2021 Mercedes-Benz S-Class

The luxury sedan benchmark again moves the goalposts

- Scott Evans

SPECS 2021 Mercedes-Benz S 500; S 580 4Matic PRICE $96,000-$110,000 (est) LAYOUT Front-engine, RWD/AWD, 5-pass, 4-door sedan ENGINE 3.0L/429-hp/384-lb-ft turbo DOHC 24-valve I-6 plus 21-hp/184-lb-ft electric motor, 429 hp/384 lb-ft comb; 4.0L/496-hp/516-lb-ft twin-turbo DOHC 32-valve V-8 plus 21-hp/184-lb-ft electric motor, 496 hp/516 lb-ft comb TRANSMISSION 9-speed auto CURB WEIGHT 4,700-4,900 lb (MT est) WHEELBASE 126.6 in L x W x H 208.2 x 76.9 x 59.2 in 0-60 MPH 4.0-4.6 sec (MT est) EPA FUEL ECON Not yet rated ON SALE Spring 2021

The new 2021 Mercedes-Benz S-Class will be a force to be reckoned with when it reaches American shores in both S 500 and S 580 forms sometime in the first half of 2021.

The new platform extends the Benz’s wheelbase by 2.0 inches, most of which translates to additional rear-seat space. The S-Class’ body is stretched 1.3 inches in length and gains 0.4 inch in height.

Mercedes recommends every driver create a profile to automatically load preferences for everything from audio levels and frequent navigation destinations to climate settings and seat position. You can activate yours by a fingerprint swipe, facial or voice recognition, or a PIN, and up to seven profiles can be stored, with the car’s owner able to restrict how much access other profiles have to vehicle settings.