The German luxury automaker Mercedes-Benz has finally launched the updated iteration of its flagship luxury sedan the S-Class in India. The new 2026 S-Class has been launched with a price tag of Rs 2.20 crore (ex-showroom). The new S-Class like all the other mid-life facelifts is being offered with a comes with a ton of design, tech and luxury feature upgrades. However, the biggest highlight of this new model is that it now gets a plug-in hybrid powertrain for the first time in India. The bookings for the new S-Class have already commenced and it has been reported that the deliveries will begin around Diwali this year. Notably, the 2026 S-Class is the only car in India with 15 airbags.
The new Mercedes-Benz S-Class has been launched in two variants. The Launch Edition Exclusive Line has been priced at Rs 2.20 crore. Meanwhile the range-topping Manufaktur Edition AMG Line has been priced at Rs 2.38 crore (ex-showroom). For comparison, the outgoing S-Class started at Rs 1.85 crore. This means the starting price of the new model has gone up by around Rs 35 lakh.
In terms of design, the overall design of the S-Class has been kept largely unchanged. However, Mercedes-Benz has made a number of changes which give it a more premium and modern appeal. At the front, the new S-Class gets a much larger grille with chrome three-pointed star inserts. The grille surround is now illuminated and even the bonnet-mounted Mercedes-Benz logo gets illumination.
The luxury sedan also comes equipped with redesigned LED headlamps. These new headlights feature triple three-pointed star LED DRLs. Mercedes-Benz has also added its latest Digital Light technology. The company claims that these new headlights are around 40 percent brighter than before. Also they can illuminate up to 600 metres ahead with the ultra-range high beam function, added Mercedes Benz.
Apart from these the front bumper has also been redesigned and now gets larger air intakes with chrome detailing. Moving to the side profile, the luxury sedan gets newly designed alloy wheels along with additional cameras which have been integrated into the body to offer advanced driver assistance systems. As for the rear, the new S-Class boasts slimmer LED tail lamps with illuminated three-pointed star emblems. The rear bumper has also been redesigned.
Mercedes-Benz S-Class has always been the most technologically advanced sedan in the market and this time around as well it has been given some of the biggest updates. The main highlight is the new MBUX Superscreen setup which consists of a 14.4-inch OLED touchscreen infotainment system, a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and a 12.3-inch display for the front passenger.
Apart from the new screens, the dashboard layout has been redesigned. The centre console has also been updated and now comes equipped with dual wireless smartphone charging pads. In India the company only offers the long-wheelbase version of the S-Class. For this reason the rear seat comfort remains one of its biggest strengths. The luxury sedan can be configured as a four-seater with executive rear seats that can recline up to 43.5 degrees.
All four seats can also be equipped with ventilation, heating and massage functions as well. Mercedes-Benz has also improved the insulation inside the cabin to reduce noise and vibration levels. Additionally, the ambient lighting system has now been extended across the dashboard, centre console, door pads, armrests, cupholders and rear seating area.
The new S-Class now uses the Mercedes-Benz's latest MB.OS software architecture. It also gets a new AI-powered MBUX virtual assistant with deeper artificial intelligence integration. The luxury sedan comes equipped with Google Maps-based augmented reality navigation, over-the-air software updates, wireless Apple CarPlay, wireless Android Auto, connected car technology and a premium Burmester 4D audio system.
Rear passengers also get dual 13.1-inch entertainment screens which support video streaming, gaming and video conferencing. On the safety front, the S-Class features a comprehensive Level-2 ADAS suite with adaptive cruise control, autonomous emergency braking, lane keeping assist, blind spot monitoring and surround-view cameras along with many others. It also comes equipped with 15 airbags, including dedicated seatbelt airbags.
The biggest highlight of the new S-Class is its new S 450e plug-in hybrid powertrain. This flagship sedan comes equipped with a 3.0-litre turbocharged inline-six petrol engine which comes paired with a rear-mounted electric motor and a 22 kWh battery pack. In total, this setup produces 435 bhp and 680 Nm of torque. All the power is sent to the rear wheels through a 9-speed automatic gearbox.
Mercedes-Benz claims that the S 450e can perform a sprint of 0-100 kmph in just 5.7 seconds. The company also claims this sedan offers an electric-only driving range of up to 115 km. Additionally, the 22 kWh battery pack can be charged from 10-80 percent in around 20 minutes using a 60 kW DC fast charger.