Auto Show Review: G11 7-Series vs. W222 S-Class

[GTA45E]

So I went to my local Auto-Show and saw the new 7-Series up close and personal. This example was the 750i X-Drive.

I was quite surprised how kind of smallish it looks in the metal compared to the photos and this was the lwb. It reminds me of the E38 a lot. I kindly asked the salesman to unlock the doors so I could sit inside. I got inside and took notice at how nice the design is. Sure there is some 3-series there but it is clean, modern and industrial looking if you are into that sort of thing. The materials are first rate, definitely a step above the previous version. I adjusted the front seat to get comfortable. The front seat controls is kind of a hassle on the side of the seat because there are so many adjustments. Having to look down to see how and where to maneuver the seat on the controllers is not that great. My other gripe is the rather shallow front foot wells. I mean I had to move the seat back quite a bit to get comfortable, and I am an average in height. The front seats were supreme and comfortable if lacking lateral support. My overall impressions of the dashboard and switchgear were hands down positive. The cabin and switchgear is straight forward and clean with no fuss. I should have asked the salesman if I could play with the gesture control but I did not bother. I was busy checking out the hardware. Wood, leather and aluminum trimming. It felt like there was a clear layer coating over the aluminum pieces. The leather seemed buttery soft. The doors are kind of heavy on this vehicle. I would definitely place this car ahead of the Audi A8 on interior quality. It took me by surprise.


So I mentioned that I moved the drivers seat back a bit,

so far back I did not think there was enough room behind me in the rear. Boy was I wrong.

The rear seat knee room is abundantly spacious and handsome looking. I closed the door to get in a comfortable position in the rear. The seat position is unusually high in the rear and again lacking in lateral support imo. I felt like I was sitting on the seat, not in it.


The interior ambiance is modern, ultra luxurious and refreshing in the new 7-Series.

My overall impressions were quite positive but I felt there was that little special something missing.


There was a black Sports Package Mercedes S550 about 600 feet away so I walked over to do a comparison. Wow, are these cars different! Where as the new 7-series felt like a hi-end luxury car, the S550`s interior instantly felt like the cockpit of a Learjet. The ergonomics of these cars are about equal. The S-Class has a sort of rawness about the materials like they came off someones` hand craft. Plenty of footwell space in the Merc. The general seat comfort of the S-Class and 7-Series was about equal but the Mercedes easily wins on lateral support. The perceived quality of the S vs the 7-Series is again about equal but the S-Class definitely felt more upscale and refined. The rear seat of the Benz is where the S truly shines. In the S-Class, you are definitely sitting in the seat, not on it. The lateral and overall support is outstanding. I think would give the S-Class first place in seating comfort. The cabin of the S-Class is a bit lavish and that in itself might turn some off. It felt like a special place to be in and left me with the impression that it`s cabin felt like a $110,000 car. A Maybach dressed as an S-Class.


Both these cars are great in their own right and could easily win ones heart depending on your taste.

It`s one thing to read reviews and look at pics on the forum, another to get out and experience.

Now I want to test drive both.

 

[ThroughandThrough]

Today, I saw another G11.

I still maintain the overall car has drastically less presence than the W222.

 

[Zafiro]

I also saw a white 740d with M-package. Stunning car, elegant and smooth. I also went to our MB dealer and I still think from a design point of view that S-class is overrated. I don't get they hype some of you guys make it sound like. I'm not saying the car is ugly , just saying that it looks as pretty as the 7er. But let me repeat. I'm only talking about the design.

They also had the Maybach and that is a huge car. If its a luxury car you want then fu... both 7er and S-class. Maybach is the true king. I was blown away, honestly but OMG its ugly!

 

[tomazino]

Where as the new 7-series felt like a hi-end luxury car, the S550`s interior instantly felt like the cockpit of a Learjet

Maybe because cockpit of the 7 series actually looks like cockpit of the car, and not like cockpit of the LearJet or yacht ...

 

[mercpassion]

the 7er, as good as it is, it's interior just fails sorely to capture my imagination, simply a generation behind IMO. Especially in the company of the S-Class, it is just outshone effortlessly.

 

[SKY]

I have not been inside neither but I kind of imagine what you say about the rear seats. When I was driven in a W221 backseat I was all the time like WTF, how are they making the rear seats hug you this much?

 

[GTA45E]

I also saw a white 740d with M-package. Stunning car, elegant and smooth. I also went to our MB dealer and I still think from a design point of view that S-class is overrated. I don't get they hype some of you guys make it sound like. I'm not saying the car is ugly , just saying that it looks as pretty as the 7er. But let me repeat. I'm only talking about the design.

Egocentric self-centered thinking, has very little value or merit when talking about design, when design is completely subjective. (I don`t like this and that and don`t understand why people would choose this or that because I would not.).

These cars should be respected for their differences. The world would be a boring place if we all shared the same opinions. I take it you did not get to sit inside the new 7er or S-Class to see and experience the differences. So, what made you change opinions about large heavy luxury cars like these. I remember a few years ago you wouldn`t even think about them.

Maybe because cockpit of the 7 series actually looks like cockpit of the car, and not like cockpit of the LearJet or yacht ...

Your sentiments, or mine. When I said Learjet I meant how the controls are crafted around the driver in the S-Class. It is rather majestic and superior feeling, like sitting in a seat of great command. It is something about the interior of the S that photos simply do not capture. That same commander feeling can be said for the new BMW 7er but 7-Series felt rather ordinary compared to the S-Class imo.

I have not been inside neither but I kind of imagine what you say about the rear seats. When I was driven in a W221 backseat I was all the time like WTF, how are they making the rear seats hug you this much?

My thought exactly.

When I entered the back seat of the S-Class, I literality looked over my shoulder
to see how on earth the seat held me in place so well. Just looking at the seat, you would not think it could do that.


When I was at the Auto show, I checked out every hi-end luxury car you can name,

Jaguar A8, Lexus LS, Audi A8, Porsche Panamera, Maserati Quattroporte, new 7er ect. No Bentleys there. The S-Class easily eclipsed everything on the floor imo.
The S-Class is a Maybach, the new E must be filling the shoes of the S-Class then.

(I even saw the C-Class for the first time and the new Audi A4. Nice cars with outstanding interiors!)

 

[Zafiro]

So, what made you change opinions about large heavy luxury cars like these. I remember a few years ago you wouldn`t even think about them.

Bingo! true I never buy them, even if I was super rich. I still stand by that opinion. But I can't close my eyes and pretend they dont exist.

 

[tomazino]

Your sentiments, or mine. When I said Learjet I meant how the controls are crafted around the driver in the S-Class. It is rather majestic and superior feeling, like sitting in a seat of great command. It is something about the interior of the S that photos simply do not capture. That same commander feeling can be said for the new BMW 7er but 7-Series felt rather ordinary compared to the S-Class imo.

OK. Feel whatever you want. Just stop trying to make me feel the same...because I feel S class interior(driver seat) special just because to me it looks more like command panel in some yacht or plane, and I want to drive or buy a car ....if I want a Yacht or plane or truck (and have money), I`ll buy yacht or plane....I don`t know why is so hard to understand that someone don`t like mercedes s class interior. I don`t say that it si bad, cheap,....just that I don`t like that design principles...

 

[martinbo]

Egocentric self-centered thinking, has very little value or merit when talking about design, when design is completely subjective.

^ Exactly what your thoughts on the two cars as subject matter amounts to in this thread.

No amount of your personal and subjective analysis can justify you calling someone's opinion as egocentric and self-centered when, clearly, this is the personal bias you portray in the first place.

This thread is a waste of time and, at best, belongs in Internal Combustion as there's no real review here of a complete set of technical and design criteria.

 

[GTA45E]

OK. Feel whatever you want. Just stop trying to make me feel the same...because I feel S class interior(driver seat) special just because to me it looks more like command panel in some yacht or plane, and I want to drive or buy a car ....if I want a Yacht or plane or truck (and have money), I`ll buy yacht or plane....I don`t know why is so hard to understand that someone don`t like mercedes s class interior. I don`t say that it si bad, cheap,....just that I don`t like that design principles...

Nonsense, why would I be interested in trying to change your opinion about these the interior design of these vehicles. You are free to feel the way you want. I was just stating my own opinion on the subject.

^ Exactly what your thoughts on the two cars as subject matter amounts to in this thread.

No amount of your personal and subjective analysis can justify you calling someone's opinion as egocentric and self-centered when, clearly, this is the personal bias you portray in the first place.

This thread is a waste of time and, at best, belongs in Internal Combustion as there's no real review here of a complete set of technical and design criteria.

^
Clearly not correct.

Whenever did I mention “this car is better than that” I don`t like this in the BMW and I like this better in the Benz because the Benz is better and don`t know why people like the BMW”. The Egotistic approach is blatant bias self-generated opinion and makes for sour reporting. I am well aware of that. My subjective analysis was as clear open and unbias as possible. I am not the hardcore MB fan I used to be.

My autoshow review was just a basic first impression. A complete set technical and design assessments would have to come from a side by side road test comparison to be fair with both cars.

I am quite surprised so few members have not seen, or been in the new 7er yet. You guys just don`t get out enough.

 

[Zafiro]

Egocentric self-centered thinking, never heard that one before. I'm just saying what many are thinking but fear to admit. Not did I mention which car is the best because that's a subjective opinion, just like which design is the best.

 

[martinbo]

Egocentric self-centered thinking, never heard that one before.

Exactly - who is GTA8.5 to judge?

 

[Zafiro]

Exactly - who is GTA8.5 to judge?

We are talking about S-class. Holier than Jesus himself. It's like religion, people get upset for nothing. But GTA is forgiven

 

[Star&Car]

I am quite surprised so few members have not seen, or been in the new 7er yet. You guys just don`t get out enough.

Since I saw one at the dealer last year,I haven't seen a single one on the street,you know I'm from China where should sell a lot,and it was not the same case after the S class was on sale..really surprised.

 

[GTA45E]

^
I was lucky to get free Autoshow passes from my local Mercedes dealer, Aristocrat Motors.
Thay dropped me an email saying come on by my man, we have them.

We are talking about S-class. Holier than Jesus himself. It's like religion, people get upset for nothing. But GTA is forgiven

Na, it is not anything like that was not from the beginning.
I would be happy with either one of these cars in my garage!
I like cars to but I don`t treat them like family members.

 

[klier]

I am quite surprised so few members have not seen, or been in the new 7er yet. You guys just don`t get out enough.

It's quite the opposite when you only now make this thread. I also saw you never saw an S coupe before recently. Get out more man.

 

[GTA45E]

^
Gees man, Not for the first time as in "never seen on the streets before" I am an American, seen plenty of them.

For the first time as in. "Opening the doors and getting behind the wheel."

 

[EnI]

MB just hit the jackpot with W222 - it's interior is luxurious, modern, quite special & opulent almost ornamental ... while the exterior is massive whit lots of presence, coherent & tastefully done. Something BMW tried to achieve with E65 but failed miserably - since the interior materials were just poor, and the exterior design (while featuring some great ideas) was also poorly executed in the end - missing much of the refinement. F01 was a correction in design & quality (yet the controversial exterior & interior design were toned down) - yet still not enough to eg. match Audi's superior interior quality and execution in D4. So the new G11 addressed that - inside & outside - presenting a strong upscale look. It's quite a good looking car inside & outside - yet rather conventional, nothing special, even boring (in the sense of pre-Bangle BMW designs). It's a very high quality vanilla. With Jaguar, Audi, Porsche, Tesla and even Lexus radicalizing their flagship interior & exterior designs G11 ends up being just too conventional & conservative in design. Yes, it's modern & all the hi-tech is there. But there's no innovation whatsoever in terms of design. There's no courage to do something bold again (like Bangle did years ago ... and what Wagener is doing with MB right now). BMW are just playing it too safe. Which can also be an advantage - catering to the tastes of conventional design lovers ... in the world of much wilder interior and / or exterior designs in luxury sedan segment. A choice for those who prefer a classic done in a clean modern way. Since all the others now offer (or they will offer in the very near future) much more controversial & much less convention design. Being that exterior design, interior design or even both. So, it's good to have so much choice ... so much different variants ... something for every taste. It all boils down to personal taste & preferences & style.

 

[LaArtist]

MB just hit the jackpot with W222 - it's interior is luxurious, modern, quite special & opulent almost ornamental ... while the exterior is massive whit lots of presence, coherent & tastefully done. Something BMW tried to achieve with E65 but failed miserably - since the interior materials were just poor, and the exterior design (while featuring some great ideas) was also poorly executed in the end - missing much of the refinement. F01 was a correction in design & quality (yet the controversial exterior & interior design were toned down) - yet still not enough to eg. match Audi's superior interior quality and execution in D4. So the new G11 addressed that - inside & outside - presenting a strong upscale look. It's quite a good looking car inside & outside - yet rather conventional, nothing special, even boring (in the sense of pre-Bangle BMW designs). It's a very high quality vanilla. With Jaguar, Audi, Porsche, Tesla and even Lexus radicalizing their flagship interior & exterior designs G11 ends up being just too conventional & conservative in design. Yes, it's modern & all the hi-tech is there. But there's no innovation whatsoever in terms of design. There's no courage to do something bold again (like Bangle did years ago ... and what Wagener is doing with MB right now). BMW are just playing it too safe. Which can also be an advantage - catering to the tastes of conventional design lovers ... in the world of much wilder interior and / or exterior designs in luxury sedan segment. A choice for those who prefer a classic done in a clean modern way. Since all the others now offer (or they will offer in the very near future) much more controversial & much less convention design. Being that exterior design, interior design or even both. So, it's good to have so much choice ... so much different variants ... something for every taste. It all boils down to personal taste & preferences & style.

Probably the best post by you since you joined.