornering.

Of course, the kids in the back were peeved, hearing Mom and Dad oohing and aahing as the chairs worked their magic.

For a portion of this journey we took part in an interesting cross-generational experience.

With our lithium-ion battery-equipped hybrid spearing though the sunny Pennsylvania countryside, my massage set on "slow and vigorous" and seat ventilation on medium, we took in some old radio dramas from the '30s and '40s, beamed in from satellite radio.

I explained to the progeny that before Xbox, iPods and black-and-white TV, families gathered around the wireless in the evenings. Their little faces were a mixture of horror and disbelief.

However, these dramas had the kids riveted during the 2 1/2-hour wait at the border on our return.

Aside from the hybrid badges, there's little to give away the S400's alternate drive train. There are no in-your-face eco-graphics like in the Honda Insight, Ford Fusion Hybrid or Toyota Prius, and the auto-stop function is largely imperceptible.

The only fly in the ointment is some jerkiness in the braking when stopping. Those in the hybrid business should study the Fusion Hybrid's regenerative braking. Ford has this one figured out.

For 2010, the S-class gets a minor facelift with revised front and rear treatment, Audi-esque LED bling up front, LED rear lighting and tailpipes integrated into the rear bumpers.

For me, the burning question at the end of my test week with this impressive Merc was, "How hybrid is the S400?" If the Energy Display – which shows power flow – is to be believed, we got to Cedar Point with nary a whiff of electrical help. Even driving around town, it takes a firm shove on the go pedal to see assistance from the electric motor. Fuel consumption climbed to 11.5 L/100 km (25 m.p.g.) in urban driving, which is good for this class of car.

All this leads me to believe that much of this sedan's fuel savings comes from its efficient V6 engine in conjunction with the aerodynamics, transmission and tire tweaks.

Bottom line, it gets the job done, and with the S400 BlueHybrid being the least expensive in the S lineup, it's a compelling offering indeed.

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