Mercedes-Benz S-Class Review 2024

Mercedes-Benz S-Class At A Glance

5/5
Honest John Overall Rating
The Mercedes S-Class is a superb piece of engineering and a genuine symbol of success. It has a luxurious interior full of the latest technology, plus a wonderful ride that makes you feel like you are cruising in a private jet.

+Luxurious, high-quality materials and wonderful suspension.

-Expensive, severe depreciation and too much technology for some.

New prices start from £104,490

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).

What does a Mercedes-Benz S-Class cost?