2026 Mercedes-Benz S Class first drive. New money, old manners

The redesigned S-Class is shinier, smarter, and more connected than before, but it still has a deeper understanding of traditional luxury than others.

We were impressed by the new style when we saw a preview of the S-Class makeover earlier this year. In a few of weeks, Mercedes-Benz’s class future C-Class electric, the GLC BEV, the VLE, and, one guesses, a few other vehicles lurking behind the curtain in Stuttgart were all sporting that visage.
That’s precisely what an S-Class does. What begins as flagship extravagance gradually becomes standard Mercedes-Benz terminology. After a few years, someone who enjoys modern automobiles will have a version of it in their driveway. This includes the lights, screens, software, and the way the car drives and thinks.

With over 50% of the vehicle being freshly created or improved, Mercedes-Benz describes this as the most extensive overhaul inside a single S-Class generation. That may seem like a figure that automakers use in press releases in the hopes that no one will question it, but after spending some time with the vehicle, it makes sense. Although the S-Class’s sheet metal may be recognizable, its software, powertrains, lighting, assistance systems, cabin technology, and comfort logic have all undergone significant changes.

Old manners, louder suit

First, let’s clear up the obvious. No longer does this S-Class attempt to conceal its status. The automobile has a bigger, lit grille, a glowing upright bonnet star, and enough three-pointed star motifs to make you wonder whether the insignia was paid for separately in Stuttgart. subtle? Not at all. Efficient? Of course.

The grille wants eye contact

Mercedes states that the high-resolution illumination field is roughly 40% larger with the new Digital Light arrangement, which makes use of micro-LED technology. Better dispersion, reach, and more accurate nighttime lighting result from this. The silhouette of the vintage S-Class was recognizable. Light and bling are what the new one wants to be recognized by. Naturally, tastefully.

With triple-star designs on the tail lamps, the rear carries on the same concept. Although it is more of a jewelry store than an old-money library, it is the direction that contemporary luxury appears to be taking. Although the Chinese market has undoubtedly expressed its opinions, the outcome does not seem out of place. It appears pricey, self-assured, and somewhat proud of itself. This is, to be honest, acceptable at this price.

Digital, but not desperate

The new horizontal MBUX Superscreen layout replaces the outgoing car’s vertical central screen, which is the main internal change. Both aesthetically and operationally, the format performs better.

It is now anticipated that the S-Class will be capable of far more than just controlling climate, music, and navigation. It must manage native apps, rear-seat productivity, video conferences, passenger entertainment, and a navigation system that displays what the car is viewing. For such task, a horizontal screen is just more appropriate.

No matter where you sit, the cabin never feels overwhelming. That is crucial. The S-Class doesn’t feel like a tech expo with leather upholstery, despite the abundance of screens. The MB.OS is fast and responsive, the pictures are clear, and the interface is calmer than anticipated. The S-Class feels less like a preview of the future and more like the future has been granted a five-star suite, while having many features and functions comparable to the CLA 250+ BEV we drove in India.

Additionally beneficial is the integration of AI. ChatGPT, Google Gemini, and Microsoft Bing are among the AI stacks that Mercedes’ fourth-generation MBUX now employs, allowing for more organic dialogues and improved contextual replies. It’s unclear how well it performs in India, but Mercedes wants the S-Class to be more of a digital companion with a huge wheelbase than a command-based vehicle.

The display’s integration of map data, driving aid, and prompts made navigation in and around Hamburg feel more sophisticated. It remains to be seen if it can make as much sense of the pandemonium on Indian roads.

Even though an S-Class is not typically traveling with a full house, the front passenger screen is a useful addition. The screen might spend more time acting as a passenger princess in the majority of chauffeur-driven cases. However, that’s okay. Having something you might not need every day, just in case one Tuesday decides to become demanding, is a common definition of luxury.

Prim & Proper Six-Cylinders

The S 450 petrol, which will be a crucial variation for India, is what we drove. With the aid of a 48V mild hybrid system, it makes use of Mercedes’ upgraded M 256 Evo inline-six petrol engine, which generates 381 PS and 560 Nm. Mercedes claims that a more potent electronic auxiliary compressor, updated intake and exhaust ports, and a new intake camshaft have enhanced torque on the six-cylinder petrol family, with up to 640 Nm attainable through overtorque in some scenarios.

The S 450 feels just like a petrol S-Class should when driving. It is quiet, fluid, and surprisingly fast without ever attempting to appear athletic. This engine does not run in front of a crowd. It just does its job of making advancement seem effortless.

The gearbox stays in the background to match its seamless shifts, the throttle response is clean and keeps rear seat occupants comfortable at all times, and the light hybrid assistance skillfully hides low-rev reluctance. Stop-start operation is nearly undetectable due to the integrated starter-generator’s quiet operation. The benefit is felt as a polished performance rather than as a dramatic electric surge. That’s how S-Class operates. If you see that the technology is functioning, someone most likely has to travel to Stuttgart for another meeting.

The S 450 settles into a nearly quiet drive at highway speeds. The performance is adequate, but it never gets boisterous. The engine’s minimal demands on you are its best feature. It doesn’t require approval, attention, or revisions. It merely moves an enormous, opulent saloon with grace and assurance.

While the plug-in hybrid will arrive as a CBU, the S 450 d will be equally important for India, particularly since it will be manufactured locally alongside the S 450 petrol. It is powered by Mercedes’ upgraded OM 656 Evo 3.0-liter inline-six diesel, which produces 367 PS and 750 Nm. Any low-end hesitancy is mitigated by modest hybrid assistance. The trip computer reported more over 20 km/l during a roughly 40 km drive in European extra-urban circumstances, which seems like a lie for a car this big and opulent. The engine is also very sophisticated, and even if it is ready for Euro 7, the bigger concern is how long Indian regulations would tolerate massive luxury diesels.

The hybrid finds its purpose

However, the plug-in hybrid may be the greater story for India. Mercedes-Benz class India is placing a significant wager on it, and this optimism doesn’t seem out of place.

India is anticipated to import the S 450 e plug-in hybrid through the CBU route, whereas we drove the S 580 e plug-in hybrid on this overseas drive. Therefore, the overall character of the system is very important, but the absolute performance numbers are not immediately representational of what we will obtain. The S 580 e generates 585 PS worldwide, whereas the S 450 e generates 435 PS. Both have an electric-only range of about 100 km, depending on driving circumstances and cycles, and combine a potent electric motor with a six-cylinder gasoline engine.

The conversation is altered by that final sentence. For this type of buyer, India has gotten past the traditional “but where will you charge it?” issue. Anyone who spends S-Class money most likely has private parking, both at home and at work, as well as a chauffeur who can manage daily charging schedules.

A plug-in hybrid might be more sensible for the average S-Class buyer than both a complete EV and a pure gasoline vehicle. It operates quietly on electric power in the city, which perfectly complements the S-Class personality. The petrol engine completely eliminates range concern during prolonged highway rides. It does not need the consumer to alter their mode of transportation between cities, in contrast to a complete electric vehicle.

The S 580 e is incredibly peaceful in pure electric mode. It enhances silence, one of the S-Class’s best features. There is no background mechanical activity, no vibration to dampen, and no engine note to isolate. It moves smoothly. The changeover is seamless when the gasoline engine arrives. More than any actual disturbance in the cabin, you can tell it happened by the engine’s soft growl.

Weight and intricacy are potential drawbacks. In addition to carrying a larger battery, motor hardware, and charging components, a plug-in hybrid may feel slightly heavier on particular roads. The India-spec S 450 e’s brake feel must also be carefully considered, since the combination of friction and regenerative braking can make or break a plug-in hybrid’s luxury feel. Although the S 580 e handles it nicely, we won’t make a definitive decision until we test drive the version headed for India.

However, in theory and on paper, the S 450 e might be India’s most intelligent S-Class. It is clean enough to make its owner feel a little morally upright while lounging in a hot-stone massage seat, quiet enough for city duty during the week, and petrol-powered enough for trips between cities. That kind of environmentalism is really S-Class.

Ride quality: Same cushion, quicker thinking

The AIRMATIC air suspension system is still present in the new S-Class, and its basic hardware is comparable to that of the previous model. That’s not a negative thing. This S-Class maintains the serene, floating poise of the departing S-Class without becoming ambiguous or careless.

The intelligence surrounding it has evolved. In order to prepare the suspension for road defects before the car encounters them, Mercedes has included more intelligent damping logic that can use Car-to-X data. The device can theoretically optimize damping ahead of time by differentiating between extended speed breakers and abrupt irregularities.

This approach has a good chance of functioning as planned in Europe, where road data, mapping infrastructure, and connected vehicle networks are more predictable. It might not be as reliable in India. Surface variations are created by our roadways more quickly than they can be learned by most cloud systems. However, the fundamental AIRMATIC hardware has been shown to be sufficient to maintain the car’s ride quality even if the predictive layer isn’t flawless back home.

The S-Class felt exquisitely detached over Hamburg’s highways, expansion joints, city surfaces, and quicker parts. That feeling of seclusion is greatly enhanced by the double-glazed glasshouse that will come standard on the India-spec vehicle. There is excellent noise isolation. The outer world is merely shifted several tax brackets away; it does not completely vanish.

The long-wheelbase luxury saloon’s body control is better than anticipated at high speeds. Although it doesn’t turn into an AMG, it feels remarkably calm and nimble. The car settles rapidly following surface changes, and there is less float than you might think. Comfort is still the top priority, but beneath the softness is discipline.

The long-wheelbase model’s turning circle is greatly reduced by the 10 degrees of rear-axle steering. When maneuvering, parking, or navigating through more confined urban areas, it actually makes the vehicle feel much smaller.

Rear-seat royalty

The S-Class’s best feature is still its back seat, which is still the best available in this revised model. The car’s individuality really comes through at the back, even though the front is beautiful.

The degree of comfort is exceptional. The new quilted pattern would be my choice if I were speccing one, and the seat support, recline angle, cushioning, and massage functions all work well together. Although Mercedes offers leather-free interior options, which is nice, I would still prefer real leather in a vehicle like this if the market permits. Certain things are difficult for synthetic virtue to imitate.

Not only are the new 13.3-inch rear screens larger, but they also have cameras, which is a significant upgrade. No one on the call needs to know that your “mobile office” has a refrigerator, operated blinds, Burmester 4D audio, and more ambient lighting than a boutique hotel lobby since Zoom support with MB.OS allows you to hold a formal business meeting from the rear seat while getting a hot stone massage. That is luxury: concealing relaxation behind productivity rather than yelling about it.

Reaching for a screen when fully reclined is not a luxury, so the detachable rear controls are also helpful, especially as they can resemble phones and function as pointing devices.

The experience is further enhanced with the Burmester 4D system. The seat-mounted resonators produce physical feedback to accompany the audio when the material is appropriate. Although it may sound ostentatious, it enhances the immersive experience of the S-Class cabin.

Smarter where it counts

The fact that the technology feels integrated rather than added to this upgraded S-Class is one of its better features. Mercedes has obviously paid attention to its clients. Customers did not find the gesture controls for opening and closing the doors of the Maybach to be helpful, therefore they were removed. Even so, I had a great time perplexing hotel lobby valets.

Mercedes has instead concentrated on areas that are more important, such as larger screens that enhance usability, better conference integration, entertainment apps, faster processing via the Nvidia Orion processor, a more powerful AI stack, and a more seamless infotainment experience. Instead than using technology to support a marketing department, it is technology with a purpose.

The assistance and safety systems think in the same way. A high-performance MB.OS-based control unit powers the new S-Class’s ten cameras, five radar sensors, and twelve ultrasonic sensors. In certain areas, MB.DRIVE ASSIST PRO offers more sophisticated assistance features; however, accessibility is contingent upon local laws.

Whether adaptive cruise, lane support, parking assistance, 360-degree cameras, and collision support systems lessen stress without becoming intrusive is the true test for India. The system felt sleek and self-assured on our drive.

Verdict: still wearing the crown

The redesigned S-Class retains the typical S-Class ideals intact while quietly preparing the automobile for the future age.

For India, the S 450 petrol seems to be the most elegant, safe, and enjoyable option. It is sophisticated, fast enough, smooth enough, and perfectly in line with what an S-Class ought to be. However, the plug-in hybrid has the potential to alter the discourse. It matches many S-Class owners’ actual usage patterns better than we might have acknowledged a few years ago, not because it is fashionable.

There will be disagreements on the design. If your definition of luxury is a quiet navy suit and old money, the lit stars, the expressive grille, and the luminous identity might be a bit much. However, the world now enjoys the S-Class’s visible, digital, and linked luxury, which has always represented the society in which it is sold.

What matters is that the basics stay the same beneath the glamour. It drives with unexpected agility, rides elegantly, isolates exceptionally well, and makes the back seat seem like the right solution to the majority of life’s issues. Although more advanced, the technology is not overpowering. Although more digital, the cabin is nonetheless serene. The experience is still effortless despite the more complicated powertrains.

The most luxurious S-Class has never been the greatest. It is the one that gives the impression that everything else is a generation behind. That’s still what this one does.