How much does the 2021 Mercedes-Benz S-Class cost?

Prices have softened 9.86% compared to this time last year, making it a favorable time to shop this model year.

There are 709 listings available, which gives you a meaningful amount of inventory to compare.

If you find a listing below $60,294.57, that's toward the low end of the year-round range and worth acting on quickly.

Is the 2021 Mercedes-Benz S-Class a good car?

Generally — the 2021 Mercedes-Benz S-Class earns a 4/5 user rating and a 7.5/10 expert rating. The model scores 9/10 across Performance and Technology.

Owners consistently praise its luxurious feel, advanced technology, and remarkable performance. Many also highlight the thrilling acceleration and enjoyable handling, which fits the car’s role as a flagship luxury sedan. The main trade-off from expert testing is the high price, along with some wind noise at highway speeds.

In practical terms, this is the kind of car that makes sense if you want a prestige sedan that emphasizes comfort, innovation, and strong power. The market also shows 25.5% of listings as good or great deals, which gives you some room to shop selectively.

Is the 2021 Mercedes-Benz S-Class reliable?

Owners rate it 4/5, a solid signal of long-term satisfaction.

Owner feedback points to a car that feels luxurious, advanced, and dependable enough to inspire confidence over time. The review summary also suggests the S-Class delivers the kind of trouble-free, long-term appeal many shoppers want from a flagship sedan, though a few owners mentioned run-flat tire issues.

Mercedes’ performance notes reinforce that sense of durability-minded engineering, with EQ Boost adding electric assist for smoother operation and more efficient stop/start behavior. The first scheduled maintenance visit is on the house, which helps early ownership costs.

For used buyers, the biggest long-term risk is complexity: if the car hasn’t been maintained properly, repairs can become expensive.

What should I look for when buying a used 2021 Mercedes-Benz S-Class?

Accident-free inventory is solid at 80.7% — always verify the vehicle history report.

You should still check the history report carefully, because a clean title alone does not tell you how the car was maintained or repaired. Prioritize a pre-purchase inspection that focuses on electronics, suspension behavior, and tire condition, since this is a highly complex luxury sedan. You should also pay close attention to how the cabin features, screens, and driver-assist systems operate in real-world use.

Key things to evaluate:

• Trim level: The S-Class comes standard with 19-inch wheels, while 20-inch and 21-inch wheels are optional. The interior centers on the infotainment touchscreen and digital instrument cluster, and the cabin uses Nappa leather upholstery and open-pore wood trim. The base setup already feels richly appointed, but some features remain optional, so you should compare equipment carefully.
• Powertrain: The S500 4Matic uses a 3.0-liter turbocharged inline-six with 429 horsepower and 384 pound-feet of torque, while the S580 4Matic uses a 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 with 496 hp and 516 lb-ft of torque. Both use a nine-speed automatic transmission and EQ Boost mild-hybrid assistance.
• Safety package: Standard driver-assist features include adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go functionality, automated lane centering, automatic emergency braking, forward-collision warning, blind-spot monitoring, lane-keep assist, lane-change assist, traffic-sign recognition, a driver-attention monitor, and a 360-degree camera system. Mercedes also includes an industry-first rear-passenger airbag.
• Infotainment: The standard setup includes a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and a 12.8-inch OLED central touchscreen, plus wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The system also supports over-the-air-style software advancement through an updated MBUX setup, and rear-seat tech can add 11.6-inch touchscreens and a 7-inch tablet.
• Fuel efficiency: Mercedes says the mild-hybrid system improves efficiency, and the trip computer showed 22.4 mpg over about 300 miles of driving.

Which 2021 Mercedes-Benz S-Class trim should I buy?

The 2021 Mercedes-Benz S-Class is offered in 2 trim levels: S500 4Matic, S580 4Matic.

Here's the short version:

• S500 4Matic: This is the better-value choice if you want the S-Class experience with the lower starting price. It still gives you the 429-horsepower inline-six, EQ Boost mild-hybrid assistance, all-wheel drive, and the same core luxury and tech foundation as the more expensive version.
• S580 4Matic: Choose this if you want the stronger V8 and the extra performance that comes with 496 horsepower and 516 pound-feet of torque. It suits you best if you care more about effortless acceleration than keeping the purchase price down.

The safety package is strong across the lineup, with standard adaptive cruise control, lane centering, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, and the rear-passenger airbag.

Is now a good time to buy a used 2021 Mercedes-Benz S-Class?

This looks like a moderate, selective buyer’s market, so you can shop carefully and still find opportunities.

• Deal availability: 25.5% of listings are priced as good or great deals.
• Inventory: There are 709 listings available.
• Price trend: Prices have softened 9.86% compared with last year.
• Clean inventory: 80.7% of listings are accident-free.

If you find a listing below $60,294.57, that's toward the low end of the year-round range and worth acting on quickly.

What is the 2021 Mercedes-Benz S-Class's resale value?

The current average of $60,248 sits slightly below last year's $66,838.

That price movement suggests the market has already adjusted downward, which can help you buy at a more favorable point in the cycle. For a future seller, the softer current pricing means resale upside may be more limited in the near term unless demand strengthens. Still, the S-Class name and its strong feature set should help support interest from luxury buyers who want a flagship sedan.

Vehicles with solid owner satisfaction ratings, like this model year's 4/5, tend to retain buyer demand, which supports resale value over time.

Is the 2021 Mercedes-Benz S-Class safe?

It earns a 7/10 safety score from our experts.

Crash-test ratings from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and Insurance Institute for Highway Safety aren’t available.

The S-Class does get a broad safety suite, including adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go functionality, automated lane centering, automatic emergency braking, forward-collision warning, blind-spot monitoring, lane-keep assist, lane-change assist, traffic-sign recognition, a driver-attention monitor, and a 360-degree camera system. Mercedes also includes an industry-first rear-passenger airbag.

The main caveat is that this is a freshly redesigned, low-volume luxury car, so formal crash-test coverage is limited. Even so, the driver-assist systems performed well in testing, especially the lane-centering and adaptive cruise control.

Should I buy a 2021 Mercedes-Benz S-Class or consider a different year?

If you're weighing the 2021 against nearby model years, here's how to think about it:

Choose the 2021 if:

• 25.5% of listings are priced as good or great deals.
• Accident-free inventory is solid at 80.7% — always verify the vehicle history report.
• Price trend: Prices have softened 9.86% compared with last year.
• Owners rate it 4/5 — a solid satisfaction signal.
• It debuts a redesigned, more advanced S-Class with updated infotainment and new powertrains.

Consider the 2022 if:

• At $63,231, the 2022 costs more than the current year's $60,248 average.
• It adds EPA-estimated fuel economy figures and keeps the same core luxury flagship formula.

The bottom line: If you want the better value, the 2021 is the smarter starting point because prices have eased and inventory is healthy. If you’re willing to pay more for the next model year’s added efficiency data and slightly newer pricing context, the 2022 is the cleaner alternative for shoppers who prioritize that incremental update.

These recommendations are based on CarGurus' proprietary market data from August 28, 2026, CarGurus experts' opinions, and generative AI.