2020 Mercedes-Benz S-Class Review

　　

2020 Mercedes-Benz S-Class Review

byMark TakahashiCorrespondent

　　Mark Takahashi has worked in the automotive industry since 2001. He has written thousands of car-related articles and tested and reviewed hundreds of vehicles over the course of his career. Mark has also contributed to Motor Trend, Auto Aficionado, Chevy High Performance and several motorcycle magazines in various roles. Mark is also a juror on the North American Car, Truck and Utility Vehicle of the Year Awards and can be seen regularly on the zzdcar YouTube channel and sometimes representing the company in media interviews.

　　When it comes to flagship luxury cars, the 2020 Mercedes-Benz S-Class pretty much sets the standard for status and refinement. Its interior is lavishly appointed with excellent materials and an abundance of all of the latest technology features. On the road, there's plenty of power no matter which model you select, and it's accompanied by a reassuring yet comfortable ride quality.

　　

Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2020 Mercedes-Benz S-Class S 450 4dr Sedan (3.0L 6cyl Turbo 9A) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $3.78 per gallon for premium unleaded in North Dakota.

Monthly estimates based on costs in North Dakota

　　$205/mo  for S-Class S 450

　　S-Class S 450

　　S 450 4dr Sedan (3.0L 6cyl Turbo 9A) - $94,250 MSRPS 450 4MATIC 4dr Sedan AWD (3.0L 6cyl Turbo 9A) - $97,250 MSRPS 560 4dr Sedan (4.0L 8cyl Turbo 9A) (Most Popular) - $104,450 MSRPS 560 2dr Convertible (4.0L 8cyl Turbo 9A) - $138,600 MSRPS 560 4MATIC 4dr Sedan AWD (4.0L 8cyl Turbo 9A) - $107,450 MSRPS 560 4MATIC 2dr Coupe AWD (4.0L 8cyl Turbo 9A) - $130,150 MSRPS 560e 4dr Sedan (3.0L 6cyl Turbo gas/electric plug-in hybrid 9A) - $109,750 MSRPAMG S 63 4dr Sedan AWD (4.0L 8cyl Turbo 9A) - $151,600 MSRPAMG S 63 2dr Coupe AWD (4.0L 8cyl Turbo 9A) - $171,400 MSRPAMG S 63 2dr Convertible AWD (4.0L 8cyl Turbo 9A) - $183,500 MSRPAMG S 65 4dr Sedan (6.0L 12cyl Turbo 7A) - $235,600 MSRP

　　vs

　　$197/mo

　　Avg. Large Car

　　This big Mercedes is one of the older vehicles in the class, but it continues to lead some very impressive rivals such as the Audi A8, the BMW 7 Series and the Porsche Panamera. While each car may have an advantage in regard to a particular aspect such as performance or price, the 2020 Mercedes-Benz S-Class remains our favorite for its all-around excellence.

　　zzdcar Expert Rating

　　Our VerdictThe zzdcar Vehicle Testing Team evaluates a fresh batch of vehicles every week, pairing objective assessments at our test track with real-world driving on city streets, freeways and winding roads. The data we gather results in our Expert Ratings. They’re based on 30-plus scores that cover every aspect of the automotive experience.

　　Great

　　8.4

　　out of 10

　　zzdcar TESTED

　　Rated for you by America's best test team.

　　

Performance

8.0/10

　　How does the S-Class drive? It's not enough for a luxury car to simply wrap its occupants in leather and wood trim anymore. Today's luxury cars have to handle themselves just as well in traffic as they do at autobahn speeds. The S-Class we tested, the S 450, does exactly that with powerful and easy-to-use brakes and effortless power.

　　The S 450 moves smartly away from a stop and power builds smoothly. Our test car accelerated from 0 to 60 mph in 5.6 seconds, which is an appropriate time for a base engine. There's ample passing power even at higher speeds. The big Benz has solid composure and decent balance even when driven with some aggression. Selecting the S-Class' Comfort mode allows some body roll, but Sport essentially dials most of it out and helps keep the S 450 almost flat through fast corners.

　　

Comfort

8.5/10

　　How comfortable is the S-Class? Mercedes blends traditional luxury sedan elements, such as premium wood and leather materials, with modern technology to create one of the most impressive automobiles on sale today. We could do without the overpowering air freshener and its gimmicky mood scents, but this Benz is otherwise hard to top from a comfort perspective.

　　With the Premium 1 package, front passengers enjoy heated and ventilated seats with active bolsters and an array of massage options. Rear passengers have to go without the massaging seats (those are optional) but are still held in a high level of comfort. The Comfort drive mode provides exceptional body control and ride comfort, even at high speeds. The S 450 is nearly silent under all circumstances.

　　

Interior

8.5/10

　　How’s the interior? From the moment you get in to the moment you get out, the S 450 takes care of its occupants like almost nothing else. Every passenger will be hard-pressed to complain about personal comfort or space. Whether you're athletic or you have limited mobility, any seat in the S-Class is a breeze to get in or out of. All doors, though solid, are easy to open and offer a soft-close function.

　　The car's controls are fairly easy to figure out thanks to a logical menu structure, quick response times and ergonomically friendly controls. Only the pressure-sensitive steering wheel nubs seem unnecessary and difficult to use.

　　

Technology

9.0/10

　　How’s the tech? Mercedes offers a mind-boggling array of entertainment and safety features. The 12.3-inch display's crisp graphics and sheer size make it easy to discern information at a glance. The Burmester audio system is one of the best we've encountered too.

　　The Driver Assistance package includes enough assists to all but navigate most roads by itself. The technology is interesting but too conservative in some applications, often going well below the speed limit on gently curving roads.

　　

Storage

8.0/10

　　How’s the storage? The S-Class offers a nicely sized and easy-to-load trunk. The rear seats do not fold, but there is a center seat pass-through. The trunk is of course power-operated. Storage inside is ample, and most everything can be hidden away behind attractive, if slightly plasticky, wood veneer.

　　

Fuel Economy

8.5/10

　　How’s the fuel economy? The EPA estimates the V6-powered S 450 will get 22 mpg in combined driving (19 city/28 highway). This is about par for the class. Pleasingly, we found it easy to match these numbers.

　　

Value

8.0/10

　　Is the S-Class a good value? It's true that the S-Class is more expensive than its rivals, but you do get your money's worth. The build quality inside and out is nearly impeccable, as you'd expect from a flagship luxury car. The leather work is excellent on both the dash and the seats, and not a stitch is out of place. The only disappointment is the slightly low-buck plastic used for the storage bin and cupholder covers.

　　

Wildcard

9.0/10

　　Luxury is the overriding theme in everything you see and in everything you touch. Even the technology, some of it more useful than others, is there to provide a more luxurious and stress-free experience for all passengers, and the Benz comes across as confident and capable in nearly every situation.

　　

Which S-Class does zzdcar recommend?

Since the non-AMG S-Class models are similarly appointed, the decision comes down to how much power and performance you desire. Odds are you'll find the entry-level S 450 to be plenty appealing. To that, we suggest adding the optional Premium package (for the extra comfort and convenience features) as well as the Driver Assistance package (its added driver safety aids can make commuting in heavy traffic less stressful).

　　

2020 Mercedes-Benz S-Class models

The 2020 Mercedes-Benz S-Class is a large luxury vehicle offered in sedan, coupe and convertible body styles. The sedan is available in five main trim levels: S 450, S 560, S 560e, AMG S 63 and AMG S 65. The coupe and convertible are limited to the S 560 and AMG S 63. Feature highlights include:

　　S 450

　　Comes well equipped with:

　　362-horsepower turbocharged 3.0-liter V6 engine Choice of rear- or all-wheel drive Nine-speed automatic transmission Road-smoothing Airmatic air-ride suspension that adjusts ride height Panoramic sunroof Hands-free power trunklid Heated front seats Mercedes Me remote control and telematics Automated parking systemThe S 450's technology features include:

　　12.3-inch digital instrument panel and infotainment screen Navigation system Apple CarPlay and Android Auto Wireless charging pad Advanced safety features Frontal collision mitigation (warns you of an impending collision and applies the brakes in certain scenarios) Automatic high-beam headlights Lane keeping assist (makes minor steering corrections to help keep the vehicle centered in its lane) Blind-spot monitor (alerts you if a vehicle in the next lane over is in your blind spot) S 560

　　Is similarly equipped to the S 450, but adds:

　　463-hp 4.0-liter V8 engine Rear-wheel drive (standard on sedan) or all-wheel drive (optional for sedan; standard on coupe and convertible)S 560e

　　This plug-in hybrid variant differs by including:

　　3.0-liter turbocharged 3.0-liter V6 engine Rear-wheel drive Rechargeable battery pack and electric motor Combined output of 469 hp plus 19 miles of all-electric rangeAMG S 63

　　This high-performance variant spices things up with:

　　603-hp turbocharged 4.0-liter V8 engine Performance-tuned 4Matic all-wheel-drive system Adaptive sport suspension Upgraded performance brakes Sport exhaust Unique exterior and interior styling cues Surround-view camera system Multicontour seats with massage functionsAMG S 65

　　The ultimate S-Class tops off the lineup with:

　　621-hp turbocharged 6.0-liter V12 engine Rear-wheel drive Seven-speed automatic transmission Magic Body Control suspension that scans the road ahead and counteracts body rollDepending on the trim level, there are several option packages available:

　　Premium package Ventilated front seats with massage functions Surround-view camera system Rear-seat power window shades Executive Rear Seat package Multicontour rear seats with massage functions Reclining right rear seat Driver Assistance package Traffic-adaptive cruise control Enhancements to standard safety features

　　

2020 S-Class Highlights

Type: SedanCoupeConvertiblePlug-in HybridAMG S 63AMG S 65Sedan

　　Trim: S 450S 450 4MATICS 560S 560 4MATICS 560eAMG S 63AMG S 65S 450

　　

Base MSRP	$94,250
Engine Type	Gas
Combined MPG	22 MPG
Cost to Drive	$205/month
Seating	5 seats
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place	18.7 cu.ft.
Drivetrain	rear wheel drive
Warranty	4 years / 50,000 miles