Mercedes-Benz S-Class Review 2024

The Mercedes S-Class is a luxury limousine for those who want to drive or be driven. Brimful of sumptuous materials, along with the latest in technology and connectivity, it’s both a lounge on wheels and an office in motion.

The Mercedes S-Class has been the definition of premium automotive opulence for decades, rightfully considered one of the bext luxury cars available.

It has always had presence and power, the best in materials and comfort, and a level of quality that made it popular with world leaders, business executives and the wealthy around the globe. Officially, the ‘S’ stands for Sonderklasse, German for ‘special class’, but it could simply be ‘S’ for status.

That said, as our Mercedes S-Class review will illustrate, in recent times there has been a major change in its character.

After years of being hesitant to upset its clientele, the Mercedes S-Class has been launched into a new era, one where technology and luxury go hand-in-hand.

It won’t appeal to everyone, but the latest BMW 7 Series has followed the same course. And if the Audi A8 is retained in the future, we suspect it will follow suit.

We’re not just talking about a high-end audio system, ambient lighting colour choices or driving assistance systems, although the Mercedes S-Class has all of these.

It’s all about screens – a digital one for the instrument cluster and another massive one that rises up to the dashboard from the centre console like a wave. It hasn’t gone ‘full nightclub’ like the MBUX Hyperscreen in the electric Mercedes EQS, which many people will be thankful for, but it’s definitely more tech-rich than the Mercedes S-Class used to be.

At the same time, the luxury remains, with loads of sumptuous leather, deep carpeting and surfaces that feel expensive to the touch.

The designers have also made it appear more dynamic than ever, with a look that is more sculpted and purposeful. However, like the Audi A8, it retains elements of classic luxury saloon styling, in contrast to the divisive design of the latest BMW 7 Series.

There are still plenty of model choices, including AMG-Line versions, the powerful AMG S63 and the long wheelbase luxo-barge, the Mercedes Maybach S-Class. You can have a Mercedes S-Class with diesel or petrol engines, or as a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV).

The engineers have done a fine job of keeping the handling and ride quality smooth and serene, as it should be. It can feel a bit soft at times, but switch things into one of the Sport modes and it all tightens up.

Mercedes’ clever Magic Ride system scans the road ahead to prime the suspension, soaking up any impending bumps so passengers won’t spill their champagne. It’s quick, but not the most dynamic car – as is expected for a luxury limousine.

To start with, all models have 48V mild hybrid tech and Dynamic Select driving modes.

The entry-level car is the S350d diesel, with 286PS and 600Nm of torque. Then there’s the S400d 4MATIC long wheelbase with a six-cylinder diesel engine, 330PS and 700Nm. The main petrol model is the S500 4MATIC, which offers up 435PS and 520Nm.

There are two plug-in hybrid versions, and both are very different. First is the S580 e, which has a 372PS six-cylinder petrol engine paired with a 152PS electric motor.

It has an electric-only range of around 67 miles and will charge on an 11kW wallbox in slightly over two hours, or from 10-80% in 20 minutes using a 60kW rapid charger.

The other PHEV is the Mercedes-AMG S63 E Performance. Its 4.0-litre V8 produces 620PS, alongside an electric motor developing 193hp.

Electric range is only 20 miles, and with just a small 3.7kW on-board charger, it’s limited to basic charging, with a quoted time of three hours, 15 minutes from 10-100% using a 3.7kW home charger.

Mercedes has always put safety high on its priority list, so its flagship comes packed with the latest devices and assistance systems.

Some models are fitted with Digital Light headlights that shine up to 650m ahead of you, and can even beam messages onto the road.

The Driving Assistance Package is standard across all models and includes blind-spot assistance, active brake assist, active cruise control, emergency stop, traffic sign recognition and pre-collision protection.

If you need to tow a posh caravan or boat, you’ll be pleased to know that many Mercedes S-Class models can pull 750kg unbraked and 2100kg braked. The exceptions are the hybrid models, which aren’t rated to tow at all.

There’s loads of space inside, especially for those fortunate to be sat in the back of the long-wheelbase versions. Wide opening doors make it easy to get in and out, and once ensconced, the controls are all simple to use.

The dashboard layout, with its digital screens, might not be everyone’s cup of tea, but the functions are fairly straightforward once you’ve worked your way through all the settings and menus.

Boot space is huge at 540-550 litres in regular models. It’s not so great in the PHEV versions, at 350 litres – and even less in the sporty S63 with its 305 litres. However, you’ll get the golf bags, tailored luggage and Knightsbridge shopping in there with ease.

Driving assistance systems all contribute to practicality, making it fairly easy to park for a car that’s 5.2 metres in length (or 5.3 metres for the long-wheelbase version). So while practicality is not a priority for the Mercedes S-Class, it does put a tick in that box.

As you would expect, the quality and finish in the Mercedes S-Class are top drawer, with the finest woods, leathers and metals. Even the plastics feel posh.

It’s all extremely well put-together, the electrical items operate smoothly and quietly, and everything you touch has a premium feel. The infotainment screen can be a bit glitchy at times, though.

The design brings the Mercedes S-Class into the modern era, with clean lines and surfaces, plus a combination of the latest materials and old-school leather. There are some slightly tacky surfaces, but in general everything seems a step beyond premium, if not quite up to Bentley standards.

The sense of luxury that surrounds you when you climb inside is obvious, with loads of space, sumptuous seats to sink into, and plenty of tech to keep you connected and entertained.

Plus, go for high-spec seats and you can recline, to give the feeling you are thousands of feet in the air, living the good life – which Mercedes S-Class owners are probably accustomed to anyway.

Infotainment is hugely important in the latest Mercedes S-Class. As well as the 12.3-inch 3D digital panel for the instrument cluster, there’s a seven-inch tablet in the rear seats that can control audio, navigation and seat functions.

Then there’s the big 12.8-inch portrait-oriented touchscreen that rises out of the centre console. It’s now very much the heart of the car, with the ability to do everything from change the DAB radio station to stream a business podcast, facilitate a conference call or adjust the vehicle settings.

Mercedes even throws in a one-year subscription to Zync, a platform that allows you to watch movies or sport, play games and check the news, although only while parked, of course.

You can talk to it, too, using “Hey Mercedes” to access various functions, or suggest setting changes based on how you feel.

There’s the ability to create a profile that is then shared with a Mercedes Me app or account, allowing you to jump into another Mercedes car and have everything just the way you want it.

Plus, it all connects to an app that you can use to lock or unlock the car, check on where it is if you forgot where you parked, or have a look at the charging status of the hybrid model. The Mercedes S-Class truly has entered the digital world.

What price can you put on luxury? Well, £92,550 for starters. At the time of writing, that’s the cost of entry into the Mercedes S-Class club with the S350d AMG-Line Premium. Next up is the S500 4MATIC version at £103,880.

If you want to stretch your AMG-Line Premium model, then the long-wheelbase version starts at £96,550 for the S350d, rising to £111,905 for the S580e PHEV.

You can go further still, with the long-wheelbase AMG-Line Premium Plus versions starting at £103,640 and topping out with the PHEV model at £116,800.

Want more? How about the Long AMG-Line Premium Plus Executive from £108,135-£121,295?

And if maximum power is on your wishlist, Mercedes will give you the S63 E Performance for £186,015.

Fuel consumption is unlikely to matter to many Mercedes S-Class owners unless they are professional drivers, but the most efficient engine is the S350d diesel, which returns a combined figure of 45.6mpg.

The S450d diesel manages 41.5mpg and the S500 petrol can average 32.8mpg. Go for the plug-in hybrid and the combined figure is around 35mpg, although in electric mode that jumps to 403mpg – as long as the batteries are topped-up.

With all the performance on offer, the S63 AMG owner will be lucky to achieve its claimed 53mpg average.

If you go for one of the PHEV models, you can get a Pod Point home charger installed for £875. You can also subscribe to the Mercedes Me Charge service, which ranges from free to £10.90 per month to give you discounted rates at Ionity public chargers.

Servicing and maintenance costs aren’t going to be cheap, but they will be comparable to those of Audi or BMW, and Mercedes offers a range of service plans to help you budget. You can even build the costs into the original finance agreement.

All models have a three-year or unlimited-mileage warranty, while first-year VED (road tax) rates range between nothing at all for the PHEV models to £1,555.

All versions of the Mercedes S-Class are liable for the luxury car tax of £570 in years two to five. Incredibly, with a CO2 emissions figure of just 100g/km, the S63 AMG plug-in hybrid is only liable for £155 in tax in year one, then £560 in the subsequent four years.

Is there such a thing as a standard Mercedes S-Class? A look through the very extensive options lists reveals just how much choice there is for prospective owners.

Firstly, colours. The majority are a no-cost option, but if you want anything special like Night Black Magno or Kalahari Gold, you’ll have to pay £4750.

Nappa leather upholstery is standard across the range, but some seat colours will only match with certain trim colours, so choose wisely. Some leather options will incur an extra cost of £4750, or you can go fully bespoke and have pretty much whatever you want. Obviously, this can push prices up massively.

In terms of equipment, all models have an AMG styling kit with 21-inch wheels. The Digital light system that casts its beam up to 650m ahead is on the Mercedes S-Class Premium Plus and Mercedes S-Class Executive models, while the others have Multibeam LED headlamps.

Keyless entry and start is standard across the range, as is a panoramic sliding sunroof.

All models have Thermotronic climate control, plus heated and ventilated seats. Premium Plus and Executive versions get active multi-contour seats for the driver and front passenger, with dynamic driving response that increases the air in the bolsters during cornering, as well as providing a series of massage functions.

The 3D driver display is standard across the range, as is the infotainment system and a fingerprint scanner to stop strangers getting into your profiles. An augmented reality head-up display is only standard on Premium Plus and Executive.

There are a few additional items on the Executive model, including a Chauffeur Package with more space behind the front passenger seat, electric blinds in the rear and adaptive rear lighting.

There’s also a whole load of remote connectivity tech, including door unlocking and locking, car location, charging on the PHEV versions and the ability to send points of interest (POIs) to the navigation.

Most of this is also on the Mercedes S-Class AMG model, but it also gets AMG styling, special 21-inch forged alloy wheels, painted brake callipers, AMG carbon fibre and piano black trim elements and a ‘dynamic fabric’ roof liner.

Then there’s the Mercedes Maybach S-Class, the flagship of the range, available with a V8 or a V12 engine, and only in long-wheelbase guise. The Maybach is particularly opulent, offering champagne flutes, a rear fridge compartment, open-pore walnut trim and Nappa leather, wireless headsets and folding tables in the rear.

You can only have it with two individual back seats, though.