Mercedes Benz S580 Review
2021 Mercedes Benz S580
MSRP: $114,000
4.0 Liter Twin Turbo V8 with EQ Boost
496 HP / 516 TQ
with up to
516 HP / 700 TQ with EQ Boost
—
Guy who did stuff: Yousef Alvi and Manufacturer
Introduction:
The benchmark that was a benchmark before benchmarking was a thing. The S-Class Mercedes. From the likes of BMW all the way the way to Kia, the S-Class has been the goalpost that every auto manufacturer has tried to replicate but never truly duplicated.
There is a simple reason…the S-Class, if anything, is a glimpse into the future of the automobile. From safety systems such as ABS, Traction Control, Seatbelt Pretensioners along with standard Airbags to Adaptive Cruise Control and full LED lighting…the S-Class carves the path forward for the automobile.
So does this new generation hold true to those ideals?
Let’s break it down!
“The S-Class, if anything, is a glimpse into the future of the automobile”
The Great
- Divine levels of Comfort
- Sublime levels of Ride
Comfort and Ride
Best seats I have ever sat in? Rolls Royce Cullinan along with Ghost. This S-Class…a very close second.
Offering delectable levels of comfort for all passengers the S-Class is a rolling tribute to motoring relaxation.
Pair that with a ride that soaks up harshness without prying it’s driver away from feel, this new S-Class is stellar.
The Good
- Infotainment and Speed
Infotainment and Speed
Now, I expected to loathe the interface in this new S-Class. Saddled with two huge displays to control every facet of the car and capactive controls for the rest…it should be a recipe for a migraine.
But, it isn’t! This new generation MBUX infotainment system is just plain easy to use. The graphics are crisp, the menus actually make sense and if you can’t be bothered with any of it…just scream ‘hey mercedes’ and S-Class’s voice control will takeover.
Speed. Oh the glorious speed. The S580 doesn’t just accerelate…it pauses for a nanosecond just to ensure you are ready…then it explodes off the line. The 4.0 Liter Twin Turbo V8 has an electric motor bolted to it to deliver up to 516 horsepower but more importantly a hilarious 700 ft/lbs of torque. That torque doesn’t bludgeon you though..it, rather, washes over you and drowns you in it.
It’s a thing of beauty.
The Bad
- Brake feel
In the name of squish.
If there is a glaring issue with the S-Class…is the brakes. The S580 can stop on a dime but getting it do so requires one to squeeze through inches of mush until it grabs.
I understand why…for those who are going to be chaffeuring people around, the last thing you want is your passengers head flopping fore and aft as you come to a stop. So, around town, the S580’s brakes are very easy to modulate and for most people…excellent.
But, I’m not most people. So to me, the S580 brakes offers slight modicum of feedback with no feel.
The Ugly
Nada. So here is your obligatory cat
Overall:
The title of ‘best car in the world’ is a bit much. But what this new S-Class offers is what you would expect from a S-Class…refinement, technology, safety, serenity and power. The hallmarks of the S-Class is safe in this new generation and if you’re in the market for a large luxury sedan…why go with the imitators? Go with the progenitor instead…go with the S-Class.
