A vehicle with a six-figure price tag has a lot to live up to. Using nearly every driver assist technology available, as well as plenty of traditional luxury design, the 2020 S-Class leaves little doubt that it is at the top of its class. With more performance than you might expect, a very comfortable cabin and high levels of convenience, the S-Class rises above all other flagship luxury sedans.
Keyless entry, a hands-free trunklid and an automated parking system are now standard
Part of the sixth S-Class generation introduced for 2014
Edmunds says
Many newer rivals have tried, but none can unseat the 2020 Mercedes-Benz S-Class as the pinnacle of luxury sedans. With an abundance of luxurious leathers and wood trim throughout, Mercedes has seemingly spared no expense in creating this powerful cruiser. A variety of body styles and engine choices makes it ideal for shoppers looking for a faultless sedan, coupe or convertible.
RepairPal Reliability Ratings are based on the actual cost, frequency, and severity of unscheduled repairs and maintenance on make/model data for select 2008-2022 vehicles. The reliability of a specific vehicle may vary depending on its maintenance and driving history, model year, trim, and features.
never in 21 yrs given MB less than 5 stars, but...
2 out of 5 stars
P M, 04/15/2020
2019 Mercedes-Benz S-Class S 450 4MATIC 4dr Sedan AWD (3.0L 6cyl Turbo 9A)
I guess every maker has a bad year. I think it’s MB’s turn. I’ve had this new 2019 S560 4matic sedan 5 months, and all 5, battled operational and technology issues, PLUS, a dealer who has REFUSED to fix the car! And MBUSA has refused to get in the middle. The car will not shift - 3 times in one day, it’s confused, won’t shift into park, and the shifter operates the NAV screen! I felt … like I was being taken over by a machine in Terminator and my car was rebelling. Many technology issues, such as not using a contact for directions - it tells me info is missing, even though it’s there. Won’t load all my contacts (yes, I’ve done everything all the books and MB says), my doors suddenly won’t unlock and I have the key fob. All except technology failures, are intermittent but enough I can not trust the car again. It doesn’t help the dealer actually refused to take the car, won’t send anyone to view the problems so I can create them, MB executive relations won’t get in the middle, and I’m stuck with a car I rightly can’t trust to drive.
Back In The "High Life" Again!
5 out of 5 stars
abacomike, 11/11/2017
2018 Mercedes-Benz S-Class S 450 4dr Sedan (3.0L 6cyl Turbo 9A)
This is a truly refined automobile. I traded in my 2017 BMW 740i for the 2018 S450. There is very little comparison to the two cars. The Mercedes is quick, smooth riding and handling, stays in a straight line with little driver input which was not the case with the BMW 7 Series. The vehicle corners precisely and does not handle like a 4500+ pound luxury sedan - but more like a 3800 … pound vehicle. This car is, without doubt, the most beautiful, fun-to-drive and most comfortable luxury sedan I have every driven - and I have owned more than 40 luxury sedans in my lifetime. The pricing on this car is about $10,000 less than the S560 - mostly due to the V6 bi-turbo as opposed to a V8 bi-turbo. I drove both models and found the S450 to be a bit more nimble. Be prepared to surround yourself in the epitome of luxury, performance, audio, as a well as a myriad of driver safety features like adaptive cruise, adaptive lane departure, adaptive blind spot monitoring (which cause the car to remain in the lane if a car is detected on either side of you. Self-steering is precise as is the adaptive cruise. I'll update my review as I build up the miles. In summary, this is a luxury sports sedan while the BMW 7 series tends to be a more sporty handling vehicle. The new 9 speed transmission and driver-selected ride and handling options (Comfort, Sport, Economy) make the world of difference in this new S Class entry. Audio System is not to be believed - like listening to a live performance.
AMAZING LUXURY SEDAN 2018 S560
5 out of 5 stars
William Beal, 01/13/2019
2018 Mercedes-Benz S-Class S 560 4MATIC 4dr Sedan AWD (4.0L 8cyl Turbo 9A)
This is by far the finest luxury car I have ever driven. Read all the owner reviews. When Mercedes redesigned the S560 in 2015 they had to get it right to reclaim their status at the top of luxury cars. They did get it right and even owners of a Bentley and Rolls have told me it is superior to their sedans. It is perfection on wheels and the awesome technology wraps you in safety as … well as comfort. The refined Distronic Plus allows you to sit back and relax and let the car drive itself for you on the highway. It has been upgraded from my 2015 and is far more refined on the highway tracking your lane exactly. You will not be disappointed in the car. It is truly amazing.
2019 Mercedes S 450 problems
1 out of 5 stars
Andy , 07/28/2019
2019 Mercedes-Benz S-Class S 450 4dr Sedan (3.0L 6cyl Turbo 9A)
A month ago I traded in my 2015 S 550 for a 2019 S 450, my 4th S Class and our 7th Benz. It has already been in the shop twice -- the nav system can not find certain mature house numbers and zip codes and the onboard owner's manual does not open. The folding mirrors have failed to fold twice when the doors are locked. The Merecedes shop keeps talking about software upgrades which makes … me wonder if all 2019 S Class cars have these problems, or only mine. I have sent e-mails to Mereceds-Benz Germany, who says that the responsibility is with MBUSA, and MBUSA armwaves saying the car has a warranty. If the Mercedes shop is unable to fix the car the warranty is useless. Not what one would expect from a company that brags "Das Beste oder nichts".
After six visits to the shop the nav system is dysfunctional. I recently checked a 2019 CLS 450 --- same problem with the nav system as on my S 450.
My 2019 S 450 also developed a problem with the Easy Entry/Exit system. The steering wheel no longer moves up or down. The shop fixed it but the fix did not last long.
The car is a Lemon and MB bought it back.
We have a limited number of reviews for the 2020 Mercedes-Benz S-Class, so we've included reviews for other years of the S-Class since its last redesign.
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Edmunds says
