2017 Mercedes Benz S Class Pros vs Cons

Whether you're looking for a sedan, coupe, or convertible, the 2017 Mercedes Benz S Class will have you rolling in style. While there are not a ton of changes from the previous year to speak of, there are numerous safety, infotainment, and performance features that make these cars worth their price tags. Despite a few drawbacks (such as gas mileage), the 2017 S Class trims are stand-outs in their class.

What's New for 2017?

While not much has changed from the 2016 models, a few discernible changes have been made to the exterior camouflaging, taillights, and headlights. It also features the most up-to-date driverless systems yet.

Ten Reasons You May Like the 2017 Mercedes Benz S Class – The Pros

1. The Driverless Systems

The advances in the S Class's driverless systems make it possible for the vehicle to detect just how close you are to a corner and to indicate that you are driving too fast. Although this technology seems confusing at first, it lets you check in on how it's driving once a minute while on the highway. For the easily-distracted driver, this feature can help keep you safe on the road.

2. It's a quiet ride

The ride quality of the S Class is truly superior to most cars on the road. The Airmatic suspension does a great job at absorbing bumps while driving. The Magic Body Control's camera scans the road, picks up bumps or dips, and adjusts the vehicle to best absorb them. The S Class handles well and has fluid steering.

3. Magic Body Control's turn handling

Magic Body Control can be helpful in navigating turns and changes on the road. Magic Body Control utilizes a stereo camera that scans the road ahead and prepares the car to handle a turn. This can be especially helpful in inclement weather conditions when roads are slick or visibility is low.

4. High-powered engine options

Even the standard engine option has great performance. The S 550 and S 550 4MATIC come with 4.7L gas-powered 8-cylinder turbo engines, while the S 600 comes with a 6.0L, 12-cylinder engine. The S 550e hybrid has a 3.0L 6-cylinder turbo electric/gas engine. The AMG S 63 has a 5.5L, 8-cylinder turbo engine, and the AMG S 65 has a 6.0L, 12-cylinder engine.

5. Quick acceleration with any engine

All of the engine options give quick acceleration. The S 550 and S 550 4MATIC get 449 hp at 5,250 rpm. The S 600 gets 523 hp at 4,900 rpm. The AMG S 63 gets 577 hp @ 5500 rpm, and the AMG S 65 gets an impressive 621 hp @ 4800 rpm. No matter which engine you opt for, your car will have a good amount of get-up-and-go power.

6. Numerous safety features

Even the most basic S Class packages offer a lot of great safety features. Standard safety features include LED headlamps, adaptive headlights, brake drying, child seat anchors, emergency braking preparation, and pre-collision and post-collision safety systems. The AMG S 65 and S 600 have a blind spot and lane departure warnings accident avoidance system.

7. High level of comfort

The 2017 Mercedes Benz S Class vehicles pack quite the luxurious punch when it comes to comfort and convenience. The S Class cars have leather and wood steering wheels, save for the AMG S 63 and AMG S 65, which have suede and leather steering wheels. The AMG S 65 also has a heated steering wheel and four zone climate control. The S Class also features 12-way power adjustable driver's and front passenger's seats with lumbar support and multi-level heating, folding armrests and ventilation ducts in the rear, and reclining rear seats in the AMG S 65.

8. Telematic features

The S Class vehicles come standard with multiple telematic functions. These features help you navigate the road and keep your vehicle safe when you're not in it. Telematics on the S Class cars include emergency service, roadside assistance, destination download, destination guidance, stolen vehicle tracking/assistance, and vehicle alarm notification.

9. High-tech infotainment features

If you're a gadget guru, you will appreciate all of the high-tech infotainment features in the 2017 S Class models. In-car entertainment options include 13 speaker and 2 subwoofers (or 24 speakers and 3 subwoofers in the AMG S 65), a DVD player, USB connection, a memory card slot, a video monitor, and satellite radio with real-time traffic satellite radio. The AMG S 65 comes with an audio/video remote control.

10. Plenty of interior and exterior options

The 2017 S Class automobiles have a lot of interior and exterior options to choose from. If you opt for the S 550, S 550 4MATIC, or the S 550e, you can get heated rear seats, Burmester High-End 3D Surround Sound System, exclusive interior trim, Black Headliner, or Black DINAMICA Headliner. Exterior options include rear trunk-lid spoilers, wheel locks, and an electrically heated windshield.

Reasons You May Not Like the 2017 Mercedes Benz S Class – The Cons

1. Tech features can be overwhelming

If you're not a fan of high tech gear, these might not be the vehicles for you. Some drivers might find the technology interfaces on some gadgets to be confusing or frustrating to use. Some of the infotainment features might seem excessive or unnecessary to certain drivers.

2. Gas mileage

The gas mileage is probably the biggest downfall of the 2017 S Class. To put it bluntly, they're gas-guzzlers. The S 600 and AMG S 65 only get an EPA estimate of 13 mpg during city driving and 22 mpg on the highway. This is worse than many larger-sized vehicles. The vehicles also require premium unleaded fuel, so you will have to spend more on fuel overall.

3. The coupes and convertibles have small trunks

This is not a huge gripe for many drivers. However, if you need a larger trunk for storage, the trunks on the S Class cars might not be right for you. The sedans have a reasonable amount of trunk space (16.3 cubic feet) compared to the coupe's 10.4 cubic feet.

4. The price

Be ready to drop some serious cash. While these vehicles are high-performing, tech-savvy vehicles, you're also paying for the Mercedes Benz brand. The S 550 has an MSRP of $96,600. You can expect to pay around $226,900 for the AMG S 65.

How It Stacks Up to the Competition

While other vehicles in its class are somewhat cheaper, the S Class is usually the better buy. The Audi 8 costs about $82,500 but doesn't offer the same performance on its base trim. Even the Audi 8's luxurious interior is no match for the S Class. The Lexus LS is another top competitor and is more affordable with a starting price of $72,520. The LS doesn't have the powerful engine performance and handling that the S Class does, and the S Class has more standard safety features. The biggest advantage these cars have over the S Class is that they get better gas mileage.

Conclusion

Although the 2017 Mercedes Benz S Class cars are pricey and don't get the best gas mileage, you are getting what you pay for in terms of technological features, safety, performance, and comfort. If you'd like to experience a quiet, smooth, and ultimately safe and reliable ride, consider test driving one of these cars at your local dealership.