Mercedes S-Class Saloon review

The Mercedes S-Class is a luxury saloon that has earned the title ‘the best car in the world’, and now there’s an all-new version.

The S-Class is a pioneer because it always showcases the latest Mercedes technology saloon before it filters down through the rest of the range.

Still, using the latest tech in this luxurious high-tech limo is always special – it’s like hearing music as it was meant to be played by a live orchestra rather than streamed on your phone.

The S-Class has been updated for 2021 so it comes with even more to set it apart from an Audi A8, BMW 7 Series or Lexus LS. And it has done so. It collected the Best Luxury Car in the 2021 carwow Car of the Year Awards.

It doesn’t look radically different from the outgoing model, mind you, but it does feature quite a few traits shared with other recently updated Mercedes models. The new grille and rounder headlights look like they’ve been lifted from the latest E-Class, for example.

From the side, the new S-Class has fewer creases than the old car. This makes it look smoother, but also a little like an elongated E-Class. And, at the back, the new brake lights look very similar to the triangular lights you get on a CLS.

What’s cool is that the flush-fitting door handles pop out when the car senses that you’re nearby. And once you get inside, the new S-Class looks completely different from any other Mercedes.

You can get the S-Class interior with a load of different trims, including a gorgeous wooden design with vertical metal bars. It looks like a vintage speed boat got frisky with a grand piano.

All this wood looks especially good with the car’s new mood lighting turned on. And, just like before, you can get the S-Class with a panoramic glass roof to make its massive cabin feel even airier inside. Of course, space in the front and back is superb, and there’s even a long wheelbase version if the standard back seats feel a bit poky.

The main thing you’ll notice inside is the new touchscreen. This huge screen replaces 27 of the old S-Class’s physical buttons, including the central touchpad.

The touchscreen can tell where your finger is even before you’ve pressed it, however, and it gets haptic feedback which should make it pretty easy to use on the move. You can even lock the screen using fingerprint or face recognition so there’s no chance of your passengers fiddling with anything while you’re out of the car.

Mercedes has smashed it out of the park with the interior of the S-Class. Shame the exterior isn't as opulent

Initially, the new Mercedes S-Class will be available with four six-cylinder, three-litre engines – two petrol and two diesels. All with a nine-speed automatic gearbox. Later on a plug-in hybrid will join the range too. Every S-Class comes with a nine-speed automatic gearbox.

Watch our Mercedes S-Class vs Mercedes EQS group & range test:

Also as standard is adaptive air suspension as standard, so the only thing more comfortable is likely to be a velvet-lined waterbed. Better still, it manages to combine a really comfortable drive and pin-drop silence with decent capability on winding country roads.

It’s actually fairly agile, although a BMW 7 Series is probably a little bit more engaging to drive. Mind you, who cares when most S-Class owners are likely to be experiencing life from the back seat.

The S-Class also comes with some unique safety features. For starters, there’s an optional back-seat airbag that gives passengers in the back of long-wheelbase models similar protection to the driver in a head-on collision. It is also capable of level-3 autonomous driving, meaning it can accelerate, brake, steer and change lanes for you on motorways.

So, the ‘best car in the world’ just got even better. If you want to experience it, head to our S-Class deals page for the best prices.

Watch the Mercedes S-Class group test against Audi A8 and BMW 7 Series: