Overview
Long the choice for buyers seeking solid, unaffable deportment and a distinguished presence, the Mercedes-Benz S-class has become synonymous with power and wealth. Its six-figure starting price certainly plays a part, but it wouldn’t have stayed on top for so long without the class-leading ride and comfort, upscale furnishings, and smooth and muscular powertrains that define it. The latter comes in the form of either a 429-hp turbocharged straight-six, a 496-hp twin-turbo V-8, or a plug-in hybrid that pairs the turbo six with an electric motor. The ride and handling benefit from a standard air-spring suspension, and heated and ventilated massaging front seats coddle the occupants. Well-equipped as standard, there’s also a long list of optional hides, woods, and colours to personalize the S-class to your taste. If there is an area of contention, it’s the sheer number of screens and their almost overwhelming amount of controls and features. Still, while many rivals including the Audi A8, BMW 7-series, and Genesis G90 have made inroads into the big Benz’s turf, for now at least, it remains the king of full-size luxury sedans. As one of our favourites in its segment, the Mercedes-Benz S-class has also earned a spot on our
What’s New for 2025?
2025 Mercedes-Benz S-Class Comes With New Features The two new hues replace Mojave Silver and Onyx Black on the exterior color palette: Verde Silver and Sonoran Brown Metallic. A centre airbag between the front seats is now standard for increased safety, while four-zone automatic climate control is standard on all models. Also standard is a new digital vehicle key feature that lets drivers use their smartphones to access the vehicle. Optional features include.
Exterior Design and Features
The 2025 Mercedes-Benz S-Class exudes elegance with its streamlined silhouette and bold yet refined aesthetics. The exterior is characterized by sleek LED headlights, a redesigned front grille with a large Mercedes-Benz emblem, and aerodynamic enhancements that improve both efficiency and performance. The vehicle features:
Digital Light Technology: Adaptive LED headlights with projection capabilities enhance nighttime visibility and safety.
Flush Door Handles: These deploy automatically when approached, adding a touch of futuristic sophistication.
Panoramic Sunroof: Provides an expansive view and enhances cabin ambiance.
20-inch Alloy Wheels: Standard on most trims, offering a dynamic and sporty stance.
Multiple Exterior Colour Options: Including classic Obsidian Black, Diamond White, and the exclusive Selenite Grey Magno.
Specifications of Engine, Transmission, and Performance
Mercedes has the S-class sedan powered by an available 429-hp turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-six-cylinder in the S500, or a 496-hp twin-turbo 4.0-liter V-8 in the S580. Both powertrains are aided by a 48-volt hybrid system and are mated to a nine-speed automatic and 4Matic all-wheel drive. The S580e plug-in hybrid combines an inline-six and an electric motor to pump out 510 horsepower; all-wheel drive is standard here as well. We’ve luxuriated in the S-class sedan and put our test equipment on every model, all of which have delivered impressive acceleration. While every S-class rides on an air suspension, the optional E-Active Body Control has a “curve” function that subtly leans the car into corners. The S-class can also be equipped with an all-wheel-steering system that makes the big-bodied Merc surprisingly easy to manoeuvre in tight spaces.
Range, Charging, and Battery Life
The EPA estimates the S580e’s electric range should be 46 miles, giving it a lengthy head start before its inline-six engine awakens. However, during our range test, it managed 58 miles. A 9.6-kW onboard charger is standard and is good enough for charging the 22.7-kWh battery at home, but if you’re hoping to quickly juice the battery on a public charger, you should order the optional 60-kW DC charger.
INTERIOR
Desperate to embrace digitisation but knowing it had to retain a familiar and uncompromisingly opulent lounge-like feel, Mercedes-Benz set itself a stern task when it came to developing the cabin of the S-Class.
It has, in the main, succeeded in blending those elements. The surface design of the dashboard is particularly pleasing, and in general the cabin achieves a greater sense of spaciousness than its predecessor but without sacrificing anything in material richness or feelings of all-encompassing solidity and sanctuary. It surpasses the cold ambience of the Audi A8 on every level, does enough to better the beautifully constructed confines of the BMW 7 Series, and gets the better of the Bentley Flying Spur in terms of visibility and airiness, if not tactility and flair. At night, things arguably only get better, when Mercedes’ ambient lighting programme comes to life. It’s a triumph, being configurable for colour and brightness and transforming the cabin into a luxurious and sophisticated cocoon. Heightening the experience are the seats. The deeply bolstered items in the front strike a rare balance of breadth, support and softness, and are among the best in any class of car.
There are also 10 massage programmes. The rear is no less impressive, particularly in LWB cars, which get electric adjustment for the outer seats. A Chauffeur Pack, fitted here, adds deployable footrests and gives the front passenger seat the ability to slide and fold extra far forward. Electric blinds add a further layer of insulation from outside.
Faultless? Not quite. The near-total migration of switchgear onto the central touchscreen makes it more arduous than necessary to alter the climate control settings. Of the physical controls that exist, some also feel cheap. The wing mirror adjusters are one example, the engine start button another.
The size of the display has also necessitated putting the central vents high on the dashboard, out of easy reach, and the door-mounted electric seat controls aren’t hepatically satisfying to touch but strangely stiff and recalcitrant. Small details, admittedly, but ones that take the shine off an otherwise fine and typically lavish effort.
Performance Test Results
Model Tested: Mercedes-Benz S500 L 4MATIC
Metric | Value |
Price | £100,035 |
0-62 mph (claimed) | 4.9 sec |
0-62 mph (tested) | 5.2 sec |
0-100 mph (tested) | 11.9 sec |
30-70 mph (tested) | 4.2 sec |
30-70 mph in 4th gear | 6.3 sec |
Standing 1/4 mile | 13.6 sec at 107.6 mph |
Top speed (claimed) | 155 mph |
Power to weight | 211 bhp per tonne |
Torque to weight | 232 lb-ft per tonne |
RPM at 70/80 mph (top gear) | 1346 rpm / 1538 rpm |
Stopping distance from 30/50/70 mph | 8.5m / 24.0m / 47.4m
DimensionsVehicle EPA Classification Large Cars Gross Traction Battery Capacity (kWh) 13.1 Weight Information Base Curb Weight (lbs) 5831 Interior Dimensions Passenger Capacity 5 Front Head Room (in) 39.3 Front Leg Room (in) 41 Front Shoulder Room (in) 59.7 Front Hip Room (in) 62.7 Second Leg Room (in) 44 Second Shoulder Room (in) 57.8 Second Hip Room (in) 61.9 Exterior Dimensions Wheelbase (in) 126.6 Length, Overall (in) 208.2 Width, Max w/o mirrors (in) 76.9 Height, Overall (in) 59.2 Track Width, Front (in) 65.2 Track Width, Rear (in) 65 Cargo Area Dimensions Trunk Volume (ft³) 18.9 Fuel EconomyFuel Tank Fuel Tank Capacity, Approx (gal) 20.1 Mileage Fuel Economy Est-Combined (MPG) – TBD – EPA Fuel Economy Est – City (MPG) – TBD – EPA Fuel Economy Est – Hwy (MPG) – TBD – Performance SpecsEngine Engine Order Code NA Engine Type Twin Turbo Gas/Electric V-8 Displacement 4.0 L/243 Fuel System Gasoline Direct Injection SAE Net Horsepower @ RPM 791 @ 5500 SAE Net Torque @ RPM 1055 Transmission Drivetrain All Wheel Drive Trans Order Code NA Trans Type 9 Trans Description Cont. Automatic w/OD Trans Description Cont. Again NA Brakes Brake Type 4-Wheel Disc Brake ABS System 4-Wheel Disc – Front (Yes or ) Yes Disc – Rear (Yes or ) Yes Drum – Rear (Yes or ) NA Steering Steering Type Rack-Pinion Turning Diameter – Curb to Curb (ft) 42 Tires Front Tire Order Code R02 Rear Tire Order Code R02 Spare Tire Order Code NA Front Tire Size P255/45HR20 Rear Tire Size P285/40HR20 Spare Tire Size NA Wheels Front Wheel Size (in) 20 X 9.5 Rear Wheel Size (in) 20 X 10.5 Spare Wheel Size (in) NA Front Wheel Material Aluminum Rear Wheel Material Aluminum Spare Wheel Material NA Suspension Suspension Type – Front Multi-Link Suspension Type – Rear Multi-Link Suspension Type – Front (Cont.) Multi-Link Suspension Type – Rear (Cont.) Multi-Link Safety FeaturesSafety Air Bag-Frontal-Driver Yes Air Bag-Frontal-Passenger Yes Air Bag-Passenger Switch (On/Off) No Air Bag-Side Body-Front Yes Air Bag-Side Body-Rear Yes Air Bag-Side Head-Front Yes Air Bag-Side Head-Rear Yes Brakes-ABS Yes Child Safety Rear Door Locks Yes Daytime Running Lights Yes Traction Control Yes Night Vision No Rollover Protection Bars No Fog Lamps No Parking Aid Yes Tire Pressure Monitor Yes Back-Up Camera Yes Stability Control Yes Other Features Cruise Control-Steering Assist ESP w/Crosswind Assist Electronic Stability Control (ESC) ABS And Driveline Traction Control Side Impact Beams Dual Stage Driver And Passenger Seat-Mounted Side Airbags eCall Emergency System Emergency Sos Active Parking Assist Front And Rear Parking Sensors Active Blind Spot Assist Blind Spot CMS Rear Active Lane Keeping Assist Lane Keeping Assist Active Lane Keeping Assist Lane Departure Warning Aerial View Camera System Collision Mitigation-Front Driver Monitoring-Alert Evasion Assist Active Brake Assist with Cross-Traffic Function Tire Specific Low Tire Pressure Warning Dual Stage Driver And Passenger Front Airbags Curtain 1st And 2nd Row Airbags Airbag Occupancy Sensor Driver Knee Airbag and Rear Side-Impact Airbag Restricted Driving Mode Child Seat Sensor and Rear Child Safety Locks Outboard Front Lap And Shoulder Safety Belts -inc: Rear Center 3… Back-Up Camera Front Camera Left Side Camera Right Side Camera WarrantyWarranty Basic Miles/km 50,000 Basic Years 4 Corrosion Miles/km 50,000 Corrosion Years 4 Drivetrain Miles/km 50,000 Drivetrain Years 4 Hybrid/Electric Components Miles/km 80,000 Hybrid/Electric Components Years 8 Roadside Assistance Miles/km 50,000 Roadside Assistance Years 4 Traction Battery Miles/km 62,000 Traction Battery Years 6 |