Driven: 2023 Mercedes-Benz S-Class Proves Gas Is Still King

It's not just the exterior where we prefer the S-Class to the EQS; that sentiment carries over into the cabin. Though itlacks the massive Hyperscreenfound in the EQ cars, we didn't miss it at all. The touchscreen in the S-Class is large enough and packs the same functionality. In terms of material quality, the S-Class still feels a notch above any of the EQS models we've driven, as if Mercedes reserved the finest quality for its gasoline flagship. Everything you touch and interact with just feels more expensive here.

Unlike the EQS, the S-Class offers an available Burmester High-End 4D Audio System. It includes 31 speakers with 1,750 watts of power output, including speakers in the seat backs that massage you using the bass from your music. It's quite the experience - and it costs $6,800. Though our tester was missing the Executive Rear Seat Package found in the Executive trim, the back seat is still far more comfortable than the EQS, with more head and legroom, plus softer seats that sit at a better angle. For chauffeuring, the S-Class is far superior, even though itlacks the amazing Theater Screenfound in the new BMW 7 Series.

The S 580 4Matic is the most powerful non-AMG or Maybach S-Class on sale. It packs a 4.0-liter twin-turbocharged V8 tuned to deliver 496 hp and 516 lb-ft of torque in a completely unnoticeable fashion. You can barely even tell when the engine is off, and thanks to a 48-volt mild-hybrid system, it kicks on and off seamlessly during stops. Serenity is not reserved just for the eerie silence of electric cars, it seems. The S 500 4Matic is no slouch, with its 3.0-liter turbocharged inline-six producing 429 hp and 384 lb-ft. At 4.9 seconds to 60 mph, it sacrifices just half a second compared to the S 580 for about $10,000 less. It also averages 23 mpg combined compared to 19 mpg with the V8.

Environmentally conscious folks may want to consider the S 580e plug-in hybrid model, which uses the same inline-six as the S 500 with 'only' 362 hp and 369 lb-ft, but it adds a 148-hp electric motor for a total output of 510 hp. It can also drive around 46 miles on electric power, one of the longest ranges of any PHEV, thanks to a 21.5-kWh battery. Though we haven't driven it yet, this seems like the powertrain to get. Yet despite the "thirsty" V8 on our tester, the S 580 showed 450 miles of range on a full tank, which is further than almost any EV will take you.

The S-Class cannot be directly compared to the EQS since the latter comes with less power and performance on the low end of the range. If you compare the S 580 to the EQS 580, though, things become a lot more similar. The V8-powered S-Class starts at $124,000 while the dual-motor EQS with a bit more power costs $125,950. A fully-loaded S 580 Executive Line is more expensive at $140,100 versus $131,350 for an EQS 580 Pinnacle Trim, but the S-Class does get a nicer back seat and options that aren't available on the EQS. We'd also look long and hard at the S 580e, which starts at $122,550.

In our opinion, the S-Class is still the clear flagship in the Mercedes lineup, and we greatly prefer it to the EQS Sedan. BMW has come in hot with its latest 7 Series, which we believe is best enjoyed in electric i7 guise because it feels like a 7 Series first and an electric car second, unlike the EQS Sedan. The 7 Series now offers a more impressive back seat than the S-Class, though the Mercedes is the more attractive car on the outside. BMW has finally given Mercedes something to think about, but the S-Class still shines as a near-perfect luxury sedan.