2021 Mercedes-Benz S-Class vs 2020 Toyota Camry

The 2020 Toyota Camry had evolved significantly in terms of its styling, moving away from its previously mundane appearance to a more sporty and expressive design. The bold front fascia and sharp lines gave the Camry a fresh, aggressive look, unusual for a vehicle in its class. The character lines running along the doors and the distinct kink in the C-pillar were clear nods to BMW’s sporty designs. Multiple exterior color options, including a striking black roof, made the Camry more visually appealing.

Inside, Toyota used high-quality materials that contributed to an upscale feel, even in the lower trim levels. The driver-focused dashboard design enhanced the driving experience, and in the TRD model, the red trim accents and seatbelts gave a sporty vibe reminiscent of luxury sports car interiors. Though not a luxury car, the Camry's top trims, with leather and wood touches, set a higher benchmark for midrange sedans.

Contrastingly, the 2021 Mercedes-Benz S-Class retained its familiar exterior styling but with improvements that were more aerodynamic, achieving an impressive drag coefficient of 0.22. The car grew slightly in size, which, combined with the classic Mercedes hood ornament and refined grille, added a level of stately luxury to its presence. Standard 19-inch wheels, with 20-inch and 21-inch options, complemented its elegant look.

Inside, the S-Class was designed around advanced technology, featuring a minimalist cabin with a focus on a large infotainment touchscreen and digital instrument cluster. The interior ambient lighting system, with about 250 LED elements and 64 color choices, created a visually stunning ambiance. The materials used, such as Nappa leather and open-pore wood trim, screamed luxury, though the large piano-black surfaces were prone to smudges and reflections, a minor letdown for a car of this stature.

The 2020 Toyota Camry offered a range of powertrain options to suit different driving preferences. The highlight was the 3.5-liter V6 engine making 301 horsepower, delivering a smooth and powerful drive paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. This engine closely aligned with luxury aspirations, especially in the XLE trim. However, in the TRD variant aimed at sportiness, the V6 did not quite match the high-performance expectations despite its dual exhaust system.

The 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine, producing 203 hp (206 hp in the XSE trim), provided a nimble and enjoyable driving experience thanks to the efficiency of the eight-speed automatic transmission. The lighter front-end of four-cylinder models improved steering feel. AWD availability across the four-cylinder variants was a significant advancement, offering better control in slippery conditions without compromising fuel economy too severely, with the AWD version yielding an EPA combined fuel economy rating of 28 mpg compared to 31 mpg for the FWD models.

The 2021 Mercedes-Benz S-Class delivered a powerful performance with its advanced engines. The base S500 4Matic came equipped with a 3.0-liter turbocharged inline-six engine generating 429 hp and 384 lb-ft of torque, while the S580 4Matic featured a 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 producing 496 hp and 516 lb-ft of torque. Both engines were paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission, and the EQ Boost mild-hybrid system added up to 21 hp and 184 lb-ft of torque for short bursts.

The S500 accelerated from 0 to 60 mph in 4.8 seconds, while the S580 achieved it in 4.4 seconds. Both models featured standard air suspension and a sophisticated E-Active Body Control suspension system, further enhancing ride comfort and handling. The addition of rear-wheel steering, which could turn up to 10 degrees, made the S-Class exceptionally agile for its size.

The 2020 Toyota Camry was designed for ease of use and practicality. The layout of controls was mostly intuitive, although there was a somewhat outdated row of buttons to the left of the steering wheel. The center console effectively housed the shifter, cupholders, a cell phone tray, and a storage bin. Front legroom and hip room had increased from the previous generation, ensuring comfort for the driver and front passenger. However, the rear seat lagged behind, with reduced legroom and overall passenger volume compared to some competitors. The trunk only offered 15.1 cubic feet of space, on par with smaller sedans like the Honda Civic rather than its direct rivals.

In contrast, the 2021 Mercedes-Benz S-Class provided a stately interior with notable enhancements in front and rear headroom, and rear legroom compared to its predecessor. While it had less front legroom than some competitors, it excelled in shoulder room. The trunk space increased slightly to 12.9 cubic feet, still less than some rivals, and some optional features like power-adjustable rear seats could eat into this space.

The S-Class offered opulent comfort with front seats featuring 19 motors for adjustment, heating, ventilation, and 10 massage modes. The reconfiguration of interior storage areas, thanks to the removal of analog controls, provided ample space for phones, beverages, and small items.

The 2020 Toyota Camry was equipped with essential modern technology like Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, which were long-overdue additions. The standard infotainment system was user-friendly with quick touch responsiveness and hard buttons for major functions. The base models came with a 7-inch screen, upgradeable to an 8-inch screen. Connectivity included a single USB-A port and a couple of USB-A charging ports, with optional wireless charging and WiFi Connect. Higher trims featured a larger 7-inch multi-information display and an optional 10-inch head-up display.

The 2021 Mercedes-Benz S-Class stood out with its advanced infotainment and tech suite. It featured a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and a 12.8-inch OLED central touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The system was powered by the updated Mercedes-Benz User Experience (MBUX) with a substantial increase in computing power. The 30-speaker Burmester audio system and rear-seat infotainment setup with dual 11.6-inch touchscreens added to the immersive experience.

The S-Class’ augmented-reality head-up display (HUD) was particularly impressive, providing navigation assistance with on-road arrows. However, the touchpads on the steering wheel for instrument cluster controls were small and fiddly. The vehicle also introduced biometric and facial recognition for user profiles, and rear-seat passengers could send navigation directions to the front screen.

The 2020 Toyota Camry featured the Toyota Safety Sense suite with standard technologies like a pre-collision system, emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, lane-departure warning, and automatic high beams. A one-year trial of Safety Connect and optional blind-spot monitoring were included. The NHTSA awarded the 2020 Camry a five-star rating, and the IIHS rated it as a Top Safety Pick+. Despite a recall for leaking engine coolant, its safety scores were excellent.

The 2021 Mercedes-Benz S-Class had not yet been tested by NHTSA or IIHS, but it boasted an extensive list of safety features including the industry-first rear-passenger airbag. Standard driver-assist systems were comprehensive, with adaptive cruise control, lane-centering, emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, and more. Mercedes improved the performance of features like traffic-sign recognition and lane-keep assist. The new capacitive sensor-equipped steering wheel ensured the car accurately detected driver engagement.