When you slip into the seat of the 'entry-level' model of a car range conscious that the price tag is £55,000, you know that you are in motoring's big league.

Big sums up much of what there is to say about this German super-saloon, which delivers a better ride, surprisingly agile handling and a larger, more comfortable interior than its predecessor.

Make no mistake, the S-Class is a monster. Even when parked neatly with its nose tucked up in a parking space, the rear will jut out a couple of feet beyond anything else in the car park.

Beautifully constructed and oozing with understated elegance, the S-Class has been Mercedes-Benz's flagship saloon for more than 50 years and is still the benchmark in its class. It has been often said that the average modern family car contains more electronics than was used in the spacecraft used in the Apollo lunar missions. That being so, the new S-Class is probably capable of interstellar travel.

Its powerful technological punch contains no fewer than 12 new electronic systems, some aimed at improving comfort, but the crucial ones target safety.

One of the most important is Brake Assist Plus which recognises that, in an emergency, drivers often fail to brake hard enough. Using radar sensors, the system measures the distance to the vehicle in front and, if the gap is too small, or the closing speed too high, a warning sounds. If a collision is imminent, the system immediately calculates and delivers the maximum braking force - even if you fail to apply enough pressure to the pedal.

Mercedes-Benz says simulator tests found it was enough to cut the crash rate by three-quarters. Another brilliant system is the optional Night View Assist, which can literally see in the dark. It uses two infra-red lights - invisible to the human eye - to illuminate the road, which can be seen by a special camera mounted in the windscreen.

This information is processed and then displayed as a greyscale image on the dashboard display. The swivelling bi-xenon headlamps are superb, but the infra-red system sees further. On unlit country roads, faced with the number of deer roaming around, the system could be a life-saver.

The test model might be the least expensive in the range, but the whispering 3.0-litre V6 diesel engine, linked to a seven-speed automatic gearbox is more than capable of delivering an effortless, elegant ride. If 235 horsepower is still not enough, there are engines up to 5.5 litres and long wheelbase versions available, which will empty your wallet to the tune of £102,000 before extras. Now that's Premier League spending.

Auto facts Mercedes-Benz S320 CDI

  • Price: £55,000
  • Ins group: 18E
  • Fuel consumption (Combined): 34mpg
  • Top speed: 155mph
  • Length: 507.6cm/199.8in
  • Width: 187.1cm/73.7in
  • Luggage capacity: 19.7 cu ft
  • Fuel tank capacity: 19.8 gallons/ 90 litres
  • CO2 emissions: 220g/km
  • Warranty: 3 years/unlimited mileage