Here is the luxury saloon by which all others are measured. This improved version of the seventh generation Mercedes S-Class is now even cleverer to use, but its real strengths remain in comfort and refinement. Jonathan Crouch reports.
Ten Second Review
You're looking here at arguably the most advanced motor car Mercedes-Benz has ever built. No longer is an S-Class merely about comfort, refinement and performance. This improved version of the MK7 model also prioritises digitalisation and offers further steps forward in electrification and connectivity. There's never been a boardroom level luxury saloon quite like it.
Background
The Mercedes S-Class. It's traditionally been the sensible answer to the question every motoring expert likes to dodge - 'what's the best car in the world?'. Other vehicles can be more opulent, faster or better to drive but over the years, no other model has so consistently delivered such a technologically-advanced blend of automotive virtues. The seventh generation W223-series version of this model line was first introduced back in 2020, but here we're looking at the heavily updated version of that design, announced in early 2026.
It's a bit more than a facelift. No previous S-Class has ever been as complex, advanced or sophisticated as this one and Mercedes claims that over 2,700 components (around half of the car) have been 'newly developed or re-engineered'. In fact, the Stuttgart brand claims that this is its most extensive mid-life refresh ever. The exterior changes are subtle, but the front-of-cabin experience is very different and all the powertrains are significantly upgraded. There's still no full-electric option because of course that segment of the market is covered by the brand's EQS. The result of all of this is a more sophisticated 'Sonderklasse' model than any we've seen since the 'S' badging was first introduced in the original 'W116'-series model back in 1972. Let's take a closer look.
Driving Experience
As before, UK S-Class sales are primarily built around six cylinder power and all the engines available now use either mild hybrid or Plug-in Hybrid technology, always mated to 4MATIC 4WD. The mild hybrid choice is between 375bhp S 450 and 443bhp S 500 petrol variants, both with an 'overboost' function that summon 640Nm of torque to help with short-notice overtakes. The alternative conventional engine option is still diesel, with a choice of the 308bhp S 350 d and the 362bhp S 450 d.
There's no pure electric driving capability with the mild hybrids. For that of course, you'll need one of the two Plug-in Hybrid variants, both of which use a six cylinder petrol engine upgraded from the pre-facelift model. Choose between the 429bhp S 450 e with EQ Technology; or the top S 580 e with EQ Hybrid Technology, which has 577bhp (a useful 74bhp more than before). In both cases, the powerplant is mated to an electric motor energised by a 22kWh battery allowing for up to 73 miles of pure electric range (a few miles more than before).
We should briefly mention what you can't have engine-wise in a UK S-Class; namely the all new flat-plane-crank V8 4.0-litre petrol engine with 530bhp fitted to the S 580 4MATIC variant that won't be sold here. You can though expect 4.0-litre V8 power to continue with the sporting Mercedes-AMG S 63 model. For other global market S-Classes, there's also a 6.0-litre twin turbo petrol V12, but for us that's limited to the Mercedes-Maybach S-Class line-up.
Air suspension is standard-fit across the line-up and can be had with an optional 'active' system. Both setups work with a new 'Intelligent damper Control' system which uses data collected from the few other Mercedes models currently fitted with the same technology. The idea is to allow your S-Class to better anticipate potholes, speed bumps and road imperfections before you reach them. Rear-wheel steering's now standard too - or at least the base version of that system is, which turns the rear wheels by up to 4.5-degrees through the bends. Customers can upgrade to 10-degree rear steering, which takes almost 2 metres out of the car's turning circle.
Design and Build
The main thing you'll probably notice about the improved version of this seventh generation S-Class is the larger size of its front grille. Which is now 20% bigger, comes emblazoned with dozens of tiny chromed three-pointed stars and is fully illuminated. The three-pointed star on the bonnet can now be optionally lit too. The LED headlights have been restyled and equipped with micro-LED technology that incorporates the company's emblem; these light up 40% more of the road ahead and have an uprated 'ultra-range high beam' setting that has a reach of up to 600-metres. There are more stars in the revised chrome-framed tail lights. And also fresh wheel designs, including smarter 20-inch 50-cross-spoke rims. This remains a huge saloon, available as before in a choice of body lengths, even though 90% of customers go for the longer 5.3-metre 'Long' version.
More significant changes with this update though, lie inside. Where the single portrait central touchscreen fitted to mainstream versions of the pre-facelift model has at last been ditched. Every S-Class now has what Mercedes calls its 'Superscreen', which combines a 14.4-inch central touchscreen, a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and a 12.3-inch passenger-side display beneath a single pane of glass. The middle monitor now runs Google Maps navigation; and the brand's latest MB.OS operating system, which the brand refers to as the 'superbrain' of the car. This offers greater computer power, faster processing and quick over-the-air updates. And it works with the latest version of the MBUX infotainment set-up, which features an AI-powered virtual assistant combining input from Microsoft Bing, Google Gemini and ChatGPT for swifter voice interaction.
The redesigned centre console now has dual wireless 'phone charging pads. And the fiddly old touch-sensitive switches on the steering wheel have thankfully been dispensed with in favour of proper physical buttons. Another new feature added as part of this update is heated seatbelts, which offer 'a soothing warmth of up to 44-degrees'.
You're probably choosing this car though for its rear seat travelling experience. The rear centre console now has two detachable remotes instead of a central tablet which control the new 13.1-inch displays provided for back seat folk. And you can still specify extending foot rests allowing you to really stretch out. Boot space is the same as before, rated at 550-litres for the petrol versions and 540-litres for the diesels, though bear in mind that with the PHEV models, you get just 350-litres.
Market and Model
Expect prices to continue to start at just over the £100,000 mark, with £10,000-£15,000 more required if you want to progress from a base diesel to one of the PHEV versions many customers will require. As well as the standard line-up, there continues to be the high performance Mercedes-AMG S 63 and the super-luxury top Mercedes-Maybach model for the Bentley/Rolls-Royce market.
If you want to make your S-Class bespoke, you'll be interested to know that Mercedes is expanding its Manufaktur personalisation programme, which offers over 150 unique paint finishes. Like 'Black Sparking', which features glass flakes that shimmer. There are over 400 interior colours to select from too. By the way, you no longer have to have real leather in your S-Class if you don't want it. The upholstery alternative uses a combination of textile made from linen, recycled plastic and finely-grained artificial leather.
As before, the Mercedes 'Driving Assistance Package' is standard on all S-Class variants and includes 'Active Distance Assist DISTRONIC', 'Traffic Sign Assist', 'Active Lane Keeping Assist' and 'Active Evasive Steering Assist'. For the future, this updated S-Class is fitted with a water-cooled supercomputer that will play its part in the Level 4 autonomous driving that Mercedes is readying this car for.
Cost of Ownership
You still might be surprised to find how efficient an S-Class can be, with the mainstream versions obviously aided by their incorporated mild hybrid engine tech. Expect around 35mpg on the combined cycle and about 166g/km of CO2 from the volume S 350 d diesel model - and the alternative S 450 d variant isn't far behind that. For the conventional petrol variants, things drop considerably, even the S 450 much closer to the 30mpg and 200g/km mark.
The S 350 d and S 450 d diesels feature the first electrically heated catalytic converter on a production car, there to clean harmful pollutants from the exhaust faster and more efficiently. Whether you choose petrol or diesel, the mild hybrid system will run the stop/start system, provide a small amount of mid-range accelerating boost, recuperate energy when the car shows down and allow for engine-off coasting. As before, the 'EQ Boost' mild hybrid technology features an integrated starter generator powered by a 48V on-board electrical system.
To do better in terms of running costs, you'll need to ask your dealer about one of the Plug-in Hybrids. As we told you in our 'Driving' section, these now manage up to 73 miles of pure electric range from their 22kWh battery. The S-Class PHEV will automatically switches power sources when entering an urban area and is compatible with all AC and DC Chargers from 11 to 60kW. Charging from empty should take only around 30 minutes with a rapid charger.
Summary
This S-Class spearheads technological development, not only for Mercedes-Benz but for the automotive industry as a whole - and has done for decades. It's that important and is why this is - and will continue to be - the world's best selling full-sized Luxury-sector saloon.
This improved version of the seventh generation design remains very competitive with - and in some cases a step ahead of - its key Luxury segment rivals. That was vital if it was going to be able to continue to compete with everything from a comparably costly Audi A8 to a Bentley Flying Spur potentially priced at twice as much. No other rival has as difficult or as wide-ranging a brief - but then no other car brings this one's timeless clarity and effortless superiority to such an advanced and wide-ranging portfolio of talents.
It can power to supercar speeds in Mercedes-AMG guise, deliver an average of over 40mpg in its volume mainstream S 350 d diesel form and can be specified to eerily steer, power and brake itself at a cruise in whatever form you decide upon. Yes, other rivals may look more avant garde or handle with a touch more involvement. In overall terms though, Mercedes has done enough here to enable this S-Class to remain a benchmark for the kind of luxury saloon every prestige brand would like to build. As it always was, it's a reference point for the current state of automotive technology. The best car in the world? You'll feel like it is if you buy one.
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