Preview: 2027 Mercedes-Benz S-Class Flagship Gets a Big Update

These days, SUVs are supplanting sedans, software-defined vehicles are accelerating the pace of automotive innovation, and the wealthiest buyers are turning to ultra-luxury brands like Bentley and Rolls-Royce. In this environment, the S-Class must evolve or risk becoming a monument to another era.

Mercedes sold only about 6,500 S-Class sedans last year, compared to about 25,000 GL-Class and 10,000 G-Wagen SUVs. The Lucid Air and Tesla Model S luxury electric sedans both outsold the S-Class as well. And the Lexus LS, a car originally created to compete with the big Mercedes, is soon to be discontinued.

Regardless of how many cars the company sells, the S-Class remains an important vehicle for Mercedes. Like Dom Perignon, Louis Vuitton, or Rolex, it’s a symbol of luxury that’s familiar even to the many people who will never own one. It’s also a bellwether for the expectations of the lucky few who can drive—or be driven in—one.

We’re especially excited to see whether the new V8 engine is as satisfying as it sounds and whether the massive Superscreen spanning the entire dashboard is any easier to use than prior Mercedes infotainment systems, which we found almost universally frustrating. The S-Class’ controls are still largely touch-based, and there’s a mind-boggling number of possible adjustments possible—six different massage programs! At least it seems to sidestep some of the worst issues we had with the too-futuristic Mercedes EQS. A few basic features get physical controls, and Mercedes says that a new AI-powered voice assistant allows for more natural conversation with the car’s voice control. Over-the-air updates can help the car evolve as new features are developed or refined.

Mercedes didn’t make any radical changes to the S-Class’ look, although it did ensure that everyone who sees it will know what kind of car it is. Like the E-Class, the S-Class now has Mercedes-logo-shaped taillights, but that’s not all: The headlights are star-shaped, and the hood ornament can be illuminated. There are also tiny three-pointed stars on the giant grille, which the automaker says is about 20 percent larger than on the outgoing vehicle. 

For the first time on an S-Class sold in the U.S., the adaptive headlights can automatically adjust their high beams to more precisely light curves and other dark spots.

The S-Class comes standard with 19-inch wheels, but buyers can opt for a new 20-inch multispoke wheel design made with weight-saving high-pressure casting technology. Lighter wheels make for a better ride and improved handling.

An optional AMG Line trim is now available in the U.S. It gets a sportier front bumper, more chrome trim, side skirts, and AMG-specific wheels up to 21 inches.

If you want an even more exclusive look and don’t mind a bigger price tag, the Manufaktur Made to Measure program lets buyers choose from more than 150 exterior paints and over 400 interior colors.

Up front, the S-Class looks a lot like a more upscale version of the current E-Class. A 14.4-inch central display and 12.3-inch passenger display are combined in a single Superscreen, with a 12.3-inch driver display. A 3D instrument cluster is optional. 

We’re glad to see at least some physical controls, including door-mounted seat controls (a Mercedes-Benz signature), a turn signal stalk, and a return to a physical volume knob and cruise control rocker on the steering wheel. Other steering wheel controls remain touch-sensitive.

The S-Class can automatically adjust the intensity and direction of climate vents using tiny motors built into each blower nozzle, or occupants can adjust the nozzles by hand. It’s a hybrid approach that our user interface experts think will be much easier to control while driving than the convoluted touchscreen-based setups in some newer luxury vehicles.

Three powertrain choices are available. A revised turbocharged inline six-cylinder engine is standard on the S500, with changes that increase torque and reduce noise and vibration. 

Unusually, the S580 has an updated turbocharged V8 engine with a flat-plane crankshaft, a design that’s more often used on sports cars instead of touring sedans like the S-Class. Flat-plane crank engines tend to rev higher, but offer less low-end torque, and have a unique, higher-pitched sound. The Chevrolet Corvette Z06 has one, as did the 2016 to 2020 Ford Mustang GT350. We’ll be very curious to see how Mercedes implements the setup in a car that’s designed more for quiet cruising than track performance.

Both the S500 and S580 use a 48V mild-hybrid setup. The S580e is a full plug-in hybrid that’s more powerful than the outgoing PHEV S-Class, although Mercedes has not shared how many electric-only miles it can get on a charge.

Every S-Class sold in the U.S. will come standard with all-wheel drive, Mercedes’ Airmatic air suspension, rear-wheel steering, and a nine-speed automatic transmission. E-Active Body Control, an active air suspension that scans the road ahead for potholes and adjusts each wheel accordingly, is optional.

The S-Class comes with all the expected active safety systems, plus up to 15 airbags, including optional rear airbags and rear seat belt-mounted bags. Optional E-Active Body Control can automatically elevate the vehicle in a collision to better distribute crash forces.

Many advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) are Digital Extras. In Mercedes-speak, that means they must be activated by the owner and may require a subscription at some point. 

MB.Drive Assist uses new computers, software, and sensors to enhance adaptive cruise control, lane centering assistance, and other active driving assistance (ADA) features. In the future, these capabilities may be expanded even further, although the Drive Pilot Level 3 driver assistance system isn’t currently offered.