Mercedes’s Luxe New S-Class Might Rival Your Bentley

The S-Class is the tip of Mercedes-Benz’s luxury spear, and its 2027 refresh is the biggest mid-cycle change in the model’s history. We traveled to the carmaker’s mothership in Germany to see, touch and feel how the Sonderklasse has progressed in this latest update, which sees more than half of its parts changed or upgraded.

Let’s start with styling, the first line of defense against competing flagships like the monolithic BMW 7 Series, the slick Lexus LS, the blocky Audi A8, and the buttoned-down Genesis G90. Mercedes has emboldened its front end with a 20 percent larger grille that departs from the flowing, flush surface treatment that covers most of the sedan’s vast expanses. The grille’s shield shape is more authoritative, though the German brand goes a tad overboard with branding here, sprinkling its three-pointed star logo across the front end like birdseed. We counted no fewer than 112 hot-stamped stars within the grille; another four can be found in the new micro-LED-equipped headlamps, and a sextet of stars is embedded in the taillights. Furthering the theme is an optional illuminated hood ornament that complements the four-bar grille, which now features standard backlighting. We understand a certain degree of corporate branding is necessary, but find this celestial excess less quiet luxury than we’d like. One exception is an optional 20-inch wheel that uses a new high-pressure casting production technique to render its 50 cross-spokes. These rims are mesmerizing.

As overbranded as the front end may be, the cabin is the opposite—a beautifully rendered space where high-quality materials serve the purpose of creating an aesthetic escape. While we wouldn’t consider the MBUX superscreen—which sweeps across the dashboard with multiple displays and touchscreens—luxurious, at least it is positioned low, tucked below the window sightlines. In contrast, Benz’s lower-end offerings like the CLA place the touchscreens relatively tall in the cabin. The S-Class’s unified sweep across the dashboard contrasts with its predecessor’s vertical, tablet-style center screen. Also notable are the new round air conditioning vents, which use an anodized aluminum surface treatment for a more substantial feel. The vent positions can be adjusted by hand or through the climate control system via the multimedia system. One innovation is a welcome addition for the perennial cold: heated front seat belts, which add a warm embrace that complements heated seats. Another ergonomic improvement: a new steering wheel which incorporates small knurled rollers to control volume and track selection, a welcome improvement over its predecessor’s touch-sensitive slider, which was difficult to fine-tune.

The MBUX virtual assistant now uses generative AI and a comfortable, conversation-style verbal tone that’s accompanied by an avatar represented by, you guessed it, a Mercedes star. A RIDEVUE system enables apps like Disney+ and YouTube to stream across the vehicle’s multiple screens. It wouldn’t be an S-Class without a killer sound system, and the new model features up to 39 speakers and 1,690 watts of power with Dolby Atmos via the Burmester High-End 4D surround system. We weren’t able to sample it at volume, but are willing to wager the system will sound big, rich, and clear. 

Speaking of not disappointing, the S-Class’s back seats are wonderlands of comfort, especially when ordered with optional reclining functionality and the MBUX High-End Rear Entertainment System, which operates a number of controls via wireless remote controls for each of the rear passengers. The remotes control everything from ambient lighting and massage settings to power sunshades and windows, stowing in the center console when not in use. Built-in screens and cameras also encourage productivity by integrating Teams Meetings software into the vehicle.

The new S-Class offers a trick E-Active Body Control suspension system that leverages cloud data to enhance ride quality. When other S-Classes drive over surface irregularities like potholes, they will record that data to the cloud. Leveraging the cache of geotagged data, another S-Class will then be able to anticipate the bumps or dips, adjusting its Airmatic dampers, and thereby delivering supple ride quality over troublesome spots while offering more feel and responsiveness when the road is smoother. Aiding maneuverability is a standard 4.5-degree rear wheel steering system and an optional setup that swings up to 10 degrees. Of course, the S-Class also boasts the latest array of sensors and cameras for safety and semi-autonomous driving.

My design preview included a test ride in the back of a camouflaged new S-Class, and the experience revealed that everything we’ve come to expect from Mercedes-Benz’s high-end sedan is predictably up to snuff. Although the roads around the company’s Sindelfingen factory are impeccably paved, the suspension still feels noticeably controlled and well behaved in corners. The double-paned glass provides excellent sound insulation, and the reclining rear seats should be a pleasant place to spend a few hours.

When it reaches our shores later this year, the S-Class will be available in three powertrains: a plug-in hybrid S 580e 4Matic, an inline-six-cylinder S 500 4Matic, and a new V8 S 580 4Matic producing 530 horsepower.

The 2026 S-Class expands on its sterling reputation while expanding its portfolio of Manufaktur packages, which offer higher-end trims and materials. Those seeking to dive into the personalization rabbit hole can tick the Manufaktur Made to Measure box, which summons one-on-one consultations that open the door to bespoke creations and access to over 150 exterior paints and 400 interior colors. These options help edge Mercedes-Benz closer to ultraluxury brands like Bentley and Rolls-Royce, not only elevating the brand but lifting its portfolio above the fray.

This article originally appeared in Robb Report US.