How well does a German-spec Mercedes-Benz S-Class cope with India's E20 fuel in Leh?

The German-spec Mercedes-Benz S-Class V8 completed the Srinagar-Leh drive on India's 95 RON E20 premium petrol during the brand's '140 Years, 140 Places' drive.

Mercedes-Benz's flagship S-Class has demonstrated that premium luxury cars can comfortably run on India's E20 petrol, provided the fuel meets the required octane rating. During the brand's ongoing '140 Years, 140 Places' drive, we drove a German-spec Mercedes-Benz S-Class V8 from Srinagar to Leh, covering one of India's most scenic mountain routes on HPCL's Speed95 premium petrol.

The S-Class we drove was unique, it was a left-hand-drive, German-spec example, making the experience quite different from driving the right-hand-drive cars we're accustomed to in India. The flagship sedan also stood out visually thanks to its striking '140 Years, 140 Places' commemorative livery, which celebrated Mercedes-Benz's 140-year journey and ensured the car drew plenty of attention throughout the drive from Srinagar to Leh.

The S-Class we drove was powered by Mercedes-Benz's 3,982cc V8 mild-hybrid petrol engine, producing 537bhp along with an additional 23bhp boost from its integrated starter generator. Peak torque stands at 750Nm, while the luxury sedan can sprint from 0-100kmph in just 4 seconds.

Before setting off from Srinagar for Kargil, we topped up the tank with HPCL Speed95, priced at Rs 117.97 per litre. The premium fuel contains E20 petrol and guarantees a minimum octane rating of 95 RON. While Mercedes-Benz recommends 98 RON petrol for the S-Class V8 for optimum performance, 95 RON premium unleaded is the minimum acceptable fuel specified by the manufacturer.

After reaching Kargil, we refuelled with Speed95 once again before heading towards Leh, meaning the entire mountain drive was completed using India's E20 premium petrol.

Despite the high-altitude terrain, steep climbs and frequent overtaking opportunities, the S-Class never felt out of its comfort zone. Power delivery remained effortless and overtaking slower traffic on the mountain highways was completed with the confidence expected from a flagship luxury sedan. At no point during the journey did the engine exhibit hesitation, knocking or any noticeable drop in performance.

Adding further weight to the experience was the presence of a Mercedes-Benz trip leader from the company's Germany team, who also spent time driving the S-Class in Ladakh. When asked whether the Indian E20 petrol affected the car's behaviour compared to Germany, he said, "It did really well. I didn't feel any difference to back home in Germany, so engine approved I would say." The journey also highlighted how dramatically road infrastructure has improved in the region. With significantly better highways between Srinagar, Kargil and Leh than in previous years, the S-Class was able to cruise comfortably for much of the route.

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