Verdict
A
Luxury Saloon · Germany · 1991-Present
Mercedes-Benz S-Class
Mercedes-Benz S-Class — spec data and generation history.
Years
1991-Present
Generations
5
Segment
Luxury Saloon
Mercedes' flagship — the benchmark luxury saloon. Five generations covered post-1991: W140 (1991–1998) — controversial bulky bruiser that introduced double-glazed windows. W220 (1998–2005) — slimmed down, AirMatic launched, AMG 65 V12. W221 (2005–2013) — pre-Crisis luxury peak, 7G-Tronic, AMG S 63 / S 65. W222 (2013–2020) — MBUX precursor, S 63 / S 65 V12, plug-in hybrid 500 e. W223 (2020-Present) — second-gen MBUX, rear-axle steering up to 10°, EQS sister but combustion. Maybach S-Class above (separate model). All AMG variants noted here, not separately priced.
What changed
Era-to-era deltas
W222 2013-2020 → W223 2020-Present
BHP =
Torque +50 Nm
0–60 mph =
Top speed =
MPG +5 mpg
Generations
Click any generation for the full deep dive
1991-1998
W140
→
S 600 V12 — 408 bhp, 0-62 in 6.1s.
Verdict
B
BHP
408
0–60
6.1 s
Top
155 mph
MPG
17.0 mpg
Used
£3,500-£15,000
- + Built like a bank vault
- + Double-glazed windows
- − Wiring harness rot
- − Heavy fuel
1998-2005
W220
→
S 65 AMG V12 — 612 bhp, 0-62 in 4.4s.
Verdict
C
BHP
612
0–60
4.4 s
Top
155 mph
MPG
19.0 mpg
Used
£3,000-£18,000
- + Slimmer than W140
- + AirMatic launched
- − Rust the worst of any S-Class
- − SBC brake recall
2005-2013
W221
→
S 65 AMG V12 — 604 bhp, 0-62 in 4.4s.
Verdict
A
BHP
604
0–60
4.4 s
Top
155 mph
MPG
19.0 mpg
Used
£6,000-£28,000
- + Pre-Crisis luxury peak
- + M278 4.7 TT V8
- − AirMatic compressor
- − 7G-Tronic faults
2013-2020
W222
→
S 65 AMG V12 — 621 bhp, 0-62 in 4.3s.
Verdict
A
BHP
621
0–60
4.3 s
Top
186 mph
MPG
20.0 mpg
Used
£20,000-£75,000
- + 9G-Tronic auto
- + PHEV S 500 e
- − Heavy
- − Cabin dated vs W223
2020-Present
W223
→
S 580 e PHEV — 503 bhp, 0-62 in 5.1s.
Verdict
A
BHP
503
0–60
5.1 s
Top
155 mph
MPG
88.0 mpg
Used
£62,000-£140,000
- + Rear-axle steering up to 10°
- + PHEV ~62 mile EV range
- − Rear-axle steering recall
- − Software dependent
Known issues by generation
Common faults reported on each generation — useful when shopping the used market.
1991-1998 · W140
- Wiring harness biodegradation
- Hydraulic suspension leaks
- Heavy fuel use
- Vacuum-locking doors
1998-2005 · W220
- Rust
- AirMatic strut failures
- SBC brake hydraulic recall
- Electrics
2005-2013 · W221
- AirMatic compressor
- 7G-Tronic mechatronic
- Comand sat-nav
- OM642 oil cooler
2013-2020 · W222
- 9G-Tronic software
- PHEV charging port (500e)
- MBUX freezes pre-2018
- AirMatic
2020-Present · W223
- Rear-axle steering recall
- MBUX latency
- Software updates
- Battery 48V mild-hybrid faults