2021 Mercedes-Benz S-Class

From its original incarnation in 1954, the Mercedes-Benz S-Class sedan has been one of the world’s blue-chip automotive statements. What does it say? That its owner has arrived. Or, for people with inherited wealth, that they never left. 

Whatever the source of the monthly payments, the all-new 2021 S-Class ably defends its leading status among big-bodied luxury sedans—and its reputation as a pioneer in technology and safety features. Reliably conservative on the outside, the S-Class’ interior becomes a showpiece of digital delights and all-around opulence. Oh, and it happens to drive brilliantly, with newfound muscle and skillful handling on top of the expected long-distance comfort. 

Pop the Mercedes’ flush-mounted door handles, which automatically spring outward on approach, and you’re in for a treat: Thick banks of gleaming (and optionally pinstriped) wood. 

Thickly sculpted chairs with myriad adjustments, optional pillowed headrests, and an expanded range of robust massage programs. Dramatic ambient lighting with 64 selectable colors accents the cabin. For an extra $6,730—chump change for many S-Class buyers—a Burmester 4D audio system with 30 speakers, 1,750 watts and subwoofers in each of four seats let occupants hear and feel the music, preferably Wagnerian opera. Not overlooking any senses, the car will even waft selectable fragrances through the cabin.

As the big Benz has grown even larger—now about 208 inches long, on a two-inch longer wheelbase — optional rear-wheel steering can swivel rear wheels up to 4.5-degrees opposite the front wheels. That dramatically trims the sedan’s turning circle, a welcome gain in cities or tight parking lots. Choose the S580 Executive Line, starting from $133,550 (including a $1,050 destination fee) and rear wheels can pivot up to 10 degrees, for a turning circle on par with compact cars. 

Executive Line goodies include a rear digital tablet, two entertainment touchscreens with HD cameras, multi-contour rear seats, four-zone climate control and rear wireless charging. 

Mercedes’ latest MBUX (Mercedes Benz User Experience) interface is among the tech showstoppers. It mates a 12.3-inch, configurable driver’s display with a Tesla-style, 12.8-inch OLED center display with cinematically sharp resolution and haptic feedback. The driver’s display new 3D feature that gives intriguing depth to maps and other displays, though some passengers cautioned that the view—a visual trick created by a pair of stereo cameras—made them car sick. Fortunately, the 3D effect can be shut off. 

An Augmented Reality head-up display takes things to sci-fi level, beaming uncannily sharp visual data that seems to “float” on the road ahead. Cars ahead, or in blind spots, are highlighted. Lane markers are striped in green, and glow red if the Benz wanders from its lane. Blue directional arrows flash to guide upcoming turns. 

On the center OLED screen, a string of street addresses hovers over a real-time camera view as you approach a destination. That’s a neat trick as you approach an unfamiliar home, restaurant or business, especially at night. MBUX lets users create personal profiles and store up to 800 parameters, and retrieve them with a biometric fingerprint sensor on the dash, or via facial or voice recognition. 

The S-Class claims an industry first with rear-seat airbags—not familiar side-window protectors, but full airbags—that inflate tubular wings, specifically designed to protect anyone from adults to more-fragile occupants in child seats. Optional E-Active Body Control can instantly raise the Benz’ body by 3.1 inches to better absorb side collisions. Standard Pre-Safe Impulse inflates front seats’ outer bolsters to shift occupants toward the vehicle’s center and away from impacts. The Mercedes even emits a special audio frequency that triggers a physical response in human ears, protecting eardrums during a loud collision. 

The tsunami of tech can be overwhelming at first. MBUX definitely has a learning curve, best learned at a standstill to get acclimated. It’s not hard to get the hang of MBUX, but some drivers with larger hands won’t appreciate the steering wheel’s tiny buttons/sliders that command its functions. Enhanced voice controls are another method of inputting commands. After a few hours (or days?) of practice, MBUX becomes a surprisingly intuitive interface, with a vast repertoire of functions.

Some annoyances call for better engineering solutions. A pair of stereo cameras helps manage the 3D instrument effect, monitoring the driver’s head and eyelid positions while overseeing the Attention Assist system that safeguards against drowsy or distracted driving. But that electronic nanny is a pain, constantly alerting the driver to adjust the steering wheel to give it a clearer view. The alerts are easily dismissed, but the camera defaults to its “On” position every time you start the car. 

Comprehensive driver-assistance tech, including Mercedes’ Distronic adaptive cruise system, lets the S-Class nearly drive itself on highways—including automated lane changes with the flick of a turn signal —but also requires a stylistic compromise: The Mercedes’ dramatic grille is marred by a hunk of clear plastic that protects the driver-assistance sensors. The S-Class’s crash structure and active-safety systems are second to none, but it also hasn’t been (and likely won’t be, due to cost) tested by NHTSA or IIHS, which costs it some points in our evaluations.

Once in motion, the S-Class commands the road, recalling a far-pricier Bentley or Rolls-Royce with its deep well of power and stately grace.

We’d urge any prospect to at least test drive the “base” model, the S500 4Matic with a turbocharged, 3.0-liter inline six. This tremendous new engine from Mercedes supplies an ample 429 horsepower and 384 pound-feet of torque; with the same supple nine-speed automatic transmission, standard all-wheel-drive and Airmatic air suspension as the pricier S580. That overachieving S500 4Matic starts from $110,850, versus $117,350 for the S580 4Matic. 

The S580 does pump up the muscle, with 496 horsepower and 516 pound-feet from its twin-turbo, 4.0-liter V-8. Smartly optioned, that S580 rang up $143,240. Press a knurled-metal Start button, and the big Benz springs to life nearly as silently as an EV, thanks to that 21-horsepower electric motor that assists the combustion engine. Perhaps surprisingly, both the S500 an S580 turn in quite good fuel mileage for the class, though the BMW 7-Series PHEV and Lexus LS 500h hybrid are better.

The big sedan’s driver-selectable modes have a palpable effect on the Mercedes’ personality. Dialed into its Sport Plus mode, the S-Class suddenly drives like an XXL sport sedan. Body control is remarkable for such a beefy car. Yet the ride remains creamy, even on optional 21-inch alloy wheels. Both versions adopt a 48-volt mild hybrid system that smooths start-ups and power delivery. 

Mercedes will soon add a forthcoming S580e plug-in hybrid to the lineup. That model pairs the 3.0-liter inline six with an electric motor for a total output of about 500 horsepower—and the ability to cover up to 60 miles on electricity alone. Sometime in 2022, we expect to see pricier, mega-powered AMG S63e and S73e models with up to 800 horsepower. For some S-Class buyers, too much is never enough.