Ever picked up a menu and been enticed by absolutely everything on it? Paralysed by indecision, it’s hard to know what to pick.

It’s a similar experience the first time you sit in the all-new Mercedes-Benz S-Class – innovations beckon at every turn, as sumptuousness entices the senses.

To properly appreciate the mouth-watering experience of the latest iteration of the world’s favourite and most imitated luxury saloon, try savouring each delight in turn.

A personalised welcome

It starts before you even touch the car. With the key in your pocket or bag, the S-Class senses your approach and its flush-fitting door handles gently extend in a visceral welcome. Pulling the door gently shut behind you, a powered mechanism gently completes the process. Once sealed, the serenity in the cabin is palpable. But more on that later.

Settle into the gorgeously padded and perforated leather driver’s seat and use the touch-sensitive 12.8-inch central multimedia screen – which utilises OLED technology and portrait orientation for the first time in a Mercedes-Benz – to hit up the massage menu. Choosing from one of several programs, small rollers in the seat back begin to gently knead any tension from your back and shoulders.

Perhaps you might like to set up a specific user profile in MBUX, the Mercedes-Benz multimedia system for each driver. This can automatically configure seating positions, mirrors and numerous settings to a pre-set preference. For the first time, you can biometrically log in to set your profile using a fingerprint scanner embedded in the centre screen, or via a camera-based facial recognition system.

The front seats also include their own individual heating and cooling, touch controls for adjustment, and a feather-soft pillow to supplement the supportive headrest. Later, during driving, the electronic embrace of active side bolsters can support you during cornering.

Now snugly cocooned, place your phone onto the wireless charging pad in the centre console and perform a quick pairing – your favourite playlist will sound even better via the 710-watt Burmester 3D surround sound system with 15 high-performance speakers. And that’s just the start of the technological innovations at your fingertips.

Intuitive navigation

Setting a destination for the satellite navigation is a simple request; “Hey Mercedes, take me to … “. Now you need to decide on a navigation view – there’s the big, crystal-clear central OLED screen that’s visible from any seat; there’s a 3D view through the driver’s 12.3-inch instrument display (a Mercedes-Benz-first); there’s the simple turn-by-turn instruments rendered in head-up display (HUD); or the optional augmented reality feature.

By Steve Colquhoun