2019 Mercedes-Benz S-class Review, Pricing, and Specs (2024)

Overview

The 2019 Mercedes-Benz S-class has long been synonymous with luxury, thanks to the car's elegant aesthetics and compelling performance. Whether you choose the roomy sedan, sporty coupe, or indulgent convertible, these high-class Benzes are loaded with the latest technology and the richest materials. Anybody who's somebody is a regular passenger in this world-class sedan, and it's an easy choice for buyers who won't settle for anything but the best. Yes, it's expensive, but as the saying goes, you get what you pay for, and that has never been truer than when said about the S-class.

What's New for 2019?

Since the S-class lineup was updated for 2018, it enters 2019 unchanged.

Pricing and Which One to Buy

While the S450's twin-turbo V-6 is probably plenty of engine for most drivers, it's hard to resist the S560's silken V-8, so it's the model we'd select. No matter which version you choose, the S-class is pricey, so we'd be light with the options. We would, however, consider the Driver Assistance package that adds a semi-autonomous driving mode, among other driver-assist features. We'd also select the Premium package, which adds massaging front seats with heat and ventilation; a self-parking feature with a 360-degree exterior camera system; power side-window sunshades for the rear seat; and keyless entry with push-button start.

Engine, Transmission, and Performance

Likes: Velvety smooth engines, quick with the V-8, unmatched ride quality.
Dislikes: Twin-turbo V-12 engine reserved for AMG-branded models, feels big on the road.

The S-class sedan is available with one of two buttery smooth and powerful gasoline powertrains: a 362-hp twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter V-6 and a 463-hp twin-turbocharged 4.0-liter V-8. The former is sold with S450 badges, and the latter wears S560 on its trunklid. Rear-wheel drive is standard, but all-wheel drive can be ordered with either engine. We clocked a rear-wheel-drive S450 at 5.3 seconds in our zero-to-60-mph test; the S560 did the deed in 4.2 seconds. Two-door models come only with the V-8 and the coupe managed a brisk 4.0-second zero-to-60-mph run at our test track. If these numbers aren't exciting enough for you, the Mercedes-AMG lineup of S-classes (reviewed separately) are even quicker.

Imagine, if you will, the ideal luxury-car ride: comfortable with the faintest hint of floatiness, without any sacrifice to secure handling or vehicle control. That sums up the S-class's suspension, which is the industry standard for large luxury cars. Every S-class comes standard with an air suspension and adaptive dampers, with the ability to select either Comfort or Sport mode. (Each mode has its own specific setting for steering, engine, and transmission.) There's no hiding the Benz's sheer size, but the car turns fine with only moderate lean and reacts promptly and smoothly to steering inputs.

Fuel Economy and Real-World MPG

The S-class is relatively efficient for something weighing nearly 5000 pounds, and both V-6 and V-8 engines outpace many of their rivals in the EPA's ratings. In our testing, the S-class's highway fuel economy proved to be quite good, with the base S450 delivering 31 mpg on our 200-mile highway fuel-economy test route, outperforming the BMW 740i by 1 mpg. The S560 sedan managed a respectable 26 mpg but was outdone by the V-8–powered 750i, which earned 29 mpg.

Interior, Infotainment, and Cargo

Likes: Benchmark luxury features, unrivaled build quality, high-tech features come standard.
Dislikes: Rear seatbacks don't fold, small-item storage is below average.

There are precious few automotive interiors we'd rather be in than that of the S-class. The cabin is contemporary and overtly luxurious. Buyers can choose from a host of leathers, woods, and intricate stitching accents for the seats, door panels, and dashboard, as well as power actuation for the rear seats and massage functions for the front and outboard rear chairs. The interior even smells decadent, thanks to the climate control's integrated air-perfuming system.

Behind its impressive visage—and huge screen area from its dual 12.3-inch displays—the S-class's COMAND system is complex and holds the potential to overwhelm users. The menu structures are straightforward enough, but they juggle a great number of functions and options. There are five choices of controls for navigating the system, including a main control knob, a touch-sensitive pad next to that knob, hard-button shortcuts to key menus on the dashboard, redundant steering-wheel controls, and voice commands. The standard list of infotainment features includes navigation, USB and Bluetooth connectivity, SiriusXM satellite radio, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and a wireless smartphone charging pad. Onboard Wi-Fi and premium Burmester audio systems are optional.

As with many of its competitors, the S-class has a smaller trunk than you might imagine and doesn't have a folding back seat to open up extra cargo room. We managed to fit five of our carry-on suitcases inside the trunk of both the sedan and the coupe. If you'll need more cargo capacity, we'd suggest taking a look at the Lincoln Continental, the Volvo S90 or the Cadillac XTS, all of which held more carry-ons and can be had with a folding rear seat.

Safety and Driver-Assistance Features

It's too bad Mercedes-Benz's long-standing expertise in crash-test performance has yet to be validated by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration or the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. In the absence of crash ratings from either agency, we cannot comment on its performance. That said, the S-class's available suite of driver-assistance technologies is cutting edge and affordable—relatively speaking. Key safety features include:

• Standard automated emergency braking with pedestrian detection
• Standard lane-keeping assist
• Available adaptive cruise control with semi-autonomous driving mode

Warranty and Maintenance Coverage

Mercedes-Benz's four-year/50,000-mile warranty is better than the industry average yet is merely in line with what other luxury brands offer, and it falls short of the Genesis G90's coverage.

• Limited warranty covers 4 years or 50,000 miles
• Powertrain warranty covers 4 years or 50,000 miles
• No complimentary scheduled maintenance