S-Class Saloon

Released December 2020

Mercedes-Benz's flagship luxury saloon (W223, updated in 2026), sold in the UK in long-wheelbase form as a diesel and petrol mild hybrid and two petrol plug-in hybrids, suited to buyers who want a chauffeur-grade car.

Body: Saloon
Powertrain: Mild hybrid, Plug-in hybrid
Power: 308–577 bhp
Range: 60–67 mi
Boot: 515 l

What reviewers say

Reviewers agree the S-Class is supremely comfortable, refined and spacious, with smooth, strong powertrains and a plug-in hybrid whose long electric range they single out. The common criticisms are some lapses in interior quality and a reliance on fiddly touch controls; Auto Express found the augmented-reality display gimmicky, and Parkers found the driver assistance intrusive at times.

From autocar.co.uk, autoexpress.co.uk, whatcar.com and parkers.co.uk

Specifications

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Performance

Powertrain: Mild hybrid, Plug-in hybrid
Power: 308–577 bhp
0–62 mph: 4.4–5.7 s
Top speed: 155 mph
Engine or motors: S 350 d: 2,989 cc six-cylinder diesel, 230 kW (313 hp) plus 17 kW mild-hybrid motor; S 500: 2,998 cc six-cylinder petrol, 330 kW (449 hp) plus 17 kW; S 450 e: 240 kW petrol six plus 120 kW electric motor, 320 kW (435 hp) system; S 580 e: 330 kW petrol six plus 120 kW motor, 430 kW (585 hp) system; bhp converted from Mercedes' kW figures
Torque: 650 Nm (S 350 d), 600 Nm (S 500), 680 Nm system (S 450 e), 750 Nm system (S 580 e)
Gearbox: 9G-TRONIC 9-speed automatic
Drive: All-wheel drive (4MATIC); rear-wheel drive (S 450 e L)

Range and charging

Zero-emission range (WLTP): 60–67 miles
Battery: 21.96 kWh
Fastest charging: 60 kW
Economy (WLTP): 33.7–117.8 mpg
Range detail: WLTP electric range 67 miles (S 450 e L) or 60 miles (S 580 e 4MATIC L); equivalent all-electric range 68 or 62 miles
Charging: Plug-in hybrids: 21.96 kWh usable battery; 11 kW AC (0–100% in 2.25 hours); DC up to 60 kW (10–80% in 20 minutes)
Efficiency: WLTP combined: 44.2 mpg (S 350 d), 33.7 mpg (S 500), 117.8 mpg and 17 kWh/100 km (S 450 e), 97.5 mpg and 17.5 kWh/100 km (S 580 e)
CO2 emissions: 168 g/km (S 350 d), 191 g/km (S 500), 55 g/km (S 450 e) and 65 g/km (S 580 e) weighted

Practicality

Body: Saloon
Seats: 5
Boot: 515 litres
Length: 5,304 mm
Width: 1,921 mm
Weight: From 2,244 kg
Boot: 515 litres (S 350 d), 535 litres (S 500), 350 litres (plug-in hybrids)
Towing: 2,100 kg braked, 750 kg unbraked (not listed for the plug-in hybrids)
Size: 5,304 mm long (long wheelbase), 1,921 mm wide without mirrors (2,123 mm with), 1,503 mm high; 11.7–11.9 m turning circle; kerb weight 2,244 kg (S 500) to 2,571 kg (S 580 e); 76-litre fuel tank (67 litres plug-in hybrids)

Tech and safety

Infotainment: MBUX with generative-AI MBUX Virtual Assistant

Pros and cons

Pros

S 450 e L has 67 miles of WLTP electric range
S 580 e 4MATIC L reaches 62 mph in 4.4 seconds
S 350 d L 4MATIC returns 44.2 mpg WLTP combined

Cons

Over 5.3 metres long
Boot drops from 515–535 litres to 350 litres on the plug-in hybrids
S 580 e 4MATIC L weighs 2,571 kg

Closest rivals

Model	Body	Powertrain	Power	Range	Boot	Released
AudiA8	Saloon	Mild hybrid, Plug-in hybrid	282–563 bhp	36 mi	–	Nov 2017
BMWM3 Saloon	Saloon	Petrol	523 bhp	–	480 l	Mar 2021
BMW5 Series Saloon	Saloon	Mild hybrid, Plug-in hybrid	205–483 bhp	57–64 mi	520 l	Oct 2023

Sources

Photo: media.oneweb.mercedes-benz.com

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