2021 Mercedes-Benz S-Class vs 2020 Mercedes-Benz E-Class

The 2020 Mercedes-Benz E-Class, introduced in 2017, harkened back to the E-Class from two generations prior with its rounded, smooth body. While some critics felt it was overly streamlined, the 2021 facelift addressed this by adding more edges. The E-Class's resemblance to the larger S-Class and smaller C-Class made it a recognizable and respectable member of the Mercedes family. Available in sedan, wagon, coupe, or cabriolet, its versatile design catered to conservative buyers. The sedan looked particularly luxurious with a hood ornament and thin-laced chrome grille, though most models featured a sport grille with a large Mercedes emblem. Delicate LED lighting, from twin running lamps to a grainy film effect on the tail, added to its visual appeal. The proportions, whether on the Luxury model's higher-riding suspension on 17-inch wheels or dropped on 20s with ground effects and quad exhausts, were always visually pleasing.

The cabriolet's fluid, creaseless form was especially striking with its contrasting soft top revealing a sumptuous interior. The E-Class delighted with multi-tone leathers, aluminum, and deep-polished wood. Two feet of high-res digital screens stretched across the dash, complemented by four circular air vents and knurled silver toggles for climate control. The ambient lighting, available in 64 colors with animations, added a delightful touch. Heated armrests, massaging seats, and striking colors made the interior a place for solitude. Even the base model, with leatherette and standard seats, felt several cuts above other cars in its segment.

The 2021 Mercedes-Benz S-Class, while not drastically different in exterior styling from its predecessor, boasted a drag coefficient of 0.22, making it more aerodynamic than a Toyota Prius. The new S-Class was 1.3 inches longer, with a 2-inch longer wheelbase, and slightly taller and wider. The car's size made a significant impression, with the classic Mercedes hood ornament and grille adding a hint of ostentation. Standard 19-inch wheels, with optional 20-inch and 21-inch wheels, filled out the wheel wells nicely.

The interior seemed designed around the infotainment touchscreen and digital instrument cluster, which protruded from the dashboard. Mercedes decluttered the interior, eliminating the rotary controller and swapping round air vents for rectangular ones. The minimalist design was a departure for Mercedes. The ambient lighting, with about 250 LED elements, created a neon-like effect throughout the interior. The S-Class featured Nappa leather upholstery, open-pore wood trim, and cool-looking speaker grilles for the optional Burmester audio system. A two-panel glass roof provided sun or shade for both rows. However, the piano-black trim on the dashboard and steering wheel was prone to smudging and reflected sunlight, detracting from the overall luxury feel.

The 2020 Mercedes-Benz E-Class offered a range of engines. The E350 replaced the E300, featuring a turbocharged 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine with 255 horsepower and 273 pound-feet of torque, paired with a 9-speed automatic transmission. The revised turbo and shorter intake runners provided quicker response, though the car's performance above 40 mph was less impressive. The E450, with a 3.0-liter twin-turbo V6 producing 362 hp and 369 lb-ft, offered a more balanced and powerful driving experience. The AMG E53, with a hybrid setup, delivered 429 hp and 384 lb-ft, while the extreme AMG E63 S, with a 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8, produced 603 hp and 627 lb-ft. Fuel economy ranged from 19 to 32 mpg, depending on the powertrain and body style.

The 2021 Mercedes-Benz S-Class featured the S500 4Matic with a 3.0-liter turbocharged inline-six engine, producing 429 hp and 384 lb-ft, and the S580 4Matic with a 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8, producing 496 hp and 516 lb-ft. Both engines used a 9-speed automatic transmission and included EQ Boost, a mild-hybrid system adding 21 hp and 184 lb-ft for short bursts. The S500 accelerated from 0 to 60 mph in 4.8 seconds, while the S580 did it in 4.4 seconds. The S-Class featured standard air suspension and an optional E-Active Body Control suspension system. Rear-wheel steering, which could turn the wheels up to 10 degrees at low speeds, reduced the turning circle by seven feet. The S580 was fast and comfortable, with precise steering and minimal body roll in Sport and Sport+ modes.

The 2020 Mercedes-Benz E-Class continued with the COMAND infotainment system, which was complicated and not touchscreen-enabled. The system required multiple steps for various functions, making it highly distracting. However, the E-Class excelled in functionality with seat and seat climate controls on the door panels, ample space, and great sightlines. The coupe had a usable rear seat, and the wagon featured a rear-facing jump seat for small children. A net in the front passenger footwell was handy for securing water bottles.

The 2021 Mercedes-Benz S-Class offered more front and rear headroom and rear legroom than its predecessor. Cargo space increased to 12.9 cubic feet, though it was still less than other luxury sedans. The power-adjustable front seats, with 19 motors, heating, ventilation, and massage, were incredibly comfortable. The removal of many analog controls freed up storage space, with a large center console bin and a covered area for a wireless phone charger and cupholders. Rear-seat passengers enjoyed a large console/armrest with cupholders and climate controls. The optional Executive Line package added power-adjustable rear seats, four-zone climate control, and a reclining right-rear seat.

The 2020 Mercedes-Benz E-Class featured advanced tech, including a semi-automated driving system, V2X communication, and customizable digital displays. Standard tech included Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. The Burmester stereo offered surround-sound modes, and the front camera activated automatically when parking. The Energizing Comfort Package, with perfume and prerecorded music, was a novelty feature. The AMG models included a Track Pace app for race track guidance.

The 2021 Mercedes-Benz S-Class came with a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and a 12.8-inch OLED central touchscreen, with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto and six USB ports. The updated MBUX infotainment system had 50% more computing power. Functions like climate control and seat massagers moved to the touchscreen, but hard buttons remained for important functions. The augmented-reality head-up display projected navigation arrows, though it could be distracting. The digital instrument cluster had beautiful graphics, but the steering-wheel touchpads were small and hard to use. The ambient lighting reacted to certain functions, but it seemed more gimmicky than useful. The S-Class allowed drivers to set up personal profiles with biometric or facial recognition, and rear-seat occupants could send navigation directions to the main screen.

The 2020 Mercedes-Benz E-Class sedan and wagon scored a 5-star overall rating from the NHTSA and were rated a Top Safety Pick+ by the IIHS. The coupe and cabriolet models were not tested but were considered equally safe. Innovations included Pre-Safe Sound, side bolster inflation during a side collision, and countering crosswinds. Standard safety features included forward emergency braking, a driver attention monitor, and blind-spot monitoring. Optional features included 14 additional driver-assist features.

The 2021 Mercedes-Benz S-Class had not been rated by the NHTSA or IIHS. It featured a rear-passenger airbag and standard driver-assist features, including adaptive cruise control, 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 claimed improvements in these features, such as traffic-sign recognition detecting stop signs and red lights, and lane-keep assist reading road edges. The S-Class' lane-centering and adaptive cruise control performed better than most competitors.