Mercedes S-Class facelift: we’ve had a ride, and it’s comfier and more innovative than ever
The BMW 7 Series rival gets a tweaked suspension and revised engines, contributing to what Mercedes says is the most extensively updated S-Class yet...
On sale Autumn 2025 | Price £105,000 (est)
The Mercedes S-Class is to the car world what Mo Gilligan is to stand-up comedy; one of the very best at doing their respective jobs. And while you likely won’t be laughing when you see its price tag, the new S-Class – which arrives in autumn 2026 – aims to leave you feeling relaxed and surrounded by the latest technology. But what exactly has changed?
Well, the engine lineup still comprises a series of mild hybrids, but they’ve been slightly updated. Kicking off the lineup are the S350/S450 six-cylinder diesel models, above which sits a six-cylinder plug-in hybrid (PHEV) capable of up to 62 miles of all-electric driving – not quite enough to match the longest-range PHEVs out there, but still an improvement on the BMW 750e (49 miles).
The range-topper is the 530bhp V8-powered S580 4MATIC, whose 20bhp increase over the outgoing car should nudge its 4.9sec 0-62mph time closer to the BMW 760e’s 4.8secs.
The S-Class still rides on air suspension, but now gets intelligent damping software which electronically adjusts the suspension before speed bumps and road blemishes to improve comfort. As an optional extra, you can also have rear-wheel steering fitted, which provides up to 10 degrees of tilt to reduce the turning circle by up to two metres. The overall figure now sits at 10.8 metres, which is actually a couple of feet less than a much smaller A-Class. That's seriously impressive.
Externally, the restyled grille is 20% larger, and flanked by LED headlights which allows you to see further than previously. You can even illuminate the bonnet star by ticking the right option box. The taillights house yet more star-shaped bulbs, now encased within a classy chrome case, while the new S-Class gets a fancy set of multi-spoke metallic alloy wheels. Alternatively, you can choose AMG-style wheels ranging in size from 19 to 21in.
We’ve already had a passenger ride in the S-Class, and can confirm that it feels as special as you'd expect for a car likely to cost the far side of £100,000. There’s elegant open-pore wood, glossy metallic textiles and artificial leather present, so it certainly looks the part. It's easy to get snug regardless of where you're sat, too, since there's acres of space in all corners of the S-Class, and not to mention, adjustability. And all this opulence is cloaking an interior that’s heavily draped in technology.
At its root is the redesigned instrument panel headlined by the MBUX Superscreen – that’s a 12.3in driver’s display, 14.4in infotainment and 12.3in passenger screen bolted together beneath a glass frame. Said Superscreen is still as sharp and as easy to navigate as the one in the pre-facelift model, but this time, the 3D Mode feels more finessed and actually enhances the overall experience, instead of feeling like a beta-level gimmick.
The multifunction flat-bottom steering wheel also reintroduces a couple of switches: a rocker for the cruise control and roller for volume. The driver will also be supported by an augmented reality head-up display, which projects all the key driving information, plus navigational data, onto the windscreen ahead. Mercedes also says the sound insulation has been improved, which should make the 1690-watt Burmester sound system experience that much more impressive.
Several key innovations have also been rolled out: for the first time, Mercedes has incorporated heated seat belts for the front two passengers, which can warm you at up to 44 degrees celsius. Elsewhere, the rear seat riders benefit from a 13.1in display on either side which now have integrated cameras to host live video calls; be it for a friendly catch-up or a tempered business meeting. There’s detachable remote controls present, too, which can be used for various functions like toggling the massage settings, adjusting the opaque window blinds or changing the ambient lighting colours.
As with most S-Class models, you still get the option of a roomier long-wheelbase (LWB) body style, which trades off the rear middle seat for a centre console that provides extra storage, wireless phone charging slots, a fridge, fold-out tables and temperature-controlled cupholders. It’s the perfect care package for the modern executive, really.
Pricing structures are yet to be confirmed, but we’re expecting the new S-Class to start from a smidge more than £105,000 for the base 350 model, before raising to £125,000 for the S580 versions. In other words, almost identical to the BMW 7 Series lineup.
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