TL;DR The 2026 Mercedes S-Class has undergone its biggest mid-life update yet, combining a bold new grille and LED styling with a complete tech overhaul. It features a new OS borrowed from the CLA, larger screens, four-wheel steering, and an adaptive suspension that remembers road bumps. Engine tweaks refine performance, while the interior adds heated seat belts and improved climate comfort. UK models start above £100,000, all LWB.
Fresh styling, a new operating system, bigger screens… and it can even remember where the local potholes are.
No previous S-Class has had a facelift this extensive. It’s not just about looks - though outgoing design chief Gorden Wagener’s love of massive grilles and sparkling LEDs hits its peak here - the engineering has been overhauled too. And that’s impressive, because the S-Class was already the best saloon in the world.
The new grille now flows into the headlamps, which themselves adjust their illumination to suit the conditions. Mercedes stars dot the grille, and in many countries, you can even get an illuminated bonnet emblem - though not in the UK, where circular badges on the front are banned for safety reasons.
The entire electrical system is new, based on the tech from the electric CLA. Normally, S-Class tech debuts first, so this trickle-up approach is unusual. The CLA interface is intuitive and visually slick, so this is a promising start.
The upgraded system also powers more sophisticated driver assistance features. In China, it comes close to autonomous driving, though laws elsewhere prevent that. More practical for the UK: the adaptive air suspension can detect potholes or bumps, send the info to the Mercedes cloud, and adjust the damping the next time you - or another S-Class - drive that road.
Other chassis updates include four-wheel steering as standard on all UK models.
Engines have been fine-tuned for more refinement and performance, though the lineup is largely familiar. From March, the UK will get straight-six engines: diesel S350 and S450d 4WD, petrol S500 4WD, and PHEVs S450e and S580e, the latter with an electric range of around 60 miles. V8s appear in AMG models, V12s in the Maybach - or the armoured edition, if you’re feeling extra cautious.
Inside, the dashboard is all new. Screens are bigger, squeezing the air vents into a slim strip. These vents are now electrically adjustable - a feature often fiddly in other cars, but Mercedes’ system may make it work.
Mercedes has also focused on comfort: you don’t need a thick coat to stay warm, as the seat belts themselves are heated, while the seats and steering wheel keep your back, bottom, and hands toasty.
UK prices will creep up, with no S-Class under £100,000 - partly because we only get the long-wheelbase version.
