2022 Mercedes-Benz S-Class Reviews, Pricing & Specs

The 2022 Mercedes S-Class looks exactly like the model year 2021 S-Class—that is to say, fantastic. The S-Class comes off last year’s complete makeover, and they got it right.

Many observers have declared the sedan dead in recent years, with the SUV taking its place in both premium and popular forms. From a distance, this declaration seems incontrovertible. But a close-up on the S-Class tells a different story.

The S-Class has its roots in the 1954 “Ponton” full-size 220S and 220SE Mercedes-Benz models. The first official S-Class model blossomed in 1972 with the W116 model series. The current S-Class represents the seventh generation of production for the series, code-named “W223” at the factory. The S-Class has been Mercedes-Benz’s flagship sedan throughout its development. Previous generations have included coupe and convertible variants riding on the same platform, but Mercedes has announced no plans for additional S-Class body styles this year, just the S500 and S580 sedans. A closely related Mercedes-Maybach S-Class sedan (starting at $229,900) shares the S-Class platform and many parts but is a limited-production hyper luxury car.

The exterior of the S-Class can be defined by one word: Sleek. The car’s extended, low profile obliterates any memory of boxy or stodgy S-Class examples of the past. Of particular note is the long distance between the front axle and the dashboard, a magical measurement car designers claim bequeaths a design with elegance—the longer the distance (within reason), the greater the elegance.

Hide the grille and badges, and this sedan could almost slip into the Audi lineup. But, of course, the S-Class wears a proud Mercedes-Benz grille and a star hood ornament, tastefully expressing its lineage.

The S-Class dashboard has the power to delight, with a waterfall of open-pore wood trim cascading down its curved front, setting off the 12.8-inch touchscreen in the proud centre stack. A 12.3-inch digital instrument panel lives separately behind the steering wheel, bucking Mercedes-Benz’s current design trend linking the instrument panel and infotainment screen in the same housing. The separation allows the two displays to occupy different planes, befitting their distinct functions.

Mercedes has dressed the cabin in high-quality materials from top to bottom, meticulously fitted and assembled.

In many parts of the world, it’s not uncommon for high-level executives to have drivers on business days, allowing the executive to extend their workdays into their commuting time. The practice is less common in the United States, but the S-Class is equally equipped for serene weekday commuting and weekend pleasure driving.

Our S500 test vehicle came with a turbocharged 3.0-litre inline-six-cylinder mild-hybrid gasoline-electric engine. Mercedes uses a system they call “EQ Boost,” supplementing the gas engine with a powerful integrated electric motor system and starter-generator. During brief periods of high demand, like acceleration, the electric motor can contribute up to 21 additional horsepower and 184 pound-feet of torque to the six-cylinder’s power specs of 429 hp and 384 lb-ft of torque. It’s almost like free horsepower and torque, and it comes on seamlessly, just when you need it. The S580 model starts with a bigger engine—a twin-turbocharged (biturbo) 4.0-litre V8—and benefits from the same EQ Boost system.

The S500 and S580 each use a nine-speed automatic transmission with available paddle shifters, and each gets standard 4Matic AWD. The S500 and S580 are on the heavy side at 2,091 kilograms (4,610 pounds) (S500) and 2,166 kilograms (4,775 pounds) (S580), but each is surprisingly quick off the line. The S500 takes 4.9 seconds to go from 0-100 kilometres per hour, and the S580 makes the dash in 4.4 seconds. Despite all that mass and momentum, handling is flat and predictable, and braking is powerful and immediate.

Which brings us back to business and pleasure. The S-Class handles the road so smoothly that a commute would indeed fly by, and it is so responsive and fun to drive that a weekend romp is not out of the question. The S500 uses 11.4 litres per 100 kilometres city/8.0 highway/9.9 combined, while the S580 is rated at 14.3 L/100 km city/9.5 highway/12.2 combined, so you can romp to your heart (or wallet’s) desire. With a 76-litre fuel tank, you won’t have to stop very often.

As an executive sedan, the S-Class has to check many boxes. It has to be roomy and comfortable. It has to have ample storage and cargo space. It has to be easy to get into and get out of. Check, check, and check. On top of that, the S-Class delivers a serene cabin with comfort and luxury everywhere.

Second-row passengers get powered sun blinds in their windows and in front of the rear glass. All passengers are treated to a Panorama Sunroof, opening the greenhouse to the sun or moon. To keep the cabin uncluttered, a 510-litre trunk can swallow the detritus of travel in its lushly carpeted confines.

The cabin has six USB-C ports, four in the front and two in the rear. The second row also gets a 115-volt power supply.

The driver and front-row passenger get standard rapid-heating active multicontour seats, a four-position memory, lumbar support, and front comfort headrests. Hours in the driver’s seat melt away. Option up to ventilated front seats, heated front and rear armrests, rear-seat heating and massaging, electronic rear seats with memory, and the “Energizing Kinetics” health and wellness system to boost your attentiveness while reducing sleepiness and stress so that you can drive even further, safer. The Executive Rear Seating package (exclusive to the S580) caters to the chauffeured set, upgrading the right rear seat with a 43-degree recline, power calf rest and footrest, and rear controls for the right front seat. Executive Line also includes a fixed centre console and folding tray tables.

Sometimes luxury has an unintended consequence, not always desirable. In the case of the S-Class, the doors open so far even a tall driver or passenger in a seated position may have trouble reaching the door to pull it closed. Luckily, all doors are soft-close, so at least frustrated S-Class occupants won’t be slamming the doors.

Mercedes-Benz’s basic and powertrain warranty covers the 2022 S500 for four years/80,000 kilometres.

Just a year after a complete makeover, the Mercedes-Benz flagship sedan brims with the latest and greatest tech the company has to offer, both standard and optional.

The 12.8-inch organic light-emitting diode (OLED) screen takes centre stage as a touchscreen interface to the latest MBUX infotainment system. OLED is a significant upgrade over LED and LCD technology in image quality and energy consumption. Instead of relying on backlighting, OLED panels light in response to an electric current. If an OLED pixel isn’t receiving current, it is entirely black, which is why OLED image reproduction gets praised for its rich black levels and crystal-clear definition. Almost as a side benefit, this property also delivers substantially lower energy consumption. Anytime a technology can provide quality with less energy, it benefits the automotive ecosystem. With standard wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, the OLED screen is a winner. The 12.3-inch LED virtual instrument panel is also a technological marvel, with crisp imagery and meters, changeable with user-selectable and customizable visual themes.

Add the optional 3D instrument cluster, and the panel takes on depth and further visual interest. Warning and driver assistance features leap out of the screen, making them more noticeable and valuable—and, let’s be honest, super cool and futuristic.

The standard augmented video for navigation is further out in the cool and futuristic realm. When the S-Class approaches a waypoint or destination, the centre display superimposes an arrow or house numbers over the video of the surroundings, making it much clearer which action the system recommends. Add the available augmented reality head-up display (HUD), and these supplemental instructions also appear in the driver’s view through the windshield. This feature is the next level of HUD, getting to the fighter pilot level of active driver assistance. It somehow manages to be attention-getting without being distracting and is the best HUD system to date.

The audio experience in the S-Class is first-rate, with a standard Burmester 3D Surround sound system providing high-fidelity sound to the cabin. An available Burmester 4D Surround system adds headrest speakers and enhancements to engulf all passengers in dimensional sound.

Beyond the audio and visual technology features in the S-Class, the powertrain and chassis have some tricks of their own. The EQ Boost mentioned above is a marvel, and the available rear-axle steering system adds a subtle yet welcome degree of maneuverability to the big sedan. With up to 10 degrees of steering angle available on the rear axle, the S-Class’s turning radius shrinks by more than 2 metres to just under 11 metres—about the same as a Toyota Corolla.

Mercedes-Benz prides itself on safety innovation and leadership. The S-Class gets loaded with standard and available safety and advanced driver assistance system, with some executive-level upgrades for the second row.

Significant safety features include Magic Vision Control, a standard system that moves windshield spray into fine art, adjusting water quantity by considering the ambient temperature, vehicle speed, and other factors to meter just the right amount of spray in front of the windshield wipers – exactly where it is needed.

Driver assistance features include active distance assist Distronic adaptive cruise control with route-based speed adaptation, active stop-and-go assist, active steering assist with active emergency stop assist and active lane-change assistant, active brake assist with cross-traffic function and turn-off function, active speed limit assist with traffic sign assist, active blind-spot assist with exit warning, active lane-keeping assist, active parking assist with Parktronic, Pre-Safe Plus with Pre-Safe Sound, and Pre-Safe Impulse Side. Pre-Safe systems prepare the S-Class for an imminent, unavoidable collision from the rear or the side. Additionally, the S-Class comes with car-to-x communication. The car acts as both a transmitter and receiver in this system, sharing warning messages about road conditions and other situations.

For the executive, the S-Class offers available rear-passenger airbags and rear-seat belt bag, along with easy adjust headrests with occupant restraint protection.

The 2022 Mercedes-Benz S500 4Matic Sedan starts at $123,500 in Canada, not including the destination charge, which varies by location and dealer. The S580 4Matic Sedan starts at $139,900. Our test vehicle was an S500 with Sienna Brown/Black Nappa leather, Silver Aluminum Fanned Open Pore Walnut Trim ($3,500), 20-inch AMG wheels ($1,250), 4.5-degree rear-axle steering ($1,300; requires the Sport or Night package), active ambient lighting ($990), and the 3D instrument cluster ($1,650). Canadian as-tested MSRP would equate to $143,240 (estimated).

Mercedes-Benz defines the competitive set for the S-Class as the Audi A8, BMW 7 Series, Lexus LS, and Porsche Panamera—all superb cars. We would include the Maserati Quattroporte and Bentley Flying Spur on the list as well. But the real competition for the S-Class sedan lies outside the identified competitive set.

Potential buyers will measure the S-Class against the current crop of full-size luxury SUVs, including Mercedes-Benz’s own GLS-Class. For all the merits of the sedan, the SUV form can lay a firm claim on the executive transport market. Not only can SUVs be roomier, with some offering a third row of seating, they have also caught up with sedans in performance, safety, and technology. The sedan still has an advantage in driving dynamics, with its inherently lower centre of gravity, but the margin is slim.

Buyers who choose the 2022 Mercedes-Benz S-Class sedan 4Matic will find little to complain about or regret, though. As long as Mercedes-Benz keeps refining and building the executive sedan to this level, there will be buyers who will appreciate its overall excellence.

Note: Images show a US model.