2020 Mercedes-Benz S-Class Review

Price Range: $47,998 - $48,990

Mercedes-Benz S-Class AMG S 63 Sedan Exterior

A vehicle with a six-figure price tag has a lot to live up to. Using nearly every driver assist technology available, as well as plenty of traditional luxury design, the 2020 S-Class leaves little doubt that it is at the top of its class. With more performance than you might expect, a very comfortable cabin and high levels of convenience, the S-Class rises above all other flagship luxury sedans.

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2020 Mercedes-Benz S-Class Review

Pros

Ample power with any engine choice
Opulent interior with plenty of customization options
A smooth ride no matter the road surface
Silent cabin that insulates occupants from the outside world

Cons

Not as engaging to drive as some rivals
Some driver assistance options have questionable value

What's new

Keyless entry, a hands-free trunklid and an automated parking system are now standard
Part of the sixth S-Class generation introduced for 2014

Overview

Written by automotive expert Mark Takahashi

5/18/2020

When it comes to flagship luxury cars, the 2020 Mercedes-Benz S-Class pretty much sets the standard for status and refinement. Its interior is lavishly appointed with excellent materials and an abundance of all of the latest technology features. On the road, there's plenty of power no matter which model you select, and it's accompanied by a reassuring yet comfortable ride quality.

Continue reading Edmunds Expert Rating below

For sale near Edmonds, WA

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2020 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
AMG S 63 Sedan
$74,990
good price
$6,721 below market
- 35,431 miles
- 1 accident, 1 owner, personal use
- 17 City / 26 Hwy MPG
- Diplomat Motors (160 mi away)
- AWD/4WD
- Bluetooth
- Navigation
- Leather Seats
- Sunroof/Moonroof
Close
Located in Troutdale, OR
Vehicle Details:- Year: 2020- Make: Mercedes-Benz- Model: Mercedes-AMG S-Class- Trim: S 63 AMG Sedan 4D- Drivetrain: AWD- Title: Clean- Engine: V8, Tw...
AutoCheck Vehicle History Summary
Accident Free Vehicle: No
Personal Use Only: Yes
History Provider: AutoCheck
Title Details: Clean Title
Salvage Vehicle: No
Frame Damage: No
Theft History: No
Lemon Status: No
Free History Report: No
Features and Specs:
20 Combined MPG (17 City/26 Highway)
Listing Information:
VIN: W1KUG8JB4LA552231
Stock: 552231
Certified Pre-Owned: No
New Listing
2020 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
S 560 Sedan
$43,299
fair price
$628 above market
- 65,605 miles
- No accidents, 2 owners, personal use
- 17 City / 27 Hwy MPG
- Land Rover Sacramento (638 mi away)
- Back-up camera
- Bluetooth
- Navigation
- Leather Seats
- Sunroof/Moonroof
Close
Located in Sacramento, CA
Heated Leather Seats, Sunroof, NAV, Power Liftgate, Panoramic Roof, Turbo, Alloy Wheels, PREMIUM PACKAGE, AMG® LINE EXTERIOR, WARMTH & COMFORT PACKAGE...
AutoCheck Vehicle History Summary
Accident Free Vehicle: Yes
Personal Use Only: Yes
History Provider: AutoCheck
Title Details: Clean Title
Salvage Vehicle: No
Frame Damage: No
Theft History: No
Lemon Status: No
Free History Report: No
Features and Specs:
21 Combined MPG (17 City/27 Highway)
Listing Information:
VIN: WDDUG8DB0LA521957
Stock: UL10023
Certified Pre-Owned: No
Listed since: 08-08-2025

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This big Mercedes is one of the older vehicles in the class, but it continues to lead some very impressive rivals such as the Audi A8, the BMW 7 Series and the Porsche Panamera. While each car may have an advantage in regard to a particular aspect such as performance or price, the 2020 Mercedes-Benz S-Class remains our favorite for its all-around excellence.

Edmunds Expert Rating

edmunds TESTED

by the Edmunds Experts

Great

8.4

out of 10

We drove the 2020 Mercedes-Benz S-Class on our test track and on real roads. Our Edmunds team conducts rigorous independent vehicle testing, driving 500,000 miles a year.

Performance

8/10

How does the S-Class drive? It's not enough for a luxury car to simply wrap its occupants in leather and wood trim anymore. Today's luxury cars have to handle themselves just as well in traffic as they do at autobahn speeds. The S-Class we tested, the S 450, does exactly that with powerful and easy-to-use brakes and effortless power.

The S 450 moves smartly away from a stop and power builds smoothly. Our test car accelerated from 0 to 60 mph in 5.6 seconds, which is an appropriate time for a base engine. There's ample passing power even at higher speeds. The big Benz has solid composure and decent balance even when driven with some aggression. Selecting the S-Class' Comfort mode allows some body roll, but Sport essentially dials most of it out and helps keep the S 450 almost flat through fast corners.

Comfort

8.5/10

How comfortable is the S-Class? Mercedes blends traditional luxury sedan elements, such as premium wood and leather materials, with modern technology to create one of the most impressive automobiles on sale today. We could do without the overpowering air freshener and its gimmicky mood scents, but this Benz is otherwise hard to top from a comfort perspective.

With the Premium 1 package, front passengers enjoy heated and ventilated seats with active bolsters and an array of massage options. Rear passengers have to go without the massaging seats (those are optional) but are still held in a high level of comfort. The Comfort drive mode provides exceptional body control and ride comfort, even at high speeds. The S 450 is nearly silent under all circumstances.

Interior

8.5/10

How’s the interior? From the moment you get in to the moment you get out, the S 450 takes care of its occupants like almost nothing else. Every passenger will be hard-pressed to complain about personal comfort or space. Whether you're athletic or you have limited mobility, any seat in the S-Class is a breeze to get in or out of. All doors, though solid, are easy to open and offer a soft-close function.

The car's controls are fairly easy to figure out thanks to a logical menu structure, quick response times and ergonomically friendly controls. Only the pressure-sensitive steering wheel nubs seem unnecessary and difficult to use.

Technology

9/10

How’s the tech? Mercedes offers a mind-boggling array of entertainment and safety features. The 12.3-inch display's crisp graphics and sheer size make it easy to discern information at a glance. The Burmester audio system is one of the best we've encountered too.

The Driver Assistance package includes enough assists to all but navigate most roads by itself. The technology is interesting but too conservative in some applications, often going well below the speed limit on gently curving roads.

Storage

8/10

How’s the storage? The S-Class offers a nicely sized and easy-to-load trunk. The rear seats do not fold, but there is a center seat pass-through. The trunk is of course power-operated. Storage inside is ample, and most everything can be hidden away behind attractive, if slightly plasticky, wood veneer.

Fuel Economy

8.5/10

How’s the fuel economy? The EPA estimates the V6-powered S 450 will get 22 mpg in combined driving (19 city/28 highway). This is about par for the class. Pleasingly, we found it easy to match these numbers.

Value

8/10

Is the S-Class a good value? It's true that the S-Class is more expensive than its rivals, but you do get your money's worth. The build quality inside and out is nearly impeccable, as you'd expect from a flagship luxury car. The leather work is excellent on both the dash and the seats, and not a stitch is out of place. The only disappointment is the slightly low-buck plastic used for the storage bin and cupholder covers.

Wildcard

9/10

Luxury is the overriding theme in everything you see and in everything you touch. Even the technology, some of it more useful than others, is there to provide a more luxurious and stress-free experience for all passengers, and the Benz comes across as confident and capable in nearly every situation.

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2020 Mercedes-Benz S-Class trim level differences

The 2020 Mercedes-Benz S-Class is a large luxury vehicle offered in sedan, coupe and convertible body styles. The sedan is available in five main trim levels: S 450, S 560, S 560e, AMG S 63 and AMG S 65. The coupe and convertible are limited to the S 560 and AMG S 63. Feature highlights include:

Which S-Class trim does Edmunds recommend?

Since the non-AMG S-Class models are similarly appointed, the decision comes down to how much power and performance you desire. Odds are you'll find the entry-level S 450 to be plenty appealing. To that, we suggest adding the optional Premium package (for the extra comfort and convenience features) as well as the Driver Assistance package (its added driver safety aids can make commuting in heavy traffic less stressful).

Compare 2020 Mercedes-Benz S-Class trim levels

Helpful trims summary and side-by-side comparison chart

Cost to Drive

Monthly estimates based on costs in Washington

$277/mo

$271/mo

Avg. Large Car

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Reliability Ratings by RepairPal

2.5/5Average

#35 out of 48 among Luxury Fullsize Cars

RepairPal Reliability Ratings are based on the actual cost, frequency, and severity of unscheduled repairs and maintenance on make/model data for select 2008-2022 vehicles. The reliability of a specific vehicle may vary depending on its maintenance and driving history, model year, trim, and features.

Cost

$871/yr

vs. $729/yr
for Average Luxury Fullsize Car

Frequency

2.06x/yr

vs. 1.74x/yr
for Average Luxury Fullsize Car

Severity

17.4%

vs. 14.7%
for Average Luxury Fullsize Car

Mercedes-Benz S-Class Owner Reviews

4.3

33 reviews

5(76%)

4(9%)

3(0%)

2(3%)

1(12%)

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Most Helpful Owner Reviews

never in 21 yrs given MB less than 5 stars, but...

P M, 04/15/2020

2019 Mercedes-Benz S-Class S 450 4MATIC 4dr Sedan AWD (3.0L 6cyl Turbo 9A)

I guess every maker has a bad year. I think it’s MB’s turn. I’ve had this new 2019 S560 4matic sedan 5 months, and all 5, battled operational and technology issues, PLUS, a dealer who has REFUSED to fix the car! And MBUSA has refused to get in the middle. The car will not shift - 3 times in one day, it’s confused, won’t shift into park, and the shifter operates the NAV screen! I felt …

Back In The "High Life" Again!

abacomike, 11/11/2017

2018 Mercedes-Benz S-Class S 450 4dr Sedan (3.0L 6cyl Turbo 9A)

This is a truly refined automobile. I traded in my 2017 BMW 740i for the 2018 S450. There is very little comparison to the two cars. The Mercedes is quick, smooth riding and handling, stays in a straight line with little driver input which was not the case with the BMW 7 Series. The vehicle corners precisely and does not handle like a 4500+ pound luxury sedan - but more like a 3800 …

AMAZING LUXURY SEDAN 2018 S560

William Beal, 01/13/2019

2018 Mercedes-Benz S-Class S 560 4MATIC 4dr Sedan AWD (4.0L 8cyl Turbo 9A)

This is by far the finest luxury car I have ever driven. Read all the owner reviews. When Mercedes redesigned the S560 in 2015 they had to get it right to reclaim their status at the top of luxury cars. They did get it right and even owners of a Bentley and Rolls have told me it is superior to their sedans. It is perfection on wheels and the awesome technology wraps you in safety as …

2019 Mercedes S 450 problems

Andy , 07/28/2019

2019 Mercedes-Benz S-Class S 450 4dr Sedan (3.0L 6cyl Turbo 9A)

A month ago I traded in my 2015 S 550 for a 2019 S 450, my 4th S Class and our 7th Benz. It has already been in the shop twice -- the nav system can not find certain mature house numbers and zip codes and the onboard owner's manual does not open. The folding mirrors have failed to fold twice when the doors are locked. The Merecedes shop keeps talking about software upgrades which makes …

We have a limited number of reviews for the 2020 Mercedes-Benz S-Class, so we've included reviews for other years of the S-Class since its last redesign.

See all 33 reviews of the Mercedes-Benz S-Class

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2020 S-Class Highlights

Type:

Sedan

Trim:

S 450

Base MSRP Excludes Destination Fee	$94,250
Engine Type	Gas
Combined MPG	22 MPG
Cost to Drive	$277/month
Seating	5 seats
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place	18.7 cu.ft.
Drivetrain	rear wheel drive
Warranty	4 years / 50,000 miles

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Safety

Our experts like the S-Class models:

Active Brake Assist: Warns if a front collision is imminent and automatically applies the brakes if you don't respond in time.
Evasive Steering Assist: Warns if an obstacle is in the path of the vehicle and automatically steers around it if there is adequate space.
Active Blind-Spot Assist: Warns if a vehicle is in your blind spot and will attempt to prevent you from steering into that lane.

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2020 Mercedes-Benz S-Class Review

Price & Payment

2020 Mercedes-Benz S-Class Review

Pros

Cons

What's new

Overview

For sale near Edmonds, WA

2020 Mercedes-Benz S-ClassAMG S 63 Sedan

AutoCheck Vehicle History Summary

2020 Mercedes-Benz S-ClassS 560 Sedan

AutoCheck Vehicle History Summary

Edmunds Expert Rating

Performance

Comfort

Interior

Technology

Storage

Fuel Economy

Value

Wildcard

2020 Mercedes-Benz S-Class trim level differences

Which S-Class trim does Edmunds recommend?

Cost to Drive

Reliability Ratings by RepairPal

Cost

Frequency

Severity

Mercedes-Benz S-Class Owner Reviews

Most Helpful Owner Reviews

never in 21 yrs given MB less than 5 stars, but...

Back In The "High Life" Again!

AMAZING LUXURY SEDAN 2018 S560

2019 Mercedes S 450 problems

2020 S-Class Highlights

Safety

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2020 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
AMG S 63 Sedan

2020 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
S 560 Sedan