2021 Mercedes-Benz S-Class Review

Name: 2021 Mercedes-Benz S-Class Review
Brand: Mercedes-Benz
Price: 69163 USD

Mercedes-Benz S-Class S 500 4MATIC Sedan Exterior

Mercedes-Benz S-Class S 580 4MATIC Sedan Exterior

+279

When it comes to comfort and refinement on four wheels, it really doesn't get much better than the redesigned Mercedes-Benz S-Class. The previous model was already one of the best cars on the road, and the new one improves upon it in just about every way. The interior is more premium and better appointed than before, and there's improved in-car tech and driver aids, as well as improvements to the ride and handling. It's more expensive than its rivals, but it offers just a little bit more polish than those cars too.

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2021 Mercedes-Benz S-Class Review

byCameron Rogers^{Manager, News
Cameron Rogers has worked in the automotive industry since 2013. He has tested and reviewed hundreds of vehicles over the course of his career. Today, he leads the news team in developing cutting-edge news articles, opinion pieces and sneak peeks at upcoming vehicles. Favorite cars that he's driven during his tenure at Edmunds include the 991-era Porsche 911 Turbo S, Rolls-Royce Ghost and several generations of Honda Odyssey (really).}

Pros

Engines are both powerful and efficient
Interior blends traditional opulence with cutting-edge tech
Silent, comfortable cabin
Rear-wheel steering adds excellent low-speed maneuverability

Cons

Some driver assist options have questionable value
The ride borders on too soft in its Comfort setting
Panic-stopping distance is a little long with all-season tires

What's new

Completely redesigned
Tech-forward interior is dominated by a 12.8-inch infotainment touchscreen
2021 model kicks off the seventh S-Class generation

Overview

The S-Class has long been Mercedes-Benz's flagship vehicle platform to showcase the company's capabilities in luxury, comfort and technology. For 2021, Mercedes-Benz has comprehensively redesigned the S-Class and looks to continue the tradition of innovation and elegance that has long defined this iconic sedan and keep it ahead of rivals such as the Audi A8, BMW 7 Series and Porsche Panamera.

Cost to Drive^{Cost to drive estimates for the 2021 Mercedes-Benz S-Class S 500 4MATIC 4dr Sedan AWD (3.0L 6cyl Twincharger gas/electric mild hybrid 9A) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $3.89 per gallon for premium unleaded in Virginia.}

Monthly estimates based on costs in Virginia

$202/mo

$192/mo

Avg. Large Car

Calculate my fuel costs

The most recognizable changes can be seen inside the 2021 Mercedes-Benz S-Class. It flaunts a larger touchscreen and fewer physical buttons, proof that Mercedes has delved further into using technology to enhance the comfort and driving experience. Even with a tech-heavy appearance, there's still the opulence and attention to detail S-Class buyers expect. Of course there are many, if not more, changes beneath the subtle metal restyling. A retuned suspension, more sophisticated advanced driver aids and an impressive rear-wheel steering system are among them.

With its full redesign, the Mercedes-Benz S-Class leaves no doubt that it offers one of the most technologically advanced and refined driving experiences on the market. Bristling with technology that provides not only comfort but also intense personalization as well as safety, the S-Class again sets a new standard for a luxury sedan. It might take some buyers a bit of time to adjust to the radically new interior, but our time in the new S-Class has left us deeply impressed.

Edmunds Expert Rating

Our Verdict^{The Edmunds Vehicle Testing Team evaluates a fresh batch of vehicles every week, pairing objective assessments at our test track with real-world driving on city streets, freeways and winding roads. The data we gather results in our Expert Ratings. They’re based on 30-plus scores that cover every aspect of the automotive experience.}

Great

8.5

out of 10

edmunds TESTED

Rated for you by America's best test team.

Performance

8.5/10

How does the S-Class drive? Outside of AMG-tuned models, the S-Class has never been all that sporty. Comfortable and quick, sure, but not that engaging. That's changed with the new model. The V8 engine makes more power than before, thanks in part to a 48-volt mild hybrid system. Besides improving fuel economy, the 48-volt system fills in the power gap before the turbos build boost and further smooth the shifts from the nine-speed automatic. The generous low-end torque means you don't ever have to work all that hard to pass a car on the highway.

But engines have never been the S-Class' issue. Mercedes' engineers have worked to make it feel more athletic without sacrificing comfort. The air suspension keeps the car smooth and composed around turns, and it can lower up to 0.7 inch in the Sport+ driving mode to improve overall handling. The optional rear-axle steering improves high-speed stability and makes it easier to park, another win-win for performance and convenience.

Comfort

9/10

How comfortable is the S-Class? The outgoing S-Class was already one of the most comfortable vehicles on the road, so the fact that the new model doesn't feel wholly different while cruising isn't a bad thing. The standard heated and massaging front seats are supremely comfortable, with supportive but soft cushions and tons of adjustability. Our test vehicle had a combination of packages that included power-adjustable, heated, ventilated and massaging rear seats with a footrest. It also had heated armrests and four-zone climate control, making the rear seats just as comfortable as the front.

It's quiet and refined, too. It's not quite as quiet at idle as some other sedans, but it's still relatively isolating. It's the way that the S-Class maintains that same level of isolation no matter what speed you're going. While there's a small amount of wind and road noise, the S-Class is whisper quiet, even at highway speeds.

Interior

8.5/10

How’s the interior? The interior is stunning to look at, but using and operating all of the S-Class' vast number of features and tech can require a bit of a learning curve. MBUX, Mercedes' infotainment system, gets an update with a larger screen that houses even more of the car's features and reduces dedicated controls to things like volume adjustment. The menu system is deep, but it's intuitive and easy to use.

That large screen is well placed and easy to reach thanks to the S-Class' excellent driving position. It's relaxed and comfortable, but surprisingly good outward visibility means you always have a good sense of the car's sizable dimensions. And big it is. Large doors open to a massive cabin with acres of leg-, headroom and shoulder room.

Technology

9/10

How’s the tech? The S-Class has always been one of the most tech-forward vehicles on the road. While the new model doesn't offer anything vastly different than before, the in-car tech and driver aids have undergone a bit of an update and refinement. All S-Class trims come standard with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as well as a wireless charging pad. There are a handful of USB-C ports too. The head-up display will show navigation directions, even if you're using Apple Maps. For those who use them, voice controls work well and understand natural language. Our test car was equipped with the $6,730 Burmester audio system. That's not cheap, but this might be the best sound system you can get in a car today.

But it's not all about screens and sound. The S-Class is available with a plethora of driver aids. While there's no hands-free mode, what's there works smoothly and is easy to engage.

Storage

8/10

How’s the storage? Despite being just about the longest vehicle in its class, the S-Class ranks near the bottom in terms of cargo space. With 12.9 cubic feet, the Mercedes offers less storage than the BMW 7 Series or Porsche Panamera. That said, the available space is deep and easy to reach inside. Storage in the cabin is far better. Luxury cars usually lack small-item storage, but there are plenty of places up front to store water bottles, phones, sunglasses, hand sanitizer and more.

Installing a car seat should be relatively easy. The doors are wide, and the generous rear seat room helps with rear-facing seats, though that's true for the competition too.

Fuel Economy

8/10

How’s the fuel economy? The Mercedes-Benz S 580 4Matic has an EPA-estimated combined fuel economy of 20 mpg (17 city/25 highway). We saw an impressive 23.7 mpg on our 115-mile evaluation loop. That's better than most other V8-powered rivals thanks in part to Mercedes' EQ Boost mild hybrid system.

Value

8/10

Is the S-Class a good value? Few cars on the road today can offer the level of luxury and premium appointments as the S-Class. Everything you touch or see on the car feels like it's been carefully thought out and designed. The leather is soft, and the buttons have heft. It all feels rock-solid. Unfortunately, it will cost you. A base S 500 4Matic starts at $110,850. Stepping up to the V8-powered S 580 4Matic brings it to $117,350. Both are more than the equivalent Audi A8, BMW 7 Series or Lexus LS 500, though none quite offer the same polish as the S-Class. Our loaded tester had an MSRP of $147,590.

Mercedes offers a four-year/50,000-mile basic, powertrain and rust warranty, average for the class. While there's also four years/50,000 miles of roadside assistance, unlike most rivals, Mercedes doesn't include any service visits.

Wildcard

8.5/10

Unlike head-turning rivals like the BMW 7 Series and Audi A8, the S-Class features subtle looks that don't necessarily grab attention. While it may seem a bit conservative and sedate, that's by design and part of its appeal. Once you step inside, though, the S-Class wows with a handsome and tech-forward interior. The story gets even better once you start moving. It's not a sport sedan in the vein of the Porsche Panamera, but it handles well enough. The engine, though, is a real sweetheart. Soften the suspension, crank the radio and enjoy the buttery V8. There's a charm and joy in just cruising around in a big, comfy luxury sedan.

Which S-Class does Edmunds recommend?

There's nothing wrong with selecting the turbocharged six-cylinder, but sedans at this price level really should have a powertrain that's as impressive as the rest of the vehicle. For that reason, we'd select the S 580 and its V8. Most buyers will be served well by the base Luxury Line trim, which features a rock-star lineup of desirable features. However, if you want backseat passengers to experience the same luxuries enjoyed by those in front, the Executive Line is the way to go.

2021 Mercedes-Benz S-Class models

The 2021 Mercedes-Benz S-Class is a large luxury vehicle sold in sedan, coupe and convertible body styles. The sedan is completely redesigned for 2021, while the coupe and convertible are essentially carried over from the previous generation. Since little has changed for the coupe and convertible for 2021, be sure to check out last year's review for a full list of standard and optional features for these models.

The 2021 S-Class sedan is available with your choice of two powertrains. The S 500 is driven by a turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-six (429 horsepower, 384 lb-ft of torque) paired to a mild hybrid system. The hybrid component can provide an extra boost of 21 hp and 184 lb-ft under certain conditions. The S 580 also uses this mild hybrid system, but this time it's paired with a turbocharged 4.0-liter V8 (496 hp, 516 lb-ft). Both models feature all-wheel drive and a nine-speed automatic transmission.

New for this year are three trim levels. The Luxury Line and AMG Line are available with either engine, while the range-topping Executive Line can only be optioned on the S 580.

Luxury Line
Regardless of engine choice, the base S-Class trim is known as the Luxury Line. It has a vast set of standard features that include:

19-inch wheels
Power trunklid
Panoramic sunroof
Air suspension (can raise or lower the ride height of the vehicle)
Soft-close doors (catch as they're being closed and gently pull shut)
12.3-inch digital instrument cluster
Dual-zone automatic climate control with fragrance atomizer
Ambient interior lighting
Heated, ventilated and massaging front seats
Leather upholstery (S 500 only)
Premium leather upholstery (S 580 only)
Power front and rear sunshades
Navigation system with augmented reality driving directions
12.8-inch OLED touchscreen
Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto functionality
Wireless charging pad
15-speaker Burmester audio system
Eight USB-C ports

The S 500 also comes with a comprehensive list of advanced driving aids, such as:

Adaptive cruise control (maintains a driver-set distance between the Mercedes and the car in front)
Blind-spot monitor with rear cross-traffic alert (warns you if a vehicle is in your blind spot during a lane change or while in reverse)
Lane keeping system (makes minor steering corrections to help keep the vehicle centered in its lane)
Automated lane-change assist (guides the vehicle into the next lane when the turn signal is used)
Forward collision mitigation (warns you of an impending collision and applies the brakes in certain scenarios)
Evasive steering assist (enhances the forward collision mitigation system with steering-based collision avoidance)
Safe exit assist (alerts passengers when opening a door into traffic approaching from behind)
Parking sensors (alert you to obstacles that may not be visible in front of or behind the vehicle when parking)
Rear and cross-traffic automatic braking (applies the brakes automatically to avoid an imminent collision with an object behind the vehicle, or a vehicle or pedestrian crossing in front of the vehicle)
Front-mounted dashcam (records an image of the road ahead, which can be reviewed at a later time)
Automated parking system (steers into a parking spot with little or no driver intervention)
360-degree camera system (gives you a top-down view of the Mercedes-Benz and its surroundings for tight parking situations)

AMG Line
The AMG Line is a sporty appearance package that starts with Luxury Line equipment and adds:

Sporty front and rear bumpers
Choice of 19-, 20- or 21-inch wheels

Executive Line
Available only with the S 580 engine, the Executive Line adds:

Rear-wheel steering with 10 degrees of turning ability
Four-zone climate control
Heated steering wheel
Heated front and rear armrests
Rear neck heaters
Heated, ventilated, massaging and power-adjustable outboard rear seats
Rear seat memory settings
Rear entertainment system
Rear wireless charging pad
Rear control panel
Rear airbags

The S-Class is available with a number of packages and stand-alone options. These include:

Warmth and Comfort package (Luxury and AMG Line only)

Heated steering wheel
Heated front and rear armrests
Heated, ventilated and power-adjustable outboard rear seats
Rear seat memory settings

3D Technology package

3D instrument panel
Head-up display (displays important information in your sight line on the windshield)

Night package (AMG Line only)

Black-painted exterior accents

Rear-wheel steering with 4.5 degrees of turning ability (AMG Line only)
Heated steering wheel
30-speaker Burmester premium audio system
Wood and leather steering wheel
Upgraded premium leather upholstery
Wood, metal or piano black veneers

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

^{The average total annual cost for unscheduled repairs and maintenance across all model years of the Mercedes-Benz S-Class from 2008-2022.}

$871/yr

vs. $729/yr
for Average Luxury Fullsize Car

Frequency

^{The average number of times this model is brought into the shop for unscheduled repairs and maintenance in a single year. RepairPal calculates this metric by tracking millions of unique vehicles over multiple years to determine an average number of visits per year (omitting small routine visits, e.g., oil changes).}

2.06x/yr

vs. 1.74x/yr
for Average Luxury Fullsize Car

Severity

^{The probability that a repair will be a major issue, meaning the repair costs 3x the average annual repair cost for all models. This threshold will be higher for vehicles that have higher labor rates and parts costs (such as a premium brand).}

17.4%

vs. 14.7%
for Average Luxury Fullsize Car

powered by RepairPal ^{Based on RepairPal reliability data as of 8/23/2023. Ratings are provided by RepairPal and Edmunds is not responsible for their accuracy.}

Consumer reviews

Read what other owners think about the Used 2021 Mercedes-Benz S-Class.

5 (76%)

4 (9%)

3 (0%)

2 (3%)

1 (12%)

4.4

34 reviews

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Most helpful consumer 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 …

UPDATE ON MY S 450 SEDAN

abacomike , 01/11/2018

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

My S450 now has 6350 miles on the odometer. It continues to be problem free - never have had to return it to dealership for any adjustments or problems. Fuel economy continues to excellent - 31.5 mpg highway - 21 mpg around town - 23.5 mpg average. The twin turbo V6 engine continues to awe me because I still can’t believe the power and acceleration in this car. It still rides and …

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 2021 Mercedes-Benz S-Class, so we've included reviews for other years of the S-Class since its last redesign.

See all 34 reviews of the Mercedes-Benz S-Class

Write a vehicle review

2021 Mercedes-Benz S-Class video

2021 Mercedes-Benz S-Class First Look ― New S-Class Luxury Sedan Redesign!

After seven years, Mercedes-Benz is rolling out a redesign of its top-rated luxury sedan, the 2021 S-Class. In this video, Mark Takahashi explains what's new and what to expect from this top-of-the-line luxury sedan, including details on the interior and exterior, four-wheel steering…

2021 S-Class Highlights

Type:

Sedan

Trim:

S 500 4MATIC

Base MSRP Excludes Destination Fee	$109,800
Engine Type	Mild hybrid
Combined MPG	24 MPG
Cost to Drive	$202/month
Seating	5 seats
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place	12.9 cu.ft.
Drivetrain	all wheel drive
Warranty	4 years / 50,000 miles

See all features & specs

Safety

Our experts like the S-Class models:

Pre-Safe Impulse Side: If an imminent side impact is detected, the outboard side bolsters inflate in a fraction of a second to protect the occupant's body.
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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2021 Mercedes-Benz S-Class Review

2021 Mercedes-Benz S-Class Review

Pros

Cons

What's new

Overview

Edmunds Expert Rating

Performance

Comfort

Interior

Technology

Storage

Fuel Economy

Value

Wildcard

Which S-Class does Edmunds recommend?

2021 Mercedes-Benz S-Class models

Reliability Ratings by RepairPal

Cost

Frequency

Severity

Most helpful consumer reviews

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

Back In The "High Life" Again!

UPDATE ON MY S 450 SEDAN

2019 Mercedes S 450 problems

2021 Mercedes-Benz S-Class video

2021 Mercedes-Benz S-Class First Look ― New S-Class Luxury Sedan Redesign!

2021 S-Class Highlights

Safety

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