Though the S430 is already close to six years old, it remains a highly competitive vehicle. The roomy interior features very comfortable and supportive seats, and the car features a capable ride/handling compromise and impressive refinement levels. However, while the vehicle itself continues to impress, its pricing never has. At only $51 short of the maximum price for this group, the S430 is close to $800 more than the next most-expensive BMW and close to $9,800 more than the least-expensive Jaguar, while still coming with the fewest features of any vehicle in this group. Thus, considering that the less-expensive vehicles here are typically as competent as or in some cases better than the S430, its advantages are not enough to make it worth the extra thousands.

       The S430 has a firm, though very comfortable, stable, and absorbent ride. Wind, road, and engine noise are impressively muted. The ride's firmness helps the vehicle's handling; the S430 feels quite agile and has well-controlled body roll, but it isn't as sporty as some of the other vehicles here. The steering is accurate and responsive, and provides good feedback, but is too light. The 4.3-liter V8's horsepower showings are a bit low by today's standards, but the S430's 7-speed automatic helps the car feel suitably quick, and returns impressive fuel economy.

        Inside, the front seats are high, firm, supportive, and very comfortable overall. The "Comfort Package" adds to the already-comprehensive number of different adjustments. The roomy rear is well-shaped and very comfortable overall, but the cushion could be a little longer and higher. The interior uses high quality materials that fit together very well. However, the center stack is covered by numerous small buttons that are hard to see and confusing to use. The gauges are large, but some markings are hard to read. The driver sits comfortably, and a high seating position helps visibility. Entry/exit is easy. The trunk could be larger, considering the S430's exterior dimensions.

       Overall, while the S430 remains an impressive vehicle, it is saddled with over-ambitious pricing that leaves it with the lowest feature content of this group to go with the highest price. With better pricing, this car could have ended up in first or second place. It's still at least worth a look from consumers looking for a car in this class, but be prepared to pay a substantial premium for the Mercedes badge.

Pros:

-Interior Comfort

-Ride Comfort

-Refinement

-Agility

-Fuel Economy

Cons:

-Features for the Money

-Ergonomics

-Trunk Volume

Overall:

An excellent car, but similar excellence can be had for less money.

Options Added to Vehicle Reviewed:

 -

Price of Version Reviewed:

$79,949

Powertrain:

4.3-liter V8

275 horsepower

7-speed automatic

Vehicle Overview