Is the 2026 Mercedes-Benz S-Class a good car?
No.
1 of 7checks
- First car: 0 of 5. Price $119,550. Class median $51,795.
- Commuter: $121 a month. Class median $99.
- Seniors: 1 of 3. Height 59.2 in. Class middle half 56.2 to 58.9 in.
- Off-road: 5.1 in clearance. Top 100% of 173.
- Price: 13% above cars like it.
- Good buy: 6 rivals beat it on all four.
20 miles one way, 5 days a week. Gas $3.20. Power 17 cents per kWh.
| Check | Result | Number |
|---|---|---|
| Family car | Yes | 3 of 4 parts |
| First car | No | 0 of 5 parts |
| Commuter | No | $121 vs $99 a month |
| Seniors | No | 1 of 3 parts |
| Off-road | No | 5.1 in, top 100% |
| Worth the money | No | 13% above predicted |
| Good buy | No | 6 beat it on all four |
- Each check compares the cheapest trim with the number to its class.
- A check passes when it misses at most 1 part.
- Yes when the car passes more than half of its checks.
Is the S-Class a good family car?
Yes. Passes 3 of 4 parts.
| Measure | This car | Class | Cars | Pass |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seats | 5 seats | 5 or more | N/A | Yes |
| Rear legroom | 43.8 in | Median 37.2 in | 67 | Yes |
| Rear headroom | 39.4 in | Median 37.6 in | 67 | Yes |
| Cargo behind the last row | 12.8 cu ft | Median 15.4 cu ft | 61 | No |
Is the S-Class a good first car?
No. Passes 0 of 5 parts.
| Measure | This car | Class | Cars | Pass |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price | $119,550 | Median $51,795 | 69 | No |
| Horsepower | 442 hp | 167 hp to 418 hp | 71 | No |
| Length | 208.3 in | Median 193.4 in | 68 | No |
| Turning circle | 41.9 ft | Median 38.4 ft | 67 | No |
| Fuel cost per mile | 13.9 cents | Median 11.4 cents | 69 | No |
Horsepower: 10th to 75th percentile of the class.
Is the S-Class a good commuter car?
No. $121 a month to commute. Class median $99.
- Miles a month
- 867
- This car
- $121
- Median of 69 sedans
- $99
- Highway mpg
- 29 mpg, top 59% of 56
Is the S-Class a good car for seniors?
No. Passes 1 of 3 parts.
| Measure | This car | Class | Cars | Pass |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step-in height | 5.1 in clearance, 59.2 in tall | 5.1 to 5.5 in clearance, 56.2 to 58.9 in tall | 47 | No |
| Front headroom | 42.1 in | Median 39.0 in | 66 | Yes |
| Turning circle | 41.9 ft | Median 38.4 ft | 67 | No |
Step-in: clearance and height in the middle half of the class.
Is the S-Class a good off-road vehicle?
No. 5.1 in clearance. Top 100% of 173 trucks and SUVs.
- AWD or 4WD
- Yes
- Best trim for clearance
- S 500 4MATIC AWD, 5.1 in
- Cohort
- 173 trucks and SUVs, AWD or 4WD trims
Is the S-Class worth the money?
No. Priced 13% above cars like it.
- Price, AMG S 63 E 4MATIC Sedan
- $189,800
- Predicted price
- $167,882
- Gap
- +$21,918 (+13%)
- Model error
- 13% median, 275 cars
Price model: horsepower, length, width, drivetrain, powertrain, body and luxury, 2026 cars.
Passes at up to 5% above the predicted price.
Is the S-Class a good buy?
No. 6 rivals cost less and beat it on fuel cost, cargo and power.
| Car | Price | Fuel cost per mile | Max cargo | Power |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| S-Class S 500 4MATIC AWD | $119,550 | 13.9 cents | 12.8 cu ft | 442 hp |
| Tesla Model 3 Performance AWD | $54,990 | 5.0 cents | 24.0 cu ft | 510 hp |
| Dodge Charger Daytona Scat Pack AWD | $59,995 | 6.6 cents | 22.8 cu ft | 630 hp |
| BMW 5 Series 550e xDrive AWD | $75,500 | 10.7 cents | 18.4 cu ft | 483 hp |
| Lucid Air Touring AWD | $79,900 | 4.3 cents | 22.1 cu ft | 620 hp |
| BMW i5 M60 AWD | $84,100 | 5.8 cents | 17.3 cu ft | 590 hp |
| BMW i7 eDrive50 RWD | $105,700 | 6.5 cents | 17.7 cu ft | 449 hp |
Compared with 236 trims of other makes, sedans, 2026.
What this cannot tell you
No safety, reliability or insurance data.
Your prices, use and trim may differ.
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