2023 Toyota Prius vs 2022 Mercedes-Benz S-Class

The 2022 Mercedes-Benz S-Class retained its fantastic look from the 2021 model, following a complete makeover. Despite the growing popularity of SUVs, the S-Class continued to make a strong case for sedans with its sleek design and elegant proportions. The seventh-generation S-Class, code-named "W223," remained Mercedes-Benz's flagship sedan, featuring a long, low profile and a distinctive grille with a star hood ornament. The interior was equally impressive, with high-quality materials, a 12.8-inch touchscreen, and a 12.3-inch digital instrument panel, all meticulously fitted and assembled.

In contrast, the 2023 Toyota Prius received a complete makeover, finally giving the hybrid a head-turning style. The new Prius featured a sleeker exterior with a blend of curves and edges, making it look more futuristic and athletic. The wheels were pushed further into the corners for better handling, and the car was longer, lower, and wider than its predecessor. Inside, the Prius felt solid and well-built, with high-quality materials and a pair of screens for the driver. The cabin prioritized function over form, offering a comfortable and organized space for daily driving.

The 2022 Mercedes-Benz S-Class was designed for both serene weekday commuting and weekend pleasure driving. The S500 model featured a turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-six-cylinder mild-hybrid engine with EQ Boost, delivering 429 hp and 384 lb-ft of torque, with an additional 21 hp and 184 lb-ft from the electric motor. The S580 model had a twin-turbocharged 4.0-liter V8 engine with the same EQ Boost system. Both models used a nine-speed automatic transmission and standard 4Matic AWD. The S500 accelerated from 0-60 mph in 4.9 seconds, while the S580 did it in 4.4 seconds. Fuel efficiency was rated at 21 mpg city/30 mpg highway/24 mpg combined for the S500 and 16 mpg city/25 mpg highway/19 mpg combined for the S580.

The 2023 Toyota Prius featured a new 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine, combined with a more powerful electric motor and lithium-ion battery, producing 194 hp in FWD models and 196 hp in AWD models. This was a significant improvement over the previous model's 121 hp. The Prius felt more athletic and eager, with a 0-60 mph time of 7.1 seconds, down from 10.5 seconds in the older model. The car handled well, with agile and athletic suspension, and provided a comfortable and engaging daily driving experience. However, engine noise was noticeable during hard acceleration.

The 2022 Mercedes-Benz S-Class excelled as an executive sedan, offering a roomy and comfortable cabin with ample storage and cargo space. Second-row passengers enjoyed powered sun blinds and a Panorama Sunroof. The trunk provided 13.8 cubic feet of space. The cabin featured six USB-C ports and a 115-volt power supply in the second row. The driver and front passenger had active multicontour seats with massage, lumbar support, and memory functions. The Luxury Line added heated armrests and the "Energizing Comfort" system, while the Executive Line upgraded rear seats and included a high-end rear-seat entertainment system.

The 2023 Toyota Prius, despite growing on the outside, had a slightly smaller interior in some dimensions. Headroom was reduced, but legroom increased, making the rear seats comfortable for taller passengers. The optional fixed glass roof on the XLE and standard on the Limited trim helped open up the cabin. Cargo space dropped to 20 cubic feet on XLE and Limited models and 24 cubic feet on the LE. The cabin featured cupholders, a wireless smartphone charging pocket, and USB-C ports. The cargo area had small underfloor storage cubbies and a flexible cargo cover.

The 2022 Mercedes-Benz S-Class was packed with advanced technology. The 12.8-inch OLED touchscreen interface for the MBUX infotainment system offered superior image quality and energy efficiency. The 12.3-inch LED virtual instrument panel provided crisp imagery and customizable themes. Optional features included a 3D instrument cluster and augmented reality head-up display. The standard Burmester 3D Surround sound system could be upgraded to a 4D system with headrest speakers. The EQ Boost system and rear-axle steering added to the car's technological prowess.

The 2023 Toyota Prius came with an 8-inch color touchscreen infotainment system with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto on the base LE and mid-grade XLE models. The XLE could be upgraded to a 12.3-inch touchscreen, standard on the Limited trim. The navigation system required a subscription to Toyota's Drive Connect. All models had a 7-inch digital instrument cluster, six USB-C ports, and an AT&T Wi-Fi hotspot. Subscription-based connectivity bundles included Remote Connect, Safety Connect, and Drive Connect.

The 2022 Mercedes-Benz S-Class was loaded with safety features, including Magic Vision Control, active distance assist Distronic adaptive cruise control, active brake assist, active lane-keeping assist, and Pre-Safe systems. The car also featured car-to-x communication and optional rear-passenger airbags and rear-seat belt bag.

The 2023 Toyota Prius came with Toyota Safety Sense 3.0, which included adaptive cruise control, pre-collision braking, lane-departure alerts, lane-tracing assist, and Proactive Driving Assist. Other safety features included stability control, traction control, eight airbags, and blind-spot monitoring. The Limited trim could be optioned with Advanced Park for hands-free automatic parallel parking.