Scania S500 Highline 6x2 truck review

Our review of the Scania S500 6x2 with Highline flat-floor sleeper cab is one of the most keenly anticipated truck reviews for some time. Of course, we have already driven examples of the new Scania tractor range, but the longest spell at any one time has been less than an hour. Based on those drives, we have yet to find anything significant to criticise, although we have not carried out any meaningful fuel consumption testing.

So have we missed something? Is the cab as driver-focused as it appears? Will the new 500hp 6-cylinder be as impressive? How will the new fast-shifting gearbox cope with the challenges of the A68? To find out, we subject it to two days on the road around CM’s traditional truck review route.

Engine emissions control

The 500hp engine rating, introduced at the launch of the Next Generation R- and S-series, is the first of the current engines to feature SCR-only emissions control, although this has since been extended to most of the product line-up. Background research before the test uncovered an old CM review of a Scania R440 from 2008 [ADD LINK TO R440 TEST?] that, ironically, made great play of it being the first Euro-5 truck without AdBlue. What goes around, comes around.

The S500 under review here is as close to being a regular fleet truck as any S500 flagship can be, with modest cloth trim but including the full set of safety and productivity aids and the latest infotainment system.

Scania Opticruise transmission

Of course, any new Scania is significant, but probably the most significant feature is the 12+2 Opticruise transmission, with its compact layshaft brake.

Layshaft brakes are nothing new. We first find mention of one in a patent filed by Henry Ford in 1924 and, more relevant, another by Eaton in 1949. They then appeared in various production trucks throughout the next 30 or 40 years, but like many innovations from the early days of road vehicle engineering, they were gradually set aside until advances in lubrication, materials technology and, crucially, electronic control, caught up.

The Holy Grail has always been the same; to provide the means of matching the speed of the internal gearbox shafts to provide smooth gear changes in all situations by drivers of varying levels of skill.

Gearbox technology

Of course, in the past 20 years, the adoption of synchromesh on heavy-duty gearboxes provided the answer, but then came the current generation of automated manuals. These incorporated basic speed-matching functions by adjusting engine speed to match road speed, and allowed synchromesh to be dispensed with, saving weight, complexity and cost. While automated manual transmissions (AMTs) now provide reliable shifting, they are not always smooth and are not especially quick.

On a truck, the speed of the gearshift is not just a performance issue. As we are aware from previous truck reviews, too slow a gearshift on a steep climb can often result in complete loss of forward motion, as road speed decays faster than the shifts can be made. Also, the longer the shift takes, the more chance there is of traction being lost.

Enter Scania’s answer to gearbox shaft speed matching for the modern age, the new layshaft brake, fitted inside the clutch housing and weighing just a few kilos. Working in conjunction with electronic control of engine speed, it delivers shifts in a fraction of the normal time.

Highline cab comfort

We'll start the nitty-gritty of this review where Scania says it started with the clean sheet design of the new S500 6x2; the driving position. Given the undoubted driver appeal of Scania products, we have never understood the way many drivers seem ashamed to be seen at the wheel, hiding behind the B-pillar and a frilly curtain. Unless you are shaped like a four-limbed spider, the more conventional layout means that is no longer an option.

Reaching the driving seat involves the not insignificant climb to the floor level above many people’s head height, but a decently wide door opening and no issues with step and grab rail positioning make it easier.

Seats and trim

Once aboard, the first thing you notice, of course, is the unfamiliar flat floor in a Scania. The relatively basic fleet-friendly seats, including a fixed passenger seat with B-pillar mounted seatbelt, are trimmed in a sober grey cloth on this example, but no doubt Scania will be happy to provide more luxurious perches for the discerning owner-driver. Basic or not, we don’t experience any issues in our review with getting a suitable driving position and staying comfortable for two days at the wheel.

Mirrors and controls

Mirrors are suitably large but with reasonable space around to reduce blind spots, while all of the mirror functions, together with controls for all lighting and locking, are accessed from the top of the driver’s door panel. Sun visors are traditional items with drop-down lower extensions.

Instruments display

Sitting at the S500's steering wheel, which with its associated column stalks is home to almost every control you will need while driving, you are faced with a soft feel dash and an instrument panel that is tastefully restrained and clear; white on black with bright trim reminiscent of Scania’s Audi cousins.

The speedo dial incorporates a large digital speed display and odometer in its centre, with the fuel gauge below. The matching rev counter on the right incorporates a clock, external temperature and AdBlue gauge, above the engine temperature. Between them is the information display, controlled by the right thumb on the steering wheel. It is surrounded by four customisable sectors, which can be programmed to display your own choice of frequently required information. We chose fuel flow and cruise control status.

To the left of the panel is a group of switches controlling the trip reset, panel brightness and, in a nod back to the SAAB, a black dash. However, unlike some rivals, this turns off the display without retaining a dim view of the speedo.

Scania infotainment system

The centre of the S500's dash is dominated by the 6x2's one extravagance; the top-of-the-range Scania Infotainment Premium unit. Among its features are a touchscreen colour display, truck-specific sat-nav, DAB radio, and two SD card slots. Then there is dual Bluetooth connectivity, traffic information, camera input and a variety of apps, not forgetting the access to Communicator 300, Scania’s third-generation telematics system.

Lower down is the panel for the dual-zone climate control with integrated night heater, and cooler, if specified. Dash sockets, USB and aux on the left and another USB on right provide charging and music input.

Highline cab interior: living space

The driving seat has a foot pedal on the side, so you can slide it backwards or forwards while sitting on the bunk. There is a reading lamp and two bins at each end of the bunk and a storage net on the rear wall, while we count at least six coat hooks. A fixed panel and another on a detachable wander lead control just about every night-time electrical need you could imagine. Beneath the bunk is the fridge and a storage bin. A second bunk, with an integrated ladder and safety net, is standard, but there is the option of storage units at the top of the rear wall that use the bunk mounts.

Highline cab storage

Even without these, our review confirms that there is plenty of storage space in the Scania. There are two external lockers on each side that cleverly permit access to the large upper from inside, but can’t be used to access the cab from outside. Above the windscreen are three large lockers, the one on the left being lockable, and a smaller shelf on the passenger side. The space is shared with a supplementary panel housing the tachograph together with switches for the roof vent and tachograph remote download.

Lower down, there is a pull-out dash table on the passenger side, and two larger than A4 drawers – one deep, one shallow – below the usefully large flat central portion of the dash. There are three cup-holders and large bottle-holders in the S500's door pockets.

Power and acceleration

Before heading for the open road on our review route – well the A5, anyway – we spent some time experimenting with the Scania S500 6x2 at the proving ground. We initially carried out the basic 0km/h to 80km/h acceleration testing in Power mode, then repeated it in Standard and Economy modes.

The results from these two were identical, but were 2.7 seconds slower than in Power mode and made one less gear change on the way. In both modes, single shifts were made from 7th upwards, but Power used gears 1, 3 and 5 on the way up, instead of 1 and 4. Whether this slightly faster acceleration is worth the undoubted extra fuel cost over the course of a working day is debatable, and we made the decision to run the route in Eco mode.

Before setting off, we took advantage of the key fob’s handy walk-around feature, which cycles through every light in turn before you even open the door.

Opticruise transmission gearchanges

The main right-hand column stalk controls the gears, twist for direction of travel and push down for manual override. Until now, the latest Scanias have retained a traditional parking brake on the dash, but since the test an electronic option has arrived with the launch of the Scania XT heavy-duty range. Once under way you experience an unfamiliar sound during gearshifts – disconcerting until you know that it is chirping from the turbo wastegate as it plays a part in speed-matching.

Ironically, it isn’t until the second day of our journey around the review route that we really experience the S500's gearchange; even the hilly M6 from Charnock Richard to Gretna doesn’t require a downshift. However, in the stop-start conditions of the A5, it is obvious that changes are fast and perfectly timed. Where safe and appropriate, we make full use of the 6x2's full set of electronic aids – active and downhill cruise control, active prediction and EcoRoll.

Engine power and performance

What remnants of challenging hills on the M6 reveal is that Scania's 500 engine is impressive as it digs in deep until below 900rpm. The notorious Kiln Pit Hill, the scene of many truck reviews grinding to a halt, is achieved in cruise control, dropping from 9th to 6th at just the right time. Running in Economy mode means a few more block shifts, giving a slightly more leisurely feel, but in reality it is hard to see the benefit of Power mode except in the toughest of terrain.

Ride, handling and cab noise

The S500 Highline 6x2 delivers a smooth ride, with just a touch of bouncing on low frequency road imperfections, while the steering and braking cope comfortably with some of the A-road sections that have become more challenging since the speed limit was raised.

The engine brake on our review truck is complemented by the optional five-stage retarder, both having separate controls if, for example, you are travelling on a low-grip surface, and seamless blending with the service brakes. It's an option worth considering, and one that could save money on brake life, if used properly.

At tickover and on the move in the course of our review, the S500 proves exceptionally quiet with only a small amount of wind noise occasionally evident.

Review verdict: 88%

So was our mission to find previously unseen shortcomings successful? Given that there was not a lot wrong with the previous generation, Scania’s aim to improve every aspect of the new model created a tough challenge.

Engine and transmission performance

Starting with the driveline, this new 500hp rating is possibly the best 6-cylinder engine Scania has ever made, thriving on hard work with impressive levels of flexibility. Behind it is the ultimate development of the traditional single layshaft gearbox, giving shift speeds approaching more sophisticated dual-clutch transmissions. Pulling these elements together is a package of electronics that ensure they are always working at optimum efficiency.

Fuel consumption: Scania S500 Highline 6x2 mpg performance

When it comes to reading the fuel consumption figures, it should be considered that the central part of the second day, the trunking section from Nevilles Cross to Barnsdale Bar, coincided with a storm on the last day of August that will be remembered by many Yorkshire residents.

Approximately 40mm of rain fell in one hit, and the flooded surface on the A1 meant that this normally easy, steady-speed run was a nightmare of stop-start progress. We would normally expect an average speed of around 75km/h instead of the 56km/h we recorded. This had an obvious effect on fuel consumption, and by substituting fuel usage from previous tests we calculate it cost around 0.2mpg on the overall figure we achieved in the Scania S500 6x2, which was 8.39mpg (33.7 litres/100km).

Putting the fuel economy into perspective, even with the freak weather encountered, the S500 is the best full-sized Euro-6 6x2 tractor we have tested so far, falling not far behind Mercedes-Benz’s Actros with the slightly smaller and aerodynamically optimised StreamSpace cab.

So did we find anything serious to criticise? We did have one issue where the fuel gauge inexplicably displayed its last red segment when there was still 100 litres remaining, but that was it.

Our overall review conclusion, therefore, is that while the perfect truck will probably never be built, Scania has had a damn good go at it with its S500 Highline 6x2.

Images: Tom Cunningham