What Is the 2025 Mercedes-Benz S-Class?
The 2025 Mercedes-Benz S-Class is a five-seat, full-size luxury car that serves as the German automaker’s top-of-the-line sedan. It’s offered in six trims: S500, S580, plug-in hybrid S580e, AMG S63 E Performance, Maybach S580 and Maybach S680. The AMG is the high-performance leader of the pack, while the elegantly appointed Maybach duo dials up the luxury (and bling) to an even higher level.
Engine choices consist of a 442-horsepower, turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-six-cylinder (S500); 496-hp, twin-turbo 4.0-liter V-8 (S580 and Maybach S580); 503-hp, turbo 3.0-liter inline-six hybrid (S580e); 791-hp, twin-turbo 4.0-liter V-8 hybrid (AMG S63 E Performance); and 621-hp, 6.0-liter V-12 (Maybach S680). Every version comes with a nine-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel drive. The S-Class’ rivals include the Audi A8, BMW 7 Series, Genesis G90 and Lexus LS.
What’s New on the 2025 Mercedes-Benz S-Class?
The S-Class family sees no major changes for 2025. All trims get minor updates to paint colors and standard equipment, and the AMG S63 E gets optional carbon-ceramic brakes and an optional increased top speed of 180 mph. The Maybach S680 Edition Nordic Glow is a specially trimmed version limited to just 50 examples in the U.S.
What Features in the 2025 Mercedes-Benz S-Class Are Most Important?
Standard features include:
- Leather upholstery
- Power-adjustable front seats
- Heated and ventilated front seats with massage
- 15-speaker Burmester surround-sound stereo with Dolby Atmos
- 12.3-inch digital instrument display
- 12.8-inch touchscreen
- Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
- Wireless device charging
- 19-inch alloy wheels
- Navigation with augmented reality display
- Dual-zone climate control
- Ambient interior lighting
- Hands-free power trunk lid
- Multiple USB-C charge ports
- “Hey Mercedes” voice command system
- Cabin fragrance system
- 360-degree camera system
- Stop-and-go adaptive cruise control
- Forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking
- Blind spot warning
- Rear cross-traffic alert
- Lane-centering steering
- Evasive steering assist
- Automated parking system
Available features include:
- Heated steering wheel
- Heated front armrests
- Heated and ventilated rear seats with massage
- Four-zone climate control
- Rear-wheel steering
- 30-speaker Burmester stereo
- Nappa leather upholstery
- Rear entertainment system with wireless headphones
- Rear-seat refrigerator
- Champagne flutes (Maybach)
- Folding rear tray tables
- Heated and cooled cupholders
- Power-closing rear doors
Should I Buy the 2025 Mercedes-Benz S-Class?
Life is good if an S-Class is on your automotive shopping list. It’s smooth and powerful to drive, has a superbly balanced suspension, and it’s available with pretty much every comfort and tech feature available on any Mercedes vehicle. Yes, the higher trims — especially the Maybach variants — are hugely expensive, but not many vehicles can be optioned with their own champagne flutes. Be sure to schedule plenty of time to get acquainted with all of the cabin technology; there’s a lot of it, and it could prove intimidating to some luxury-car buyers. With just a little more than 12 cubic feet of space, the trunk also is surprisingly small for a full-size sedan. And while a relentless focus on complicated tech features has sullied the S-Class’ appeal to some shoppers, it continues to serve admirably as a flag bearer of Mercedes engineering.
