Mercedes-Benz S-Class

The S-Class has always been the epitome of an ultra luxury sedan. This redesigned flagship sedan continues to deliver a very comfortable ride but the low profile tires mar it. The cabin is super hushed, fit and finish is impeccable, and thrust is effortless. The standard engine is a 3.0-liter inline-six cylinder, and the uplevel choice is a 4.0-liter V8, both turbocharged. Each is teamed with a nine-speed automatic transmission and supplemented with a 48-volt mild-hybrid system. The car's rear-wheel steering turns the wheels in the direction of travel to aid handling and in the opposite direction to aid maneuverability. That in turn makes the S-Class quite agile in the corners, belying its size. The new infotainment system is complicated to use. The slick head-up display features augmented reality. Safety innovations include the ability to raise the ride height to better protect passengers during a side impact.

Generation summary from Consumer Reports. Year-specific figures appear below; missing values mean unavailable, not zero.