The 2020 Mercedes-Benz S-class has long been a shining example of what luxury should be, largely due to its sumptuous looks and impressive performance. Whether you choose the spacious sedan, dignified coupe, or lavish convertible, these top-shelf Benzes are chock full with the latest technology and the finest of materials. The S-class has it all: an interior that could please a sultan, performance to please a hot shoe, and a road presence that is unmistakably majestic. It may be expensive, but if you're shopping in this segment, you'll be happy to know that you're getting every last bit of your money's worth. An all-new S-class will debut for the 2021 modelMercedes-Benz will introduce the 560e, an all-new plug-in variant of the 2020 560 sedan that couples an electric motor with the twin-turbo V-6 for added power and efficiency, plus a claimed 25-mile electric-only range. There are few changes for the rest of the lineup. Active Parking Assist and Keyless-Go—which is Mercedes-Benz's version of push-button start and keyless entry—are now standard on all models. Additionally, the Premium Package is now standard on the coupe and cabriolet.If we were in the market for an S-class, we'd have to splurge for a mildly optioned S560, not that there is anything wrong with the S450; its twin-turbo V-6 is silky smooth and plenty powerful, but we prefer the V-8. Given the higher starting price, optioning the S560 is an exercise in restraint. We'd go for the Driver's Assistance package, which includes semi-autonomous driving and other driver assists. We'd also select the Premium package that includes niceties such as heated, ventilated and massaging front seats, power side-window rear-seat shades, and a 360-degree camera system.The S-class sedan is available with one of two gasoline powertrains: a 362-hp twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter V-6 and a 463-hp twin-turbocharged 4.0-liter V-8. The former is sold with S450 badges, and the latter wears S560 on its trunklid. Rear-wheel drive is standard, but all-wheel drive can be ordered with either engine. We clocked a rear-wheel-drive 2018 S450 at 5.3 seconds in our zero-to-60-mph test; the 2018 S560 did the deed in 4.2 seconds. The coupe and cabriolet come only with the V-8 and the 2018 S560 coupe managed a brisk 4.0-second zero-to-60-mph run at our test track. If these numbers aren't exciting enough for you, the Mercedes-AMG lineup of S-classes (reviewed separately) are even quicker. We haven't tested the 560e, but we expect that it will be slightly quicker than the standard twin-turbo V-6 models. |
