Mercedes-Benz Driving Experience returns

As life begins to return to a somewhat ‘normal’ state in Australia amid the continuing COVID-19 global pandemic, some of the fastest classrooms in the world are back in action.

This week, we had a go at the Mercedes-Benz Driving Experience at Sydney Motorsport Park, as the German prestige car-maker, along with other brands such as Audi, return to racetracks around the country to resume their customer drive programs.

Like others, Mercedes’ events have been on pause for the past 12 months amid COVID-19 restrictions, meaning tracks like Sandown and Phillip Island have been quieter than usual.

Now, it’s back, bigger and better than ever and with even more vehicles on fleet, including the new-generation 2021 Mercedes-Benz S-Class flagship sedan and the all-electric Mercedes-Benz EQC SUV.

Mercedes-Benz runs several types of drive experience events, including a half-day Mercedes-Benz Driving Experience, which costs $550, and a faster-paced Mercedes-AMG Driving Experience, priced at $2600 for Level 1 and $3000 for the more comprehensive Level 2 training (which can only be completed after Level 1). 

There are no prerequisites to book a seat; you just need a full driver’s licence and to stump up for the cost of the program.

That is, unless you’re one of the lucky ones to have a course included in the sale price of your new Mercedes-Benz, something the brand often does to sweeten the deal. 

Our media experience included a little bit from each program, with a jam-packed morning filled with experiences that ranged from testing out safety and driver assistance features in a controlled environment, to cutting laps in some serious high-performance vehicles.

All of this occurs under the watchful eyes of Mercedes-Benz’s driving instructors – most of whom currently compete (or have competed) at high levels of motorsport – so you’re getting expert advice and guidance at all times.

What sets it apart from similar drive experiences from other manufacturers, according to chief driving instructor Peter Hackett, is Benz’s instructor/student ratio.

With around 40 instructors on rotation, each event sees one instructor for every two customers, something Hackett tells us has increased in this latest evolution of driving event programs.

Another talking point, is the number of cars on fleet, says Hackett.

“Everything from the A 250e right through to the new S-Class is here on site,” he said.

“We have an amazing off-road experience; the EQC, our electric vehicle, is here to experience as well as a nice selection of AMGs for performance driving.”

There are approximately 30 vehicles on offer for customers who attend the Mercedes-Benz Driving Experience, but as our program was fettled with some AMG goodness, we were able to sample even more models.

First up, we tackled a brake and swerve manoeuvre on the wet skid pan in a Mercedes-Benz GLA, followed by some low-speed drifting in a Mercedes-Benz E-Class sedan.

We say ‘low-speed’ because the rear tyres were wrapped in Easydrift plastic – a nylon-based polymer sleeve that slips over the tyre – meaning you’ll lose traction on wet concrete at around 10km/h.

From there, we took on a tricky off-road course in the brand’s largest SUV, the Mercedes-Benz GLS, which replaced the G-Wagen on the Driving Experience fleet because, according to Hackett, the latter was “simply too capable”.

Proving surprisingly adept with its factory-fitted rubber, the GLS we took through a water crossing, up (and back down) steep inclines and over rocky mounds was fitted with the optional off-road engineering package ($3500) that adds low-range gearing.

That, along with its off-road mode to raise ride height, allows for much more off-road capability, should you need it.

Next up, we hit the track, going from the eerily-silent electric Mercedes-Benz EQC – which felt far too well-sorted on track for a 2500kg SUV – to the spine-tingling 430kW track-ready Mercedes-AMG GT R sports car.

With TCR Australia race car driver Chelsea Angelo in the passenger seat and the suffocating soundtrack of a bi-turbo V8 in our ears, apex-hunting in the raucous coupe was hands-down the highlight of the day – all while learning to capture vehicle data in the AMG Track Pace app.

All before a gourmet lunch, we’d driven not only those vehicles already mentioned, but had also taken to the track in the sporty Mercedes-AMG GLE 53, a drop-top E 350, the electrified A 250e and the new S-Class limo.

Not to mention the crowd-favourite Mercedes-AMG C 63 S sedan, which we were able to sample, filtering through Merc’s fleet of five high-performance sedans.

Admittedly, those booking the Mercedes-Benz Driving Experience won’t get to try the same AMG range of machinery, but Hackett tells us that the basic program aims to take customers out of their comfort zone and to let them understand how they deal with particular situations, as well as teaching them about the technology that’s in these cars.

We experienced the latter in a simulated autonomous emergency braking (AEB) scenario, first with a pedestrian and then a stationary vehicle.

All in all, it’s not exactly like going back to school.

It’s much, much better, with hours of hands-on coaching and lots to learn.

Related: School's back at Audi Driving Experience