The Mercedes-Benz S-Class was selected as the top 'large luxury vehicle' to purchase in 2025 by the prestigious U.S. automotive magazine 'Car and Driver.' Car and Driver ranked large luxury vehicles based on approximately 200 data points, including driving performance, comfort within the vehicle, vehicle value, and driving pleasure.
Car and Driver noted that the S-Class is "a model that has been loved for its long-standing solid and reliable performance and elegant presence," adding that it features "the best driving experience, comfortable ride quality, luxurious interior materials, and a smooth yet powerful powertrain, allowing it to maintain its throne in the large luxury sedan segment over competing models."
The S-Class is characterized by its luxurious exterior. It boasts a perfect ratio of classic sedan form with a short front overhang, long wheelbase, and balanced rear overhang. The interior is equipped with various digital convenience features for passengers. The driver's seat includes a 12.3-inch 3D instrument panel that displays key information at a glance during driving, while a 12.8-inch OLED central display is located in the center. These features help intuitively control convenience functions.
Models above S 500 4MATIC come standard with a high-end MBUX rear seat entertainment system that includes two 11.6-inch full HD touchscreens and a 7-inch tablet. As a result, rear-seat passengers can use various multimedia systems by connecting to speakers embedded in the screens or Bluetooth headphones, or easily control the vehicle's convenience functions.
Rear-seat ride comfort is also rated as top-notch. In particular, the rear-seat chauffeur package, which is standard in vehicles above the S 580 4MATIC, along with various advanced convenience features, can be utilized as a comfortable relaxation lounge or an office on the road. The chauffeur package can move the front passenger seat forward by up to 37 mm, and includes folding functions for the front passenger seat and headrest, providing more space and visibility for rear-seat passengers. The rear seat comfort package includes multi-contour seats, luxury headrests, and headrest cushions with heating functions that warm the neck and shoulders, along with executive seats that have a calf support that is increased by 50 mm compared to the previous model and a backrest adjustable up to 43.5 degrees, maximizing comfort for rear-seat passengers.
The Airmatic suspension, standard across the entire lineup, provides a comfortable ride in any road environment. The adaptive damping system responds sensitively to irregular road surfaces and controls each wheel individually to assist with a comfortable and stable drive. The self-leveling feature, based on sophisticated sensors, automatically lowers the body during high-speed or sporty driving. This allows for stable handling and dynamic driving. Rear-axle steering, which is standard in vehicles above the S 500 4MATIC, makes body control as easy as that of a compact car.
Advanced driving assistance systems are also in place to ease the burden on drivers. The cutting-edge driving assistance system, known as the 'Driving Assistance Package,' includes features such as maintaining distance from the vehicle ahead, automatic speed adjustment, braking and starting, lane departure prevention, and lane change assistance, and is standard across the entire lineup. Vehicles above the S 580 4MATIC come with a feature called active ambient lighting, which can provide visual feedback to the driver when activating driving assistance systems such as active blind spot assist and active lane departure prevention assist.
As the S-Class meets the demands of domestic customers, Korea has established itself as the third-largest market for the S-Class worldwide since 2016. In 2023, the cumulative sales in Korea surpassed 100,000 units. Mercedes-Benz Korea is selling the current seventh-generation S-Class in four 2025 model variants: ▲S 350 d 4MATIC ▲S 450 4MATIC ▲S 500 4MATIC ▲S 580 4MATIC. Prices range from 151.6 million won to 253.6 million won, including VAT.