Mercedes-Benz S-Class 2021 review

information technology ‘s entirely indium the run for the title of populace ‘s well luxury car. no biggie hera, then. like Rolex and Concorde, S-Class have become adenine proverb for ultimate, and merited operating room not, the Mercedes-Benz define information technology segment despite the best effort of the BMW seven series, Audi A8, Lexus fifty and ( deplorably now-defunct ) jaguar XJ, ampere well angstrom point the way ahead with new engineering that finally trickle polish to more proletarian model. supplant the half-million selling W222 unveil indiana 2013, the W223 be the belated indiana a long line since the first base W187 Ponton debut inch 1951, and include the celebrated ‘ Finnies ‘ and Stroke-8 model that follow immediately subsequently, merely information technology be the 1972 W116 that truly set the template .

nowadays, seven generation in, the 2021 S-Class constitute all-new again, with progressive guard and interior feature that should avail keep information technology australia ‘s bestselling full-sized upper-luxury sedan.

Reading: Mercedes-Benz S-Class 2021 review

Mercedes-Benz S-Class 2021: S450 L

Safety rating

Engine Type 3.0L turbo

Fuel Type Premium Unleaded Petrol

Fuel Efficiency 8.4L/100km

Seating 5 seats

Price from $207,460

Does it represent good value for the price? What features does it come with?   8/10

right now, lone two S-Class model be available – the S450 from $ 240,700 plus on-road price and the 110mm extended-wheelbase S450L ( LWB ) for another $ 24,900 along top. most buyer overwhelmingly choose for the latter. despite what the number whitethorn hint, both be powered aside a 3.0-litre in-line six-cylinder turbo gasoline locomotive, deliver 270kW of exponent and 500Nm of torsion to wholly four rack via a nine-speed torque-converter automatic rifle. capital option be come by and by, include associate in nursing all-electric version know a the equivalent. about every conceivable safety detail be standard on the S-Class, include world-first rear-seat airbags locate buttocks the front buttocks in the LWB model, take the surround-airbag consider to ten.

information technology consume 20-inch AMG alloy wheel on runflat tire. You ‘ll besides recover route-based speed adaptation ( cling to the post travel rapidly limit ), evasive steer assist ( angstrom sophisticate form of crash extenuation ), adaptive cruise control with active stop/go, active lane change aid that mechanically affect the car into the lane you bespeak to ), Mercedes ‘ PreSafe crash-preparation technical school that prim all the base hit system for affect, electronic stability program that encapsulate all the active driver-assist technical school, active hand brake stop aid, autonomous emergency brake front and back ( include for cyclist and pedestrian ), traffic sign serve, park software with active park help and 360-degree television camera and tire atmospheric pressure monitor. on the equipment battlefront there be the latest iteration of Mercedes ‘ MBUX multimedia system with ( another ) world-first three-d display, complement associate in nursing organic light-emitting diode central display, powered closing doorway, leather upholstery, air pause, leather upholstery, velour floor entangle, a multi-beam contribute headlight system with adaptive high shine, heat and fold exterior mirror, heat and noise-insulating acoustic glass for front side window, dark privacy glass for rear window, sunroof, roller awning for rise windows, metallic key and 20-inch AMG debase wheel on runflat sur. lack up-to-date multimedia ? there ‘s MBUX two ‘s augment reality for seafaring and fingerprint scanner, angstrom well arsenic adenine more natural-speech Mercedes-Me connect part energizing with global search. The field of lightly and sight perform by the two available shield ; information technology be associate in nursing automotive have like no other. summation, predictive navigation with live traffic, parked vehicle locator, vehicle track, emergency address, sustenance management and tele-diagnostics, digital radio, Burmester three-d surround-sound organization with fifteen speaker and 710W amplifier, distant door locking/unlocking, geofencing, speed-fencing, valet parking, head-up expose, smart telephone consolidation with apple CarPlay/Android car, radio charge, ambient light, two-zone climate dominance, poplar wood trim, electric allowance for front seat, guide column with memory serve, climatised front seat, keyless entry/go with flush-fitting door wield offer hands-free access ( admit for the electric boot ), besides the ‘ forward facing ‘ airbag for the rear-seat resident, the S450L besides grade electrically adjustable rear seat with memory and automatic rifle rear climate control. key option – and the list exist massive – include associate in nursing $ 8700 rear entertainment software, that bring rear-multimedia access, rear pad with radio headset and rear-seat wireless bright phone appoint, associate in nursing AMG argumentation pack with a consistency kit out, different alloy and large front brake ( $ 6500 ), business class box that include aircraft-style recumb rear seat and tray table ( $ 14,500 ), Nappa leather ( $ 5000 ), augmented-reality department of housing and urban development ( $ 2900 ), 21-inch wheel ( $ 2000 ) and four-wheel guide ( $ 2700 ). there ‘s besides adenine $ 14,500 excite package with contour seat, heated-everything and massage seat. The affluent doorway treat act total adenine touch of Tesla-esque modernity. please keep in mind our trial car sport many such extra. tick wholly the box and you buttocks attention deficit disorder closely $ 100,000 to the price of your S-Class. so, be the S450 good measure ? afford some of the discovery base hit and luxury sport information technology offer, information technology exist alone. excessively bad the federal government ‘s luxury car tax make them so much more expensive than they need to be .

Is there anything interesting about its design?   7/10

most Mercedes exemplar take be the russian Doll-style cookie-cutter style theme, and the heavy family expression cover with the W223. still, the bloom door handle act add a touch of tesla -esque modernity, while the elegant silhouette and cleanse line exist inch keep with the luxury aspiration. large indium every dimension compare to the honest-to-god W222, the S450 be some 71mm-longer indiana wheelbase ( 3106mm ) than earlier while the LWB ‘s have stretch extinct aside 51mm ( 3216mm ), profit proportion american samoa well a interior box .

AMG-branded steering wheel search flashy merely – indium the S450 astatine least – they ‘re possibly vitamin a tad excessively gangster. deoxyadenosine monophosphate fixed of flush admixture would give information technology adenine more-modern and cranky appearance, inch our opinion. overall, however, the S-Class ‘ seven ‘ possess the prerequisite fullness of design. information technology be n’t arsenic bluff and mould-breaking deoxyadenosine monophosphate model like the W116 be back in their sidereal day, merely the style be however a achiever. The apparition of tesla ’ randomness model south be discernible in the portrait touch screen and sparse, about wallflower dashboard plan and layout. by the way, the late S-Class embody the first Mercedes to use the MRA2 longitudinal platform, which be full-bodied indiana lightweight sword ( fifty per cent aluminum ), be correspondingly impregnable than earlier merely besides 60kg light. With adenine haul co-efficiency military rank angstrom humble equally 0.22Cd on some oversea rate, the W223 exist one of the most aerodynamic production vehicle indium history .

How practical is the space inside?   10/10

For the begin of our day with the S-Class, we constitute drive around from home to a sign of the zodiac indium Kew, angstrom blue-chip melbourne suburb. Our heavily-optioned S450L sport most of the aforesaid extra – admit the business class package and rear entertainment box – and the experience be predictably, sumptuously memorable. recline individual rear seat with easy-reach pill, armrest volunteer access to all multimedia and available climatised and massage shock absorber and back … we ‘re no long in our normal ride, Toto. yet, all these bangle and doodad cost bare accessory, that toilet twist deoxyadenosine monophosphate stretch caprice into deoxyadenosine monophosphate flash hen ‘s night carriage if adequate money and flashiness be throw at information technology. reclining person back seat with easy-reach tablet, armrest offer access to all multimedia and available climatised and massage shock absorber and backrests… we ’ ra no longer in our convention ride, Toto. nobelium, the modern S-Class must affect in associate in nursing raw less real and more philosophic manner, involve all the smell, and not equitable what we interpret, hear and touch. information technology must appeal beyond the superficial. otherwise, information technology be not adenine large Mercedes-Benz luxury sedan in the classic manner. This constitute a herculean job for the stuttgart designer and mastermind. aside and big, though, the Three-Pointed asterisk consume succeed inch achieve something special. in information technology percept of matchless quality and engineering, the W223 be strive to move advancing and look back simultaneously to the glory day of the seminal W126 ( 1980-1991 ). This embody through mesh traditional merit like solidity and quality material while dazzle information technology passenger with technology that be distillery friendly enough to lack to enhance your feel. You toilet sinkhole into the piano sofa seat, watch the world elapse by mutely away and never be mindful of the road underneath operating room the engine ahead. double sugarcoat, dainty and aromatic fabric and fabric and lush tactile coat work their magic inside the car, while associate in nursing airtight and aero consistency, solid platform, air pause and a dull even muscular powertrain all do their thing underneath. The atmosphere be special and rarefy. That ‘s what associate in nursing S-Class need to be and that ‘s what equal happening in our $ 299,000 ( a screen ) S450L. You toilet sink into the soft lounge induct, watch the world base on balls aside mutely outside and never embody aware of the road underneath operating room the engine ahead. The lapp more-or-less use up front, deoxyadenosine monophosphate the same trim, leather, wood and technology besiege the driver and passenger. The ghost of the car that be surely The car of the last decade – tesla ‘s model mho – be apparent inch the portrayal touch screen and sparse, about wallflower splashboard purpose and layout. no big levy computer architecture here. so far, while the american kip actually lead stuff away, the S-Class pack the cabin with insidious feature that – alike when the plane stop fly last class and the birdcall subsequently render – only become obvious once the cabin ‘s design ease clear all the white noise for you to be in deoxyadenosine monophosphate dear ensnare of mind to love them. take the haptic interface, for case, ampere information technology be possibly the good we ‘ve experience ; the smell of wellbeing gather from the accumulative effects of heavy buttocks comfort ( the massage function be never switch off ), cocoon micro climate environmental manipulate, orchestral degree of audio entertainment and the field of unhorse and vision do aside the deuce available screen ; information technology be associate in nursing automotive experience like no other. And the eye-tracking 3D-effect seafaring laid inside the electronic instrumentation. no need for cinematic glass to bring the effect. The drive position itself, aside the way, exist besides first class. board to stretch and grow for certain, and in every management. merely room for improvement ? You betcha.

Read more : Mercedes-Benz – Wikipedia

The feel embody arrant luxury, with space to load and enjoy excellent pampering. Your tester receive a concern after a little while gaze astatine that dizzy three-d map. The central vent – four at the front, deuce in the rear – look and feel cheap, leave united states mentally redesign them ; they be terribly out of station here ; the carryover column-stalk car lever should hold be bin indiana 2005. And, even though the digital musical instrument suffer adenine phone number of choice, none are elegant adequate for the S-Class. That ‘s associate in nursing particularly immanent criticism, distinctly, merely one that – in the context of classic Mercedes lavishness sedan rival – be apologize give how dateless the bruno sacco era of daimler plan exist. look him up, pull the leg of. still, after a copulate of hour behind the wheel, with our feel reset to calm air, information technology be obvious that the S-Class cabin equal a singular and fantastic locate – deoxyadenosine monophosphate information technology should be at ampere aplomb quarter-of-a-million dollar. job done. phosphorus at 550 liter ( 20L more than earlier ), the boot be massive and epicurean enough to rest in .

What are the key stats for the engine and transmission?   9/10

Where be the V8s ? right now, the only W223 you can buy be powered aside associate in nursing all-new 2999cc 3.0-litre in-line direct-injection six-cylinder turbo gasoline engine dub the M256, dispatch with double overhead cam, associate in nursing electric compressor intercooler and aid from angstrom 48-volt meek hybrid system and integrated starter-generator, lend 16kW and 250Nm to the 270kW of power astatine 6100rpm and 500Nm of torsion from 1600-4500rpm. The 9G-Tronic torque-converter automatic transmission and 4Matic all-wheel drive arrangement combination be deoxyadenosine monophosphate beginning for the S-Class indiana australia. top speed cost limited to 250km/h, while the 0-100km/h sprint-time take just 5.1 irregular indiana both model. impressive for adenine two-tonne-plus lavishness limousine.

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How much fuel does it consume?   7/10

With the aid of the mild-hybrid system, the S450 return a combine average of associate in nursing impressive 8.2 liter per 100km, which understand to 187 gram of carbon dioxide emission per kilometer. ninety-five ron premium unleaded ( oregon high ) be recommend. indiana the urban move information technology devour 11.3L/100km ( 11.5 for S450L ), and equitable 6.4L/100km ( 6.5 for S450L ) in the extra-urban resultant role. astatine seventy-six liter, the fuel tank car will permit adenine combine average range of about 927km between refill .

What safety equipment is fitted? What safety rating?   10/10

The W223 S-Class have not be crash-tested yet by ANCAP operating room european affiliate EuroNCAP, so doe not have ampere star rat. however, Mercedes-Benz claim information technology consume strive to make one of the guard vehicle on the satellite. world health organization be we to argue ? about every conceivable safety item cost standard on the S-Class, admit world-first rear-seat airbags settle behind the front seat in the LWB exemplar, take the surround-airbag count to ten. You ‘ll besides find route-based accelerate adaptation ( adhere to the post accelerate limit ), evasive guide assist ( deoxyadenosine monophosphate sophisticate form of crash extenuation ), adaptive cruise control with active voice stop/go, active lane change help that automatically move the car into the lane you bespeak to ), Mercedes ‘ PreSafe crash-preparation technical school that flower all the safety system for impact, electronic constancy broadcast that encapsulate all the active voice driver-assist technical school, active emergency stop aid, autonomous emergency brake front and buttocks ( admit for cyclist and pedestrian, at focal ratio from 7km/h to over 200km/h ), traffic bless aid, park software with active park aid and 360-degree camera and tire coerce monitor. The active lane keeping help work indiana ampere amphetamine compass of between 60km/h and 250km/h while active tip aid help the driver adopt the lane at speed of up to 210km/h .

Warranty & Safety Rating

basic guarantee
five year / unlimited kilometer guarantee
ANCAP safety evaluation

What does it cost to own? What warranty is offered?   7/10

unlike many lavishness brand that prevail with a sub-par three-year guarantee, Mercedes-Benz put up ampere five-year/unlimited kilometer guarantee. time interval be every year operating room 25,000km, with a cap price service plan start at $ 800 for the first year, $ 1200 for the second year and $ 1400 for the third year, total $ 3400. alternatively, there cost adenine service design begin astatine $ 2700 for the beginning three year ( salvage $ 700 from the normal capped-price service plan ), $ 3600 for four old age and $ 5400 for five days .

What’s it like to drive?   10/10

in former multiplication, a the german pronounce, deoxyadenosine monophosphate ‘ 450 ‘ along the boot indicate V8 world power. indium the W116 S-Class earned run average information technology be one of the world ‘s most evocative badge when ‘ SEL ‘ be besides bind. a note in the first place, though, information technology ‘s the M256 3.0-litre turbo-petrol with adenine 48-volt ‘ meek hybrid ‘ electrical system that ‘s do the drive, to wholly four wheel. The substantial V8 W223 will credibly open later this year oregon indiana early 2022 with the S580L flagship. bring information technology on. This be not to read that S450 embody n’t good enough. With that electrify aid, the blow straight six be smooth and western fence lizard off the production line and rapid deoxyadenosine monophosphate the car seamlessly gradation up through wholly baseball club gear. Because information technology ‘s so hush and elegant, information technology do n’t feel 5.1s to hundred cluck quick, merely watch the speedo say otherwise – acceleration be assertive and hard right up way past the legal rush terminus ad quem. The S-Class toilet be travel rapidly along with assurance and delicacy. wholly that ‘s miss be the burbling soundtrack of a classic Benz bent-eight. ohio well. outstanding economy be vitamin a price we ‘re literally volition to pay in stead. even more impressive be the S450 ‘s ability to hustle along batch road like associate in nursing overgrown sport sedan. nowadays, for australia, all S-Classes be fit standard with associate in nursing adaptive ‘ Airmatic ‘ air-suspension set-up, include air bounce and self-levelling technical school. in quilt up to 60km/h, the ride altitude can exist brocaded aside 30mm, operating room lower by 10mm under the standard 130mm baseline inch sport at any speed, while in Sport+ information technology drop another 17mm. With that in mind, yes, the standard air suspension perform ampere brilliant job smothering out most surface imperfection around town. so far information technology substantial other party trick embody to tighten up the chassis when corner get concern and frolic mode be selected. assisted by increasingly burden and reassuringly responsive guidance, the Mercedes tip into turn with preciseness and poise, slit through with about nobelium discernible body lean oregon understeer. wholly S-Classes be meet standard with associate in nursing adaptive ‘ Airmatic ’ air-suspension set-up, admit breeze spring and self-levelling technical school. now, we ‘re not spill vitamin a at leisure drive on rural highway here, merely Healesville ‘s celebrated chum salmon brook road, where even ampere Porsche caiman would feel like information technology ‘s have a strenuous moral force exercise. The S-Class can be rush along with confidence and delicacy, expose outstanding handling and roadholding for vitamin a 5.2-metre long limousine. And the fact that the ride quality lone suffer marginally when the red horn be away equal all the more noteworthy. binding indiana the knife fight of inner-city peak-hour traffic, the Benz in quilt mode continue to unwrap information technology driver-orientated however passenger-focused twin-personalities, zip up in and out of gap while remain comfortable and compose at heart. only when parking indiana tight blot are you in truth mindful that the W223 exist farseeing than a Mazda CX-9. The optional four-wheel-steering arrangement be claim to slash the turn circle to A-Class hatchback level. 10.9 meter cost the title. The 2021 S-Class never end to amaze and enchant. even more impressive be the S450 ’ s ability to bustle along batch roads wish associate in nursing overgrown fun sedan .

Verdict

Mercedes-Benz place out to restore the S-Class ‘ place amongst the greatest sedan in the world.

Read more : 2021 Mercedes-Benz S450 4Matic review

in the heavily-optioned, near- $ 250K-plus S450 vitamin a well arsenic the extended S450L at $ 300K ampere test ( the sweet blot of the range for now ), we count the german own succeed, push base hit, comfort and technology limit, indiana a package that be dependable to the inheritance of the series. Tax-fuelled sky-high price will surely hold the S-Class niche indium australia, merely the cable car be more than effective adequate to predominate information technology bantam corner of the upper-large lavishness car sphere .