“Return to the mechanical volume control wheels. The touch controls require moist skin. I have dry skin and the up and down volume touch screen controls don't work for me. I have no way to control the volume unless I lick my finger. This is going to be a major consideration for my next vehicle.”
2021 Mercedes-Benz S-Class: What's New, Specs & Features
Last updated August 4, 2026
The big news for 2021 is a fully redesigned S-Class sedan that starts the model’s seventh generation. The coupe and cabriolet carry over without meaningful changes for their final model year.
About the 2021 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
Sedan: 7th-generation S-Class (W223/V223), first U.S. model year. Coupe/Cabriolet: C217/A217 two-door S-Class, final model year before discontinuation.
Mercedes positions the S-Class as its benchmark luxury car: a flagship built around ride comfort, quietness, craftsmanship, and new technology. Its core job is effortless long-distance travel for both driver and passengers, with a cabin that feels more like a private lounge than a typical sedan or grand tourer. Compared with rivals, Mercedes leans especially hard on seat comfort, sound isolation, advanced safety features, and a rich digital interface.
The S 500 4MATIC serves as the comfort-focused starting point for the new sedan, pairing a turbocharged six-cylinder engine and all-wheel drive with a 12.8-inch OLED touchscreen and massaging front seats. The S 580 4MATIC adds twin-turbo V8 power, a 360-degree camera and electric rear sunblinds. The carryover S 560 coupe and cabriolet remain V8 grand tourers, with a fixed panoramic roof in the coupe and a power soft top with a wind blocker in the cabriolet.
What changed, by category
Powertrain
The redesigned sedan arrives as the S 500 4MATIC with a turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-six and as the newly added S 580 4MATIC with a twin-turbo 4.0-liter V8. The rear-wheel-drive S 450 and plug-in-hybrid S 560e leave the lineup.
Styling
The S-Class sedan receives an all-new body. The coupe and cabriolet retain their existing designs.
Safety
Lane-departure warning becomes standard across the lineup.
Tech
The new sedan adopts a much more digital cabin built around a vertical 12.8-inch OLED touchscreen, with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
Structural
The sedan begins the seventh-generation S-Class, while the existing coupe and cabriolet enter their final model year without a redesign.
2021 Mercedes-Benz S-Class specs and features by trim
| Feature | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | V8, Twin Turbo, 4.0 Liter | V6, Twin Turbo, 3.0 Liter | V8, Twin Turbo, 4.0 Liter | V8, Twin Turbo, 4.0 Liter |
| Transmission | Automatic, 9-Spd 9G-Tronic | Automatic, 9-Spd 9G-Tronic | Automatic, 9-Spd 9G-Tronic | Automatic, 9-Spd 9G-Tronic |
| Drivetrain | RWD | AWD | AWD | AWD |
| Fuel Type | Gas | Gas | Gas | Gas |
| MPG City | 16 mpg | 20 mpg | 16 mpg | 17 mpg |
| MPG Highway | 26 mpg | 29 mpg | 26 mpg | 25 mpg |
| Horsepower | 463 hp | 429 hp | 463 hp | 496 hp |
| Torque | 516 lb-ft | 384 lb-ft | 516 lb-ft | 516 lb-ft |
| Trunk/Cargo | 7 cu-ft | 13.8 cu-ft | 10.4 cu-ft | 13.8 cu-ft |
| Rear Legroom | 43.8 in | 33.4 in | 43.8 in | |
| Seats | 4 | 5 | 4 | 5 |
| Doors | 2 | 4 | 2 | 4 |
| Alarm System | ||||
| Automatic Emergency Braking | ||||
| Automatic High Beams | ||||
| Blindspot Sensors | ||||
| Inflatable Seat Belts | ||||
| Lane Departure Warning | ||||
| Night Vision System | ||||
| Park Assist | ||||
| 360 Camera | ||||
| Alloy Wheels | ||||
| Heated Windshield | ||||
| LED Headlights | ||||
| Panorama Moon Roof | ||||
| Power Retractable Soft Top | ||||
| Rear Spoiler | ||||
| Navigation System | ||||
| Premium Audio | ||||
| Rear DVD Entertainment System | ||||
| Smartphone Interface | ||||
| Subwoofer | ||||
| 115V Power Outlet | ||||
| 4-Zone Automatic Air Conditioning | ||||
| Dual Power Rear Seats | ||||
| Dual-Zone Climate Control | ||||
| Heated Front Seats | ||||
| Heated Steering Wheel | ||||
| Leather Seats | ||||
| Leather-Wrapped Steering Wheel | ||||
| Massage Rear Seat | ||||
| Memory Rear Seats | ||||
| Proximity Keyless Entry | ||||
| Rear Window Shades | ||||
| Refrigerator/Cooler | ||||
| Remote Start | ||||
| Ventilated Front Seats | ||||
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2021 Mercedes-Benz S-Class fully redesigned?
Yes, the 2021 S-Class sedan is fully redesigned and begins the seventh generation. The S-Class coupe and cabriolet carry over from the previous year without meaningful changes.
What engines are in the redesigned 2021 S-Class sedan?
The 2021 S-Class sedan has a turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-six in the S 500 4MATIC and a twin-turbo 4.0-liter V8 in the S 580 4MATIC. Both sedan versions have all-wheel drive.
How did the 2021 S-Class trim lineup change?
The S 450 4MATIC continues under the S 500 4MATIC name, while the S 580 4MATIC joins the lineup. The rear-wheel-drive S 450 and plug-in-hybrid S 560e are dropped.
Did the 2021 S-Class receive new safety equipment?
Yes, lane-departure warning becomes standard across the 2021 S-Class lineup.
Are the 2021 S-Class coupe and cabriolet new designs?
No, the 2021 S-Class coupe and cabriolet are carryover models rather than part of the redesigned sedan generation. This is their final model year before discontinuation.
2021 Mercedes-Benz S-Class Reviews
What owners are saying about the 2021 Mercedes-Benz S-Class.
4.0
2021 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
(259 reviews)
“Overall great packaging. Driver seat could provide more thigh support and some door rattles make the assembly line job work questionable.”
“In all respects this is truly an amazing luxury car from styling to handling and performance. It does not get any better!”