2020 Mercedes-Benz S-Class

2020 is a late carry-over year of the facelifted W222 generation (2014–2020 US model years). The volume S 450 4MATIC uses the 3.0L biturbo V6, with the V8 S 560 and the AMG and Maybach models above it.

The S 450's biturbo V6 makes 369 lb-ft from low rpm, which is ample for a flagship but well short of the V8 S 560.

The S 450 4MATIC reaches 60 mph in an estimated 4.9 s, which is brisk for a full-size luxury sedan of about 4,600 lb.

The biturbo V6 is smooth, quiet and has little lag, but reviewers find it less effortless than the S 560 V8. It also lacks the mild-hybrid smoothing of the later W223 inline-six, so it sits a step below the benchmark.

The 9G-TRONIC 9-speed automatic shifts smoothly and almost imperceptibly in Comfort mode. It occasionally pauses before a kickdown but rarely hunts.

4MATIC all-wheel drive is available on the S 450, standard on the S 560 sedan and Maybach S 560, and standard on the AMG S 63. Rear-wheel drive versions (S 450, S 560e, S 65, Maybach S 650) remain, so AWD is widely available rather than universal.

The 2020 US sedan range spans a V6 (S 450), a twin-turbo V8 (S 560, AMG S 63, Maybach S 560), a V12 (AMG S 65, Maybach S 650) and the S 560e plug-in hybrid. That is one of the broadest lineups in the class.

The EPA rates the volume 2020 S 450 4MATIC (3.0L biturbo V6, 9-speed) at 22 MPG combined. That is two MPG below the mild-hybrid W223 that followed in 2021.

The EPA city rating is 18 MPG for the 4MATIC car. The heavy platform and lack of hybrid assist weigh on stop-and-go efficiency.

The EPA highway rating is 28 MPG, which is respectable for a full-size flagship.

The EPA publishes no range figure for gas cars, so range is the tank size times 22 MPG combined. KBB lists a 21.1 gal tank for the US car, while metric sources list 65 L for some markets, so confidence is MEDIUM.

fueleconomy.gov estimates $3,650 a year on premium gasoline at 15,000 miles per year, beyond the expensive end of the sedan band.

Every 2020 S-Class gas trim requires premium unleaded. The S 560e plug-in also runs on premium and has only 19 miles of electric range, so no trim avoids premium fuel.

NHTSA never crash-tested the 2020 S-Class, and no year of the W222 generation (2014–2020) carries a rating to carry over, so per the framework the value is 0 (never rated) rather than an invented star count.

IIHS never published a crashworthiness battery for the W222 S-Class and it earned no 2020 Top Safety Pick/TSP+ award. That is common for low-volume flagships, but with no independent crash data it cannot reach the award band, and the 2014-era structure predates the updated side and passenger small-overlap tests.

On the S 450/S 560 the standard kit covers Active Brake Assist (AEB with pedestrian detection), Blind Spot Assist, ATTENTION ASSIST and PRE-SAFE. But DISTRONIC adaptive cruise, Active Steering Assist and Active Lane Change Assist sit in the optional Driver Assistance Package (~$2,250), unlike the 2021+ W223 where the package became standard.

Standard Active Brake Assist uses radar plus a stereo camera to brake for vehicles and pedestrians, and the Driver Assistance Package adds cross-traffic braking. IIHS never tested the S-Class's system, so the score leans on Superior front-crash-prevention results from 2019–2020 Mercedes models sharing the same hardware generation.

Blind Spot Assist (alert-only, with exit warning) is standard. Active Blind Spot Assist with braking intervention and the cross-traffic function come only with the optional Driver Assistance Package, so active coverage costs extra.

Lane Keeping Assist is standard and works by braking individual wheels. With the optional Driver Assistance Package, Active Steering Assist gives smooth map-aware lane centering that reviewers rated among the better hands-on systems of 2018–2020.

With the Driver Assistance Package, Active Distance Assist DISTRONIC gives full-range stop-and-go with extended restart and route-based speed adaptation for curves, junctions and limits. It is one of the most refined systems of its era, but it is optional rather than standard.

No hands-free mode was offered on the 2020 US S-Class: Active Steering Assist requires hands on the wheel, and DRIVE PILOT only arrived on the W223 for MY2024. Cadillac's Super Cruise was already on the market.

MULTIBEAM LED headlamps with Adaptive Highbeam Assist Plus, introduced with the 2018 facelift, give strong adaptive lighting. IIHS never rated the W222's headlights, so the score rests on the hardware rather than a measured rating.

The long hood and thick C-pillars are typical of flagship sedans, but the large glasshouse gives decent forward and side views. The surround-view camera and Parking Pilot come with the Premium Package rather than as standard on the volume trims.

The US S-Class sedan is sold only on the long wheelbase. Its large rear doors and roughly 43 in of rear legroom make even rear-facing seats easy to fit, but the outboard lower anchors sit behind covers in plush cushions, and the executive rear seat option limits three-across use.

The 2020 S 450 sedan, the final US model year of the facelifted W222 long-wheelbase body, seats five as standard. The optional executive rear-seat packages reduce it to four.

Front headroom is generous for a sedan. The standard sunroof costs a little height compared with the European-method figure some listings quote.

Front legroom is about average for a large sedan. The long wheelbase goes to the rear compartment.

The US market gets only the long-wheelbase V222 body, which gives the rear seat generous headroom.

Rear legroom is limousine-grade, which is the point of the 124.6-in long wheelbase sold in the US.

The trunk is a usable size for a full-size sedan. The rear seat has only a ski pass-through, and the 2020 model year made Hands-Free Access to the trunk standard.

A covered console bin, a front wireless charging pad and adequate door pockets cover everyday needs. Rear-seat wireless charging and a rear console are optional, but there is nothing inventive here.

Power-adjustable heated front seats are standard, and the multi-contour massaging front seats and reclining executive rear seats are class benchmarks for long-distance comfort.

Standard AIRMATIC air suspension with adaptive damping gives a plush, controlled ride, and the camera-based Magic Body Control available on V8 models reads the road ahead. This was the segment benchmark for ride.

Acoustic glazing and heavy insulation make the W222 one of the quietest sedans of its era, with little wind or tire noise at highway speed.

Heated front seats and dual-zone climate are standard. Ventilated and massaging seats, a heated steering wheel, four-zone climate, heated rear seats and ENERGIZING comfort control are available through packages, which hold back an otherwise rich set.

MY2020 is the final W222 year. The lineup starts with the rear-drive S 450 (3.0L biturbo V6) at $94,250 plus $995 destination, well above the $55K sedan band ceiling.

The S 560 4MATIC sedan was the core US volume configuration at $107,450 plus $995 destination. It was typically ordered with Premium/Driver Assistance/Warmth & Comfort packages, landing around $115K–$122K.

This flagship German sedan sits at the top of the sedan maintenance range. Dealer Service A/B intervals, AIRMATIC/Magic Body Control suspension and a twin-turbo V8 make the years after the 4-year warranty costly.

A 2020 S-Class now averages about $45K on the used market, roughly 38–42% of its delivered price as typically optioned. The S-Class remains one of the steepest-depreciating vehicles sold in the US.

The Mercedes-Benz New Vehicle Limited Warranty runs 4 years / 50,000 miles. That matches BMW and Audi and trails Genesis (5 yr / 60k).

Mercedes offers no separate, longer powertrain warranty. Coverage ends with the basic 4 yr / 50k term, below the 5-year band floor.

There is no complimentary scheduled maintenance at purchase. Owners get 24/7 Roadside Assistance for the warranty term and a Mercedes me connect trial, short of the included-maintenance programs from Genesis (G90) and BMW's 3-yr/36k Ultimate Care.

$118,000 volume-trim price minus its estimated resale value after 5 years (38% retained, or about $44,840) leaves about $73,160 in depreciation. Add the projected $9,500 in 5-year maintenance and repairs, and owning this vehicle for 5 years costs about $82,660 in total.

2020 is the final US model year of the W222 generation, which launched in 2014 and was facelifted for 2018. The volume trim is the S 560 4MATIC with the M176 4.0L biturbo V8; the S 450 4MATIC with the M256 inline-six sits below it. A seventh-year car has its early bugs engineered out. Consumer Reports still rated the W222 S-Class below average on predicted reliability, citing electronics, AIRMATIC air suspension and power equipment, and J.D. Power placed it around average. That is mixed-to-below-average, a little under the peer median (71.6).

Around 2020, Mercedes-Benz sat below the industry average in J.D. Power's Vehicle Dependability Study and in the lower half of Consumer Reports' brand rankings, well behind Lexus and Porsche. It was consistently below average without being at the very bottom.

MY2020 S-Class recall exposure is moderate and mostly shared with other Mercedes lines. The serious one is a driveshaft universal-joint failure that can cause a sudden loss of drive power on the S 560 4MATIC and S 450 4MATIC. The rest are eCall/communication-module software, a small fuel-rail leak batch, a roof-panel bonding fix limited to the S 450, and a small side-impact sensor connector campaign. That is far quieter than the 15-campaign first-year W223 that followed, though the driveshaft recall keeps it in the middle of the typical band.

The S 560's M176 4.0L biturbo V8 belongs to the mature M177/M178 family, paired with the proven 9G-Tronic automatic. It has no systemic failure pattern but is complex, with hot-vee turbos and cylinder deactivation, and the S 450's M256 48V inline-six was still new for 2018. The 4MATIC driveshaft universal-joint recall (26V216000) and a small fuel-rail leak batch are the only powertrain campaigns, so the score is solidly mid-band.

The facelifted W222 cabin was a class benchmark: Nappa leather, open-pore wood, metal switchgear, twin 12.3-inch displays and optional Burmester 3D audio. It trails only the W223's newer OLED cabin and newer rivals' screen-heavy layouts.

In its seventh production year at Sindelfingen, the W222 had tight, consistent panel gaps and a hushed, rattle-free cabin by reviewer consensus. Owner complaints center on electronics and suspension rather than assembly. The only assembly-related campaign is a small roof-panel bonding fix.

With roughly 380 US dealers, Mercedes-Benz has one of the densest luxury networks, ahead of BMW and Audi, and flagship owners get loaner and concierge treatment at most stores. Service satisfaction is mid-pack among luxury brands, behind Lexus and Genesis.

Out of warranty, the S-Class is among the costliest sedans to repair: AIRMATIC or Magic Body Control struts, the twin-turbo V8 and dense electronics are expensive and largely dealer-sourced. The W222's long run gives it somewhat better used and aftermarket parts supply than the W223, and a 2020 car is well past its 4-year/50,000-mile warranty.

The 2020 W222 has a large standard 12.3-inch widescreen central display, but it is not touch-sensitive. Touch arrived with the W223's MBUX for 2021. This follows the 2023 G-Class precedent for non-touch Mercedes displays.

The COMAND graphics on the twin widescreens are sharp, but deep menus driven by a touchpad, rotary knob and steering-wheel touch pads feel dated and fiddly next to touchscreen rivals and the MBUX that followed. Physical climate controls help.

Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard on the S 450 but wired only. Wireless projection came with the W223.

COMAND navigation is standard and well integrated with the 12.3-in display. LINGUATRONIC voice control is command-based, not natural-language like MBUX's 'Hey Mercedes'.

A Burmester surround system is standard, and the optional Burmester High-End 3D system is among the best factory audio systems on sale.

A configurable 12.3-inch digital driver display is standard, with selectable styles from the 2018 facelift onward. It is crisp but lacks the W223's 3D option.

The COMAND-era car gets online map data updates through Mercedes me connect, but vehicle and infotainment software updates require a dealer visit. Meaningful OTA arrived with MBUX.

The Mercedes me app offers remote lock/unlock, locate, vehicle status and remote start or pre-entry climate, with a complimentary trial and a subscription afterward. There is no phone-as-key.

Wireless charging is standard up front and optional in the rear, but ports are mostly older USB-A, with 12V sockets and no household AC outlet.

KEYLESS-GO proximity entry, push-button start, a power trunk closer and Hands-Free Access to the trunk, which became standard for 2020, are all fitted. App-based remote start is available, but there is no phone-as-key.

PARKTRONIC and a rearview camera are standard, and Active Parking Assist became standard for 2020. The 360-degree camera requires the $3,750 Premium Package.

A color head-up display is a factory option on the S 450. It is good but conventional, without the W223's augmented-reality projection.

The long-wheelbase body's 43 in of rear legroom and large rear doors make rear-facing car seats easy to fit, and outboard LATCH is provided. The 16.3 cu ft trunk takes a stroller, but there is only a pass-through, with no folding seat.

Standard AEB with pedestrian detection, blind-spot and lane-keeping alerts are a solid base. Neither NHTSA nor IIHS crash-tested the W222, and the full DISTRONIC/steering-assist suite costs extra in the Driver Assistance Package.

Limousine rear legroom, a plush air-suspension ride, a very quiet cabin and Burmester audio make long trips easy. Rear climate zones, rear entertainment and reclining rear seats are optional extras, and the trunk is adequate for a family of four's luggage.

The smooth biturbo V6 and 9G-TRONIC, AIRMATIC ride and optional DISTRONIC stop-and-go with Active Steering Assist make traffic effortless. Stop/start is a little less seamless than on the later mild-hybrid W223.

At 22 MPG combined on premium fuel and about $3,650 a year in fuel, plus expensive tires and service, it is a costly commuter, though typical for a V6 flagship.

At 206.9 in long, with a 40.4 ft turning circle and no rear-axle steering, it is large for city streets. Standard Active Parking Assist and sensors, plus the optional 360-degree camera, help considerably.

There is no US tow rating, and the sedan trunk with only a pass-through makes it unfit for real work duty.

Nappa leather, wood trim and complex air suspension are built for luxury and are expensive to repair under hard use. Livery fleets use the S-Class only as chauffeur cars.

There is no factory hitch, no roof rails, no household outlet and no upfit ecosystem.

It is an outstanding mile-eater, with a quiet cabin, plush ride, superb seats and about 460 miles of highway-capable range. The best adaptive cruise and steering assist cost extra and are not hands-free.

Standard 4MATIC on the volume S 450 and AIRMATIC's raise function handle snow and gravel roads, but low ground clearance and the lack of a hitch or rack provisions keep it on pavement.

The 16.3 cu ft trunk fits normal luggage, but with only a ski pass-through and no roof rails or hitch, bulky gear does not fit.

It is planted and composed, with impressive body control for a car of about 4,550 lb, but tuned for comfort rather than agility. Rear-axle steering was not offered on the W222.

The steering is accurate and well weighted at speed but isolated and numb, as is typical for a comfort-tuned flagship.

The brakes are strong and progressive, with a smooth, easily modulated pedal suited to chauffeur-style stops. Stopping distances are reasonable for a heavy luxury sedan.

The 362 hp biturbo V6 has little lag and pairs smoothly with the 9G-TRONIC. Without the W223's integrated starter-generator, engine stop/start is slightly more noticeable.

The engine is near-silent at cruise and well isolated under load, though the V6 is less silken than the S 560's V8.

The 124.6-in long wheelbase gives a wide turning circle, and the W222 offered no rear-axle steering to offset it.

Seat and steering-column adjustment range is superb, and physical climate and switchgear controls are welcome. The COMAND touchpad/rotary input and column-mounted shifter take learning.

It is a brilliant and satisfying cruiser that reviewers call 'actually enjoyable to drive', but it is deliberately unemotional compared with the AMG versions.

The S 450 comes standard with dual 12.3-inch displays, Burmester audio, AIRMATIC suspension, LED headlamps and leather. Much of what defines the S-Class experience (Driver Assistance Package, massaging seats, Magic Body Control, rear executive seating) is in costly packages. Genesis and Lexus include more as standard.

Content and refinement are class-leading, but at $95K–$118K-plus as equipped it is priced above a 7 Series or LS of similar spec. The $73K Genesis G90 offers most of the luxury for far less.

The sedan range is unusually broad: S 450 RWD/4MATIC, S 560 RWD/4MATIC, S 560e plug-in hybrid, AMG S 63 and S 65 V12, plus Maybach S 560/S 650 above them, with coupe and cabriolet siblings and deep option lists.

The S-Class was still the best-selling full-size luxury sedan in the US. Volume in this run-out year was low and declining as buyers waited for the W223 and the pandemic hit 2020 sales.

The S-Class is the global benchmark luxury sedan and the flagship of one of the most aspirational brands. The image is strong even though resale does not hold up.

As the final W222 model year, the 2020 S-Class drew meaningful run-out discounts and lease support, with dealers commonly well below MSRP ahead of the W223 launch.

MY2020 is the last year of the W222 generation, introduced for 2014 and facelifted for 2018. The all-new W223 was unveiled in September 2020 for MY2021, so 2020 buyers got an outgoing car.

Reviewers continued to rank the late W222 as the class benchmark for ride, refinement and cabin, often ahead of the 7 Series, A8 and LS. Its age and infotainment showed against newer rivals.