Since the nameplate was formalized in 1972, the S-Class has served as one of the automotive industry’s most closely watched test beds. What first appears in Stuttgart’s Sonderklasse–“special class”—becomes standard everywhere else in short order. Anti-lock braking systems, rear seat airbags, electronic stability control, automated emergency braking, Magic Ride Control; all debuted in an S-Class. Here, we rank all seven generations on the only question worth asking: is it truly special? Not merely expensive, not absurdly well-equipped, but the kind of car that makes arriving somewhere feel like an occasion and driving somewhere feel like a privilege. The S-Class has always been the choice of presidents and potentates, of chauffeur fleets and car enthusiasts. It’s the rare machine that works equally well from any seat. Some generations live up to this promise more than others. 7. W220 (1998–2005): The Awkward Teen Years The W220 arrived 26 years on—OK, it’s technically not a teen—and featured uncertain design..
