[ĐÁNH GIÁ XE] Mercedes-Benz S-Class 2021: World-class cabin

Mercedes has just officially launched its newest luxury sedan. Mercedes-Benz S-Class 2021 will certainly continue to become a name, an indispensable symbol in the ranks of luxury sedans on the market today.

Although the exterior design has not changed much, the “Flagship” in this 4-door luxury sedan industry has received many technical and technological improvements, promising to make this icon even better. Some of the most notable new features include two hybrid engine options, a large central touchscreen with a new generation MBUX infotainment system setup, and more active safety technology than ever before.

Exterior: Impressive aerodynamic design

Some exterior changes, although very small, on the 2021 Mercedes-Benz S-Class are enough to bring this sedan into the modern era in the luxury car segment. The hood is longer, the headlights and wheels have a sharper design, and the C-pillar extends to the rear of the car in a softer and more elegant way. And a very notable detail, for the first time after 3 generations, the S-Class has horizontal taillights.

The door handle is now designed flat with the car body, giving it a more seamless and modern look. According to the announcement from the German car company, the S-Class 2021 also possesses a number of aerodynamic design details located inside the rearview mirrors to help improve airflow when the vehicle moves. All are designed to provide a drag coefficient of 0.22, making the 2021 S-Class one of the most aerodynamic cars in the world. Standing in a higher position is the Tesla Model S with a drag coefficient of 0.24.

In terms of size, the new generation S-Class is 1.3 inches (33mm) longer than its predecessor, 2.0 inches (50.8mm) wider and 0.4 inches (10.16mm) taller. However, to keep the size ratio of the S-Class at the most perfect and ideal level, Mercedes has extended the wheelbase by 2.0 inches (50.8mm), the width of the front wheels by 1.4 inches (35.56mm) and the two rear wheels by 2.0 inches (50.8mm). Therefore, the 2021 S-Class will still maintain a luxurious, classy and sporty size ratio, while providing more space for the cabin.

Interior: Inheriting and promoting classy design

Clearly, the all-new 12.8-inch touch screen of the Mercedes-Benz S-Class 2021 is what attracts the most attention when entering the cabin. This screen is cleverly placed in the central area, providing a modern look and ensuring the easiest visibility for passengers. However, only when going deeper into the hardware can one realize how much the interior of the S-Class has changed. The new 2021 version has up to 27 fewer buttons and knobs (basically mechanical switches) than its predecessor. Most functions on the car will be transferred via voice control or touch screen.

Four new air vents with a sleeker design are placed horizontally right above the center console, replacing the round air vents in the old version. And depending on each decoration option, the Mercedes-Benz S-Class 2021 will receive different materials such as carbon fiber or piano black wood running along the length of the dashboard area. There are also 30 speakers and 8 resonators available in the Burmester premium 4D surround sound system.

The 2021 S-Class is equipped with a new generation steering wheel with the ability to detect the driver’s hands thanks to a two-zone sensor pad on the steering wheel rim. Sensors installed on the steering wheel rim will record whether the driver’s hands are holding the steering wheel or not, thereby automatically activating the driver assistance system.

The 2021 Mercedes-Benz S-Class continues to inherit high-quality aluminum decorative details from the previous version. In addition, Mercedes added some striking shiny black decorative details on the center console and around the control button area on the car door. The seating system retains the premium quilted Nappa leather and is available with a number of different color options. All seats on the 2021 S-Class continue to provide modern features such as heating, ventilation and 10 massage modes, along with an “Energizing” option that can be activated via touch screens.

This “Energizing” feature option has appeared since the previous version, allowing users to choose 6 different modes: Refresh, Warmth, Vitality, Enjoyment, Well-Being and Training. Each mode automatically adjusts music, interior lighting, seating position and climate control to create the desired effect. And for the 2021 S-Class, those same “Energizing” options have now been extended to rear-seat passengers and can be accessed from the touchscreen.

Thanks to the increased wheelbase, the 2021 S-Class boasts a slightly more spacious cabin than its predecessor. Specifically, in the driver’s seat, the ceiling distance reaches 42.0 inches and the leg space reaches 41.0 mm, and the arm space increases by 1.5 inches (38 mm). Meanwhile, for the rear seats, ceiling space increased by 0.6 inches, legroom increased by 1.0 inches and armrest space increased by 0.4 inches. The storage capacity of the 2021 S-Class is also increased by about 22 liters.

Technology: More modern and advanced

As mentioned, the Mercedes-Benz S-Class 2021 is equipped with a standard 12.8-inch touch screen, replacing the 10.3-inch screen on the old version. And similar to what Cadillac Escalade offers, the new 12.8-inch screen on the 2021 S-Class uses OLED panel technology to display graphics much sharper and more realistic than traditional LCD screens. Besides, OLED technology also helps this screen consume up to 30% less energy.

This large touch screen will still integrate Mercedes-Benz’s MBUX infotainment system but has been upgraded to a new generation. “Hey, Mercedes” voice control is still available but will be a bit more intuitive than before. Specifically, the “Hey, Mercedes” feature can now explain some basic functions such as Bluetooth connection, respond to commands such as accepting calls and even understand up to 27 different languages. Plus, even rear-seat passengers can use this voice control feature.

In addition to the large central touch screen, the German automaker also added a total of 4 other screens arranged very reasonably around the cabin of the S-Class. The first is a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster that combines a digital LCD screen and realistic elements to create a 3D effect that tracks the driver’s eye movements. Similar to the previous version, this digital instrument cluster will have 4 different settings, including: Discreet, Sporty, Exclusive and Classic.

– Discreet: 7 different color schemes with 64 ambient lighting colors on the digital instrument cluster
– Sporty: Outstanding red color full of energy and sporty character
– Exclusive: Pearl white color, with automatic brightness adjustment feature when activating night mode

There are also 3 optional screens for the rear seats: 2 11.6-inch infotainment screens mounted on the back of the front seats and 1 7.0-inch tablet that can be easily removed.

Engine: Go beyond with EQ Boost

The standard Mercedes-Benz S500 is equipped with a turbocharged 3.0L I6 engine, combined with an EQ Boost starter and a 48-volt mild-hybrid system. This engine configuration helps the luxury sedan reach a maximum capacity of 429 horsepower and maximum torque of 521 Nm, 67 horsepower and 20 Nm higher than the previous generation. Notably, the EQ Boost starter also provides an additional 21 horsepower and 250 Nm of torque when needing to accelerate in a short time.

Next is the more powerful S580 version with a twin-turbo 4.0L V8 engine, producing a maximum capacity of 469 horsepower and maximum torque of 700 Nm, an increase of 6 horsepower compared to the previous version. Both the S500 and S580 use a 9-speed automatic transmission and have an electronically limited top speed of 130 mph (~ 209 km/h).

New for the 2021 version is the standard E-Active Body Control active body control system – pneumatic dampers similar to those on the GLE or GLS SUVs that help raise and lower the vehicle body. In addition, the S-Class 2021 is also equipped with a 4-link front suspension system and a multi-link independent rear suspension system to support rear-axle steering, improving the steering accuracy rate by 15%.

Safety features: Most complete and advanced

As expected, the 2021 S-Class will be equipped with most of Mercedes’ most advanced safety features today. This list of safety features includes automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control with Stop-and-Go, active steering assist, lane-keeping assist, traffic sign recognition, front/rear cross-traffic alert, and active blind-spot monitoring.

In addition, the Mercedes-Benz S-Class 2021 also adds the standard Pre-Safe Impulse Side feature, which helps protect passengers against side collisions. Specifically, the Pre-Safe Impulse Side system uses sensors to detect the risk of collision, from which the suspension system will automatically raise so that external forces impact the stronger structure of the vehicle body.

Price and launch date: Undetermined

At the present time, the Mercedes-Benz S-Class 2021 has not been announced with a proposed selling price or opening date on the market. According to predictions, the selling price of the 2021 S-Class will increase slightly compared to the previous version, starting from 94,250 USD (~ 2.18 billion VND). According to the plan, the first Mercedes-Benz S-Class 2021 will officially “arrive” at authorized dealers in the US in the first half of 2021.

Quang Hung (Tuoitrethudo)

According to: Motor1