2021 Mercedes-Benz S-Class vs 2022 Kia K5

The 2021 Mercedes-Benz S-Class exhibited an exterior styling that continued to channel classic Mercedes-Benz elegance. Though its looks hadn't drastically changed from the previous generation, subtle aerodynamic improvements were evident, boasting a drag coefficient of 0.22, outdoing even the Toyota Prius. It gained 1.3 inches in length, along with a 2-inch longer wheelbase, also becoming slightly taller and wider.

The size of the S-Class was prominently noticeable, with its iconic hood ornament and grille accentuating a luxurious presence. Standard 19-inch wheels were accompanied by optional upgrades to 20-inch or 21-inch wheels; the test vehicle sported 20-inch wheels that fit perfectly without necessarily needing the larger 21-inch option.

Inside, the S-Class appeared to be designed around its dual infotainment and digital instrument cluster screens, standing out as the cabin’s focal point. The interior was decluttered, moving away from previous rotary controllers and round vents to a minimalist yet luxurious approach. The rectangular vents optimized space usage.

Mercedes took ambient lighting within the vehicle to new heights, integrating around 250 LED elements compared to the previous 40, offering 64 color options connected to various infotainment and driver-assist systems. High-end materials like Nappa leather, open-pore wood trim, aluminum inlays, and stylish speaker grilles from the optional Burmester audio system emphasized luxury. However, the piano-black finish covering parts of the dashboard and steering wheel was prone to smudges and reflections.

The 2022 Kia K5 was available in several trims: LX, LXS, GT-Line, EX, and GT, each coming standard with a turbocharged engine. Prices ranged from $23,790 to $31,190, excluding destination charges. Our test car, the K5 EX with front-wheel drive, extra-cost paint, the EX Premium package, and floor mats, totaled $33,945, presenting an attractive value.

The K5's exterior design made it instantly recognizable on the road, suggesting an image of a luxury sports sedan. Its low, long, and sleek styling continued Kia's tradition of setting design standards. The test car's Glacial White Pearl paint paired elegantly with the Ash Blue synthetic leather interior, complemented by matte-finish faux wood and metallic accents.

The K5 conveyed quality through seemingly minor but significant details such as the transmission shifter's solid feel, sturdy door handles, and well-weighted steering wheel stalks. The dashboard layout was practical, ensuring the controls were intuitive and user-friendly.

For the 2021 Mercedes-Benz S-Class, the S500 4Matic was powered by a 3.0-liter turbocharged inline-six engine, delivering 429 horsepower and 384 pound-feet of torque. The S580 4Matic upgraded to a 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8, producing 496 hp and 516 lb-ft of torque. Both variants featured a nine-speed automatic transmission and the EQ Boost mild-hybrid system, adding brief electric assist bursts of 21 hp and 184 lb-ft of torque. The S500 accelerated from 0 to 60 mph in 4.8 seconds, while the S580 achieved it in 4.4 seconds.

The S-Class incorporated standard air suspension and optional E-Active Body Control, using 48-volt electrical hardware. It also debuted rear-wheel steering, with the ability to turn rear wheels up to 10 degrees at low speeds, reducing the turning circle to 36 feet. Our S580 test drive demonstrated a fast yet comfortable ride, with a touch of wind noise at highway speeds. The Sport and Sport+ modes managed body roll well without compromising comfort, and the steering was precise, providing a tactile connection with the road.

The 2022 Kia K5 GT offered peak performance with its turbocharged 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine, generating 290 horsepower and 311 pound-feet of torque. Power was sent to the front wheels via an eight-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. Despite its potent engine, the K5 GT didn’t benefit from all-wheel drive.

For those prioritizing economy or all-wheel traction, the K5’s standard 1.6-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine with an eight-speed automatic produced 180 hp and 195 lb-ft of torque. The power delivery was linear, especially between 1,500 rpm and 4,500 rpm, making for a lively driving experience. Drive Mode Select enabled powertrain calibration, offering Normal, Sport, Smart, and Custom settings, and Active Sound Control added synthetic engine sounds for an engaging feel.

Over a week-long test drive in Southern California, the K5 EX’s 1.6-liter turbo engine delivered adequately for daily driving, though it fell short in passing power on highways. The K5 EX returned a fuel economy of 29.1 mpg against the EPA’s combined rating of 31 mpg.

While the K5 EX’s handling was not as sporty as some rivals, it provided competent and balanced driving dynamics. However, the suspension at times struggled to smooth out road perturbations, and road noise was more pronounced compared to wind noise, which was minimal.

The 2021 Mercedes-Benz S-Class boasted greater front and rear headroom, and increased rear legroom compared to its predecessor. It offered notable shoulder room, enhancing the cabin’s spacious feeling, though it had less front legroom compared to competition.

Cargo capacity was modest at 12.9 cubic feet, though slightly improved from the previous version. Power-adjustable rear seats could, however, reduce cargo space. Comfort in the S-Class included power-adjustable front seats, each with 19 motors for adjustments, equipped with heating, ventilation, and massage functions. The headrests even featured tiny pillows for added comfort.

Mercedes simplified interior storage by removing many analog controls, creating space in the center console, and providing a large storage bin, wireless phone charger, and cupholders. The optional Executive Line package transformed the rear seats into a luxury space with power adjustments, four-zone climate controls, and a reclining feature on the right rear seat.

In the 2022 Kia K5, comfort was easily attainable across various trims. Our test car included dual-zone climate control, 10-way power-adjustable seats with heating and ventilation, and rear AC vents. The panoramic sunroof illuminated the Ash Blue interior, and the power sunroof shade operated smoothly.

Despite its comfort, the low-slung design of the K5 made ingress and egress more challenging compared to higher SUVs. The front seats were comfortable, and SynTex synthetic leather closely mimicked real leather. Rear passengers enjoyed ample space for heads, legs, and feet, though reclined front seats could make the hard plastic seatbacks uncomfortable for those in the rear.

The K5 featured a practical layout, balancing style and functionality, with easily readable and operable controls. There was sufficient interior storage, including a bin under the center armrest, a smartphone slot, and cleverly hidden door panel trays.

The K5 offered a larger trunk at 16 cubic feet, surpassing the S-Class, and providing substantial cargo space, which could be further expanded by folding down the rear seats. However, the lack of an interior handle for the trunk lid and Smart Trunk automatic release feature needed improvement.

The 2021 Mercedes-Benz S-Class came standard with a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and a 12.8-inch OLED touchscreen, integrating wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and six USB ports. An optional 30-speaker Burmester audio system and rear-seat infotainment with two 11.6-inch touchscreens and a 7-inch tablet were available.

Updated Mercedes-Benz User Experience (MBUX) powered the system, enhanced by 50% more computing power. The touchscreen-centric setup was user-friendly, with climate control and seat massager functions accessible through the main screen. Important features retained physical buttons, and the voice-control system functioned efficiently. An augmented-reality head-up display (HUD) projected navigation arrows for a futuristic touch, although it sometimes displayed distracting amounts of information.

Other tech features, like the small steering-wheel touchpads for digital instrument cluster views, were less intuitive. The ambient lighting, reacting to various functions, felt more like a gimmick.

For personalization, drivers could set up profiles accessible via biometric or facial recognition, and rear passengers in equipped models could send navigation directions to the main screen.

The 2022 Kia K5 offered two infotainment systems. Lower trims had an 8-inch touchscreen with large volume and tuning knobs, and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. GT-Line trims and above came with a 10.25-inch touchscreen that ditched the tuning knob and required a wired connection for smartphone integration but added satellite radio, Kia Connect, Wi-Fi hotspot, navigation, and ambient noise tracks.

Standard wireless charging and an optional 12-speaker Bose audio system with Active Sound Design were also included. The unique Leading Vehicle Departure Alert was useful for distracted drivers in traffic. However, the voice recognition system was subpar, necessitating reliance on Apple CarPlay or Android Auto.

The 2021 Mercedes-Benz S-Class lacked crash-test ratings from the NHTSA and IIHS, but it featured a comprehensive suite of safety tools. Standard driver-assist features included adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go, lane centering, emergency braking, forward-collision warning, blind-spot monitoring, lane-keep and lane-change assist, traffic-sign recognition, driver-attention monitor, and a 360-degree camera system.

Improvements included enhanced traffic-sign recognition and lane-keep assist capable of reading road edges. The steering wheel now featured capacitive sensors to ensure the driver’s hands were on the wheel.

Adaptive cruise control and lane-centering performed exceptionally well, managing highway curves smoothly and reacting promptly to traffic changes, setting a high standard for driver-assist technology.

The 2022 Kia K5 excelled in driver assistance. The Kia Drive Wise suite in our test car included forward-collision warning with pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping and lane-following assist, automatic high beams, driver monitoring, rear-seat reminder, and Safe Exit Assist.

The EX Premium package added cyclist detection, Junction Turning Assist, and navigation-based adaptive cruise control, among other features. Highway Driving Assist worked seamlessly, maintaining smooth responses to traffic.

The K5 achieved top safety ratings, earning an IIHS Top Safety Pick+ and a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA.