Mercedes-Benz S-Class 2021 Overview

It's only in the fight for the title of the world's best luxury car. Then it's okay.

Like Rolex and Concorde, the S-Class has become synonymous with excellence, and deservedly or not, Mercedes-Benz defines its segment despite the best efforts of the BMW 7 Series, Audi A8, Lexus LS and (sadly, now defunct) Jaguar. XJ and also points the way forward with new technologies that eventually seep into more proletarian models.

Replacing the half-millionth W222 introduced in 2013, the W223 is the latest in a long line since the first W187 Ponton debuted in 1951 and includes the famous "Finnies" and Stroke-8 models that followed immediately after, but this 1972 W116 that really set the pattern.

Now, seven generations later, the 2021 S-Class is all-new again, with progressive safety and interior features that should help it remain Australia's best-selling full-size luxury sedan.

Mercedes-Benz S-Class 2021: S450 L
Safety Rating
engine's type	3.0 L turbo
fuel type	Premium unleaded gasoline
Fuel efficiency	8.4l / 100km
Landing	5 Places
Price from	$188,600

Does it represent good value for money? What functions does it have? 8/10

There are only two S-Class models available at the moment - the S450 from $240,700 plus travel expenses and the 110mm Long Wheelbase (LWB) S450L for another $24,900. Most buyers overwhelmingly opt for the latter.

Despite what the numbers might suggest, both are powered by a 3.0-liter turbocharged inline-six petrol engine delivering 270kW of power and 500Nm of torque to all four wheels through a nine-speed automatic torque converter. There will be a wider selection later, including an all-electric version known as the EQS.

Nearly every imaginable safety feature is standard on the S-Class, including the world's first rear-seat airbags located behind the front seats in the LWB, bringing the number of volume airbags to 10.

The car is fitted with 20-inch AMG alloy wheels with runflat tyres.

You'll also find route-based speed adaptation (observing set speed limits), steering evasion assist (a sophisticated form of collision mitigation), adaptive cruise control with active stop/go, active lane change assist that automatically repositions the car in the lane you point to), Mercedes' PreSafe pre-collision technology that prepares all safety systems for an impact, an electronic stabilization program that includes all active driver assistance technologies, Active Emergency Stop Assist, Autonomous Front Emergency Braking and rear (including for cyclists and pedestrians), traffic sign assist, parking package with active park assist, 360-degree camera and tire pressure sensors.

In terms of equipment, this is the latest version of the Mercedes MBUX infotainment system with (yet another) world's first 3D display complementing the central OLED display, power doors, leather upholstery, air suspension, leather upholstery, velor floor mats. LED headlight system with adaptive high beam, heated and folded outside mirrors, heat and noise insulating acoustic glass for the front side windows, tinted safety glass for the rear windows, sunroof, rear window roller sunblinds, metallic paint and 20- inch AMG alloy wheels on runflat tyres.

Do you want modern multimedia? There's MBUX II augmented reality for navigation and a fingerprint scanner, as well as more natural Mercedes-Me Connect voice activation with global search.

Theater of light and vision performed by two available screens; it is an automotive experience like no other.

In addition, real-time predictive navigation, parked vehicle search, vehicle tracking, emergency call, maintenance and telediagnosis management, digital radio, Burmester 3D surround sound system with 15 speakers and 710W amplifier, remote door lock/unlock , geofence, speed. - guardrail, valet parking, head-up display, smartphone integration with Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, wireless charging, ambient lighting, dual zone climate control, poplar wood trim, power front seats, steering column with memory function, climate control front seats, entrance /keyless exit with flush-mounted door handles for hands-free access (including power trunk),

In addition to a forward-facing airbag for rear seat passengers, the S450L also features power-adjustable rear seats with memory and automatic rear climate control.

Key options - and the list is huge - include an $8700 rear entertainment package that provides rear-mounted media access, rear-mounted tablets with wireless headsets and wireless smartphone charging in the back seat, an AMG Line bodykit package, various alloys and more. front brakes ($6500), business class package that includes reclining airplane-style rear seats and tray tables ($14,500), Nappa leather ($5000), augmented reality HUD ($2900 ), 21-inch wheels ($2000), and four-wheel steering. ($2700). There's also a $14,500 Energizing Package with contoured seats, seat heating, and seat massage.

Flush door handles add a Tesla-inspired touch of modernity.

Please be aware that our test vehicles had many of these additions. Check all boxes and you can add almost $100,000 to the price of your S-Class.

So, is the S450 worth buying? Considering some of the revolutionary safety and luxury features it offers, it is unique. It's a pity that the Fed's luxury car tax makes them much more expensive than they should be.

Is there anything interesting about its design? 7/10

Most Mercedes models are Russian doll style, and the heavy family look continues with the W223.

However, the flat door handles add a touch of Tesla-inspired modernity, while the sleek silhouette and clean lines are in line with the pursuit of luxury. The wheelbase of the S222 is longer in all dimensions compared to the old W450. The wheelbase of the S71 is about 3106mm (51mm) longer (3216mm) than before, while the LWB has been stretched out by XNUMXmm (XNUMXmm), improving the proportions as well as the interior layout.

The AMG-branded wheels look sporty, but on the S450 at least, they are perhaps a little too gangster. In our opinion, a set of cast alloys would give it a more modern and technological look.

Overall, however, the S-Class '7' has the necessary richness in design. It's not as bold and out of the box as models like the W116 used to be, but the style is still a hit.

The ghost of the Tesla Model S comes through in the portrait touchscreen and sparse, near-silent design and dashboard layout.

By the way, the latest S-Class is the first Mercedes to use the MRA2 longitudinal platform, which is made of light steels (50% aluminium), correspondingly stronger than before, but at the same time 60 kg lighter.

With a drag coefficient rating of just 0.22Cd on some foreign makes, the W223 is one of the most aerodynamic production cars ever.

How practical is the interior space? 10/10

At the start of our day with the S-Class, we were driven from home to a mansion in Kew, a popular suburb of Melbourne. Our highly optional S450L had most of the aforementioned extras, including the Business Class Package and the Rear Seat Entertainment Package, and was, as expected, a memorable experience.

Reclining individual rear seats with comfortable tablets, armrests providing access to all media, and affordable air-conditioned and massaging cushions and backrests… We're not on our usual trip anymore, Toto.

However, all of these knick-knacks and gizmos are mere additions that can turn a sprawling Caprice into a flamboyant chicken's night carriage if enough money and glitz is thrown at it.

Reclining individual rear seats with comfortable tablets, armrests providing access to all media, and affordable air-conditioned and massaging cushions and backrests… We're not on our usual trip anymore, Toto.

No, the new S-Class should impress in a less tangible and more philosophical way, involving all the senses, not just what we see, hear and touch. He must appeal beyond the superficial. Otherwise, it's not a big, classic-style luxury Mercedes-Benz sedan.

This is a Herculean task for the designers and engineers of Stuttgart. However, in general, the Three-Pointed Star managed to achieve something special.

In its vision of unparalleled quality and engineering, the W223 seeks to move forward while looking back at the glory days of the legendary W126 (1980-1991). It does this by combining traditional virtues like durability and quality materials, and dazzling passengers with technology that is still friendly enough to want to improve their experience.

You can sink into the soft seats, watch the world silently pass by outside, and never notice the road below or the engine ahead. Double glazing, exquisite and fragrant fabrics and materials, and sumptuous tactile surfaces work their magic inside the vehicle, while the airtight aerodynamic body, rugged platform, air suspension and subdued but beefy powertrain do their thing inside. The atmosphere is special and rarefied. This is what an S-Class should be, and this is what happens to our $299,000 S450L (as tested).

You can sink into easy chairs, watch the world silently pass by outside, and never notice the road below or the engine ahead.

The same more or less applies to the front as the same trim, leather, wood and technology surround driver and passenger. The ghost of a car that is certainly the car of the last decade - the Tesla Model S - manifests itself in the portrait touchscreen and sparse, near-quiet design and dashboard layout. There are no big imposing architectures here.

Yet while the American upstart actually stows things away, the S-Class fills the cabin with subtle features that — like when planes stopped flying last year and birdsong subsequently returned — only become apparent when the simplicity of the cabin design clears all white noise. for you to be in the best mood to enjoy them.   

Take, for example, the tactile interface, perhaps the best we've ever tried; a sense of well-being derived from the cumulative effects of deep seating comfort (massage function never turned off), cocoon climate control, orchestral levels of audio entertainment, and a theater of light and vision on the two available screens; it is an automotive experience like no other. And a 3D eye-tracking navigation system in electronic devices. There is no need for cinematic glasses to get the effect. The driving position itself, by the way, is also first-class.

Room for stretching and growth for sure, and in all directions. But room for improvement? Still would.

This is pure luxury, where you can stretch out and enjoy top-notch pampering.

Your tester got a headache after a while while looking at this woozy 3D map. The center vents - four in the front and two in the back - look and feel cheap, making us mentally redesign them; they are terribly out of place here; the column's automatic transfer arm had to be thrown in the trash in 2005. And while digital instruments have a number of options, none of them are elegant enough for an S-Class. This is obviously a particularly subjective criticism, but it is – in the context of classic Mercedes rivals in the luxury sedan segment – ​​justified given how timeless the Bruno Sacco era of Daimler design was. Look at him kids.

However, after a couple of hours behind the wheel, when our senses have calmed down, it becomes obvious that the S-Class cabin is a unique and beautiful place - as it should be for a steep quarter of a million dollars.

Work is done.

PS The 550-litre trunk (20 liters more than before) is massive and luxurious enough to sleep in.

What are the main characteristics of the engine and transmission? 9/10

Where is V8?

Right now, the only W223 you can buy is powered by a brand new 2999-litre 3.0cc inline-six turbo-petrol engine. 256-volt mild hybrid system and integrated starter-alternator adding 48 kW and 16 Nm to 250 kW of power at 270 rpm and 6100 Nm of torque in the 500-1600 rpm range.

The combination of a 9G-Tronic torque converter automatic transmission and 4Matic all-wheel drive system is a first for the S-Class in Australia.

Top speed is limited to 250 km/h, and acceleration to 0 km/h takes just 100 seconds for both models. Impressive for a luxury limousine weighing over two tons.

Будьте в курсе carsweekly guide newsletter

How much fuel does it consume? 7/10

With the help of the mild hybrid system, the S450 returned an impressive 8.2 liters per 100 km on average, which equates to 187 grams of carbon dioxide emissions per kilometer. Premium unleaded gasoline with an octane rating of 95 (or higher) is recommended. In the urban cycle, it consumes 11.3 l/100 km (11.5 for the S450L) and only 6.4 l/100 km (6.5 for the S450L) in the countryside.

A fuel tank with a capacity of 76 liters allows you to drive an average of about 927 km between refueling.

What safety equipment is installed? What is the safety rating? 10/10

The W223 S-Class has not yet been crash tested by ANCAP or the European branch of EuroNCAP, so it does not have a star rating. However, Mercedes-Benz claims to have strived to create one of the safest vehicles on the planet. Who are we to argue?

Nearly every imaginable safety feature is standard on the S-Class, including the world's first rear-seat airbags located behind the front seats in the LWB, bringing the number of volume airbags to 10.

You'll also find route-based speed adaptation (observing set speed limits), steering evasion assist (a sophisticated form of collision mitigation), adaptive cruise control with active stop/go, active lane change assist that automatically repositions the car in the lane you point to), Mercedes' PreSafe pre-collision technology that prepares all safety systems for an impact, an electronic stabilization program that includes all active driver assistance technologies, Active Emergency Stop Assist, Autonomous Front Emergency Braking and rear (including for cyclists and pedestrians from 7 km/h to over 200 km/h), traffic sign assist, parking package with active park assist, 360-degree camera and pressure sensors in tires.

Active Lane Keeping Assist operates in the speed range from 60 to 250 km/h, while Active Steer Assist helps the driver to follow the lane at speeds up to 210 km/h.

Warranty and safety rating

Basic Warranty

5 years / unlimited mileage


guarantee

ANCAP Safety Rating

How much does it cost to own? What kind of guarantee is provided? 7/10

Unlike many luxury brands that insist on a three-year warranty below par, Mercedes-Benz offers a five-year, unlimited mileage warranty.

Intervals are every year or 25,000 km, with the limited price service plan starting at $800 for the first year, $1200 for the second year, and $1400 for the third year, for a total of $3400. In addition, there is a maintenance plan starting at $2700 for the first three years (saving $700 over a regular limited-price service plan), $3600 for four years, and $5400 for five years.

What is it like to drive? 10/10

In the old days, as the Germans say, the number "450" ​​on the trunk indicated the power of the V8. During the W116 S-Class era, it was one of the most memorable badges in the world when the letter "SEL" was also affixed.

However, as mentioned earlier, it's a 256-litre M3.0 petrol turbo engine with a 48-volt "mild hybrid" electrical system that powers all four wheels. The real V8 W223 will likely arrive later this year or early 2022 alongside the flagship S580L. Let's.

That doesn't mean the S450 isn't good enough. With this electrified assistance, the straight-six is ​​smooth and quick off the track, and the car shifts seamlessly through all nine gears. Because it's so quiet and polished, it doesn't feel fast at 5.1s to 100 clicks, but looking at the speedometer says otherwise - the acceleration is punchy and strong, even past the legal speed limit.

With the S-Class, you can drive confidently and dexterously.

What's missing is the gurgling soundtrack of a classic V-XNUMX Benz. Well. Outstanding economy is a price we are literally willing to pay in return.

Even more impressive is the S450's ability to race mountain roads like an oversized sports sedan.

Now for Australia, all S-Classes come standard with Airmatic adaptive air suspension, including air springs and self-levelling technology. In Comfort mode up to 60 km/h, ground clearance can be increased by 30 mm or reduced by 10 mm compared to the standard 130 mm in Sport mode at any speed, and in Sport+ mode it is reduced by a further 17 mm.

With that in mind, yes, the standard air suspension does a great job smoothing out most of the imperfections in the city. However, its real trick is to tighten up the chassis when corners get interesting and sport mode is selected. With progressively weighted and reassuringly responsive steering, the Mercedes enters corners with precision and balance, cutting through them with little to no noticeable body lean or understeer.

all S-Classes come standard with Airmatic adaptive air suspension, including air springs and self-levelling technology.

We're not talking leisurely driving on country roads here, but Hillsville's famous Chum Creek Road, where even a Porsche Cayman will feel like it's been through a strenuous dynamic workout. The S-Class can be accelerated with confidence and dexterity, demonstrating outstanding handling and road holding for a 5.2m limousine. And the fact that ride quality suffers only marginally when the red horns are off is all the more remarkable.

Returning to the hustle and bustle of rush-hour traffic, the Benz in Comfort continued to reveal its driver-centric yet passenger-centric twin personality, blasting through the gaps while remaining comfortable and composed inside.

It's only when parking in tight spaces that you really realize that the W223 is longer than the Mazda CX-9. The optional four-wheel steering system is said to reduce the turning radius to the level of an A-Class hatchback. 10.9 meters is a claim.

The 2021 S-Class never ceases to amaze and delight.

Even more impressive is the S450's ability to race mountain roads like an oversized sports sedan.

Verdict

Mercedes-Benz set out to restore the S-Class to its place among the best sedans in the world.

In the nearly $250 S450 we tested with more options, as well as the extended $450 S300L (the top point of the range), we think the Germans have succeeded in pushing the boundaries of safety, comfort and technology. in packaging that lives up to the heritage of the series.

Sky-high tax-driven prices will certainly keep the S-Class niche in Australia, but the car is more than good enough to dominate its tiny corner of the big luxury car scene.

The best new car in the world? We think this is very likely. Mission accomplished, Mercedes.