2021 Mercedes-Benz S-Class Coupe

One would be hard-pressed to find a vehicle more indulgent than the Mercedes-Benz S-Class; it stands out even among similarly luxurious rivals like the BMW 8 Series or Bentley Continental GT. And the coupe variant is more sinfully glutinous still, even before you option on the AMG Line Exterior package. One sin that certainly isn't applicable to this luxury coupe is sloth. With a potent bi-turbo V8 engine that develops 463 horsepower and 516 lb-ft of torque, the S-Class is able to sprint to 60 mph in 4.5 seconds, although it doesn't have the athleticism of the 8 Series. The Merc also lacks the trunk capacity and better fuel economy of its rivals. But these are hardly concerns for those who can afford one. In terms of pure luxury, nothing comes quite as close to perfection, so it's no surprise that the S-Class ranks near the top, if not first, on the ranking of almost every critic's list of luxury sedans, and the coupe is no different.

The S-Class Coupe remains one of the most stylish coupes on the market, despite not being as flashy as some of its more ostentatious competitors. The S 560 rides on 19-inch wheels as standard, with optional 20-inchers or AMG-style wheels available. The hood is sleek and long, subtly boasting of the V8 engine's power while drawing the eye to the cockpit, which features a pillarless design. The wide diamond-block grille is framed in chrome and placed low between the sharp LED headlights, while the rear OLED taillights sit atop the broad, powerful rear fascia. A panoramic sunroof comes standard, but it can be upgraded with Magic Sky Control functionality. The entire body design can be altered to look more aggressive by optioning the AMG Line Exterior package.

The S-Class Coupe is as large as it is luxurious, measuring 198.1 inches long with a wide 115.9-inch wheelbase that accommodates the relatively spacious cabin. The sloping roofline gives the already sporty sedan a more sleek countenance while dropping the overall height to 55.6 inches. It's no slimmer than the standard S-Class, however, with a width of 74.8 inches when the mirrors are folded down. The coupe is also among the heaviest in the segment, weighing in at 4,740 lbs, whereas BMW's rivaling M850i xDrive weighs only 4,478 lbs.

Few luxury coupes can match the impressive performance of the S-Class thanks to its eminently capable 4.0-liter bi-turbo V8 engine, which pumps out 463 horsepower and 516 lb-ft of torque. This engine comes mated to a nine-speed automatic transmission that rows the gears and distributes power to all four wheels simultaneously.

Despite the pretty high weight of the S-Class Coupe, its powertrain doesn't struggle to move it at all. In fact, the S 560 4Matic is one of the quickest non-performance coupes on the market with a 0-60 mph sprint time of just 4.5 seconds. Top speed is limited to 130 mph. The sprint time is still a bit slower than the similarly V8-powered BMW 8 Series Coupe in its all-wheel-drive guise, which completes the same run in 3.5 seconds. Getting around town can be tedious as you'll need to keep a constant eye on the speedometer to ensure you stay within speed limits, but once on the open highway, the S-Class Coupe is a dream to drive, flying past the seemingly still-standing cars with little to no effort.

As capable as the S-Class Coupe is, it's still based on a car designed to be driven in rather than to drive. In two-door form, it's more driver-focused, but the focus is more on luxury than an involving experience. The interior is opulently luxurious, with an almost endless list of features focused on making the occupants as comfortable as possible. Coupes are slightly more driver-focused than traditional sedans, so it's no surprise that the S 560 Coupe doesn't provide the same level of rear-seat comfort or utility. The standard air suspension delivers a ride that can't be beaten, swallowing road imperfections in its stride while still managing to handle winding roads without a hint of instability.

The steering is less engaging, though, being a bit too light for a coupe with sporty aspirations. Nevertheless, it's precise and delivers excellent levels of control, even if it doesn't communicate much of what the wheels are doing. But if you really want the S-Class to deliver a thrill or two, it can do so without complaint.

If you really want to enjoy the S-Class Coupe, though, we suggest letting it do the hard work for you via its suite of advanced driver-assistance features while you simply enjoy the ride in the peerless interior.

The powerful engine under the hood of the Merc coupe is one of the thirstier powertrains in the segment, but buyers shopping for such a high-performance luxury vehicle won't be discouraged by this. With only one engine and drivetrain available, the S-Class Coupe gets 16/26/20 mpg across the city/highway/combined cycles. Similarly powered rivals like the all-wheel-drive BMW M850i xDrive get 17/25/20 mpg. Burning premium unleaded gasoline, the Merc can cover up to 422 miles on its 21.1-gallon fuel tank.

While not as spacious as in the S-Class sedan, the interior of the coupe is just as opulent with Nappa leather coming standard. The sloping roof cuts a little into the overall headroom, but even taller adults should still be comfortable in the front seats. The rear seats offer less headroom, but it should be enough for the average adult. The front seats offer excellent legroom while the rear seats are cramped for anyone but the smallest of adults. The active multi-contour front seats offer 12 directions of power-adjustability along with heating, ventilation, and massage functions. This makes finding an optimal driving position pretty easy, and comfort is never a concern. Getting in and out can be a little tricky with the low placement of the seats, but all-round visibility is good thanks to the pillarless design of the coupe's canopy.

Coupes generally sacrifice quite a bit of trunk space in the name of style and the S-Class is no exception to this rule. The trunk lid is power-operated and offers hands-free accessibility. As the rear seats do not fold down, the 10.4 cubic feet of space in the trunk is all the cargo space you're going to get. This is tight even for the segment, with the BMW 8 Series Coupe providing a larger 14.8 cubic feet. Still, the trunk can accommodate a handful of grocery bags or several carry-ons, but if you want to squeeze anything substantial in there, good luck getting the lid to close.

Small-item storage is pretty limited, too, with only the center armrest cubby offering anything approaching a decent space. The glove compartment is below average-sized, and the door pockets are almost non-existent. There are a couple of cupholders in the front and rear in which you can put small items, but that's about all they can hold.

As a luxury vehicle with a high price tag, the S-Class Coupe certainly doesn't skimp on standard features. The interior comes upholstered in premium Nappa leather, while dual-zone climate control keeps the cabin at optimum temperature for comfort. The panorama sunroof can be upgraded with Magic Sky Control, while designo Exclusive Nappa leather is available. The 12-way power-adjustable, heated, and ventilated active multi-contour front seats come standard with massage and memory functions, while Keyless-Go and soft-close doors make getting in and out a quick and painless endeavor. Plenty of advanced driver-assistance features come standard, such as blind-spot assist, rear cross-traffic alert, Pre-safe forward-collision avoidance, attention assist, lane-keeping assist, and active parking assist, complemented by an attractive 12.3-inch digital information cluster. The coupe also gets Mercedes' patented Car-to-X communication technology. Heated rear seats and a head-up display are among the available optional extras.

The infotainment suite on the S-Class centers around a large 12.3-inch high-resolution display that offers voice-control and touchpad interaction. The standard COMAND software includes Bluetooth functionality, navigation, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, HD Radio, and SiriusXM. In-car Wi-Fi can be added as a standalone upgrade. Dual USB audio ports are provided to charge smart devices along with a wireless charging pad. All sound is channeled through the 13-speaker Burmester Surround Sound system, which can be upgraded to a Burmester High-End 3D Surround sound system for an additional $6,400. While good in isolation, the COMAND system takes a back seat to Mercedes' immersive new MBUX infotainment system available on newer models and this is one of the areas in which the S-Class Coupe shows its age.

The S-Class range as a whole boasts an overall J.D. Power rating of 75 out of 100 and 74 for quality and reliability. It's significantly worse than the 8 Series' 83 and 85 scores. The new year is yet to see any recalls issued for the coupe. For the 2020 model year, there were two recalls, one for the front roof panel detaching and the other for a common Mercedes bugbear, namely the failure of the Mercedes eCall system giving incorrect location information to emergency responders. At least it's better than 2019 when 11 recalls affected the coupe. The S 560 Coupe is covered by Mercedes' standard warranty, which includes 50,000 miles / 48 months of bumper-to-bumper and powertrain coverage, as well as roadside assistance for 48 months. Several years of pre-paid maintenance can be included at additional cost.

As a low-volume top-tier luxury vehicle, the S-Class doesn't undergo extensive crash-testing. As such, neither the NHTSA nor the IIHS has any recorded safety ratings for the luxury coupe. However, the German manufacturer equips every vehicle with a wide array of safety features to keep both you and your prized luxury coupe in pristine condition. The most basic of these features are ABS, EBD, stability and traction control, and ten airbags: front, front knee, front-side, rear-side, and side curtains. The standard advanced safety features include blind-spot assist, rear cross-traffic alert, Pre-safe forward-collision avoidance, active parking assist, and lane-keeping assist. This suite can be further enhanced with a variety of active safety features available as part of the Driver Assistance Package.

The luxury-coupe market is not for the faint of heart, or the light of wallet. It's a segment that oozes opulence and status, and while some models do so in a gaudy display of excess, Mercedes-Benz is nothing if not refined and elegant at all times. The S-Class Coupe is the perfect example of this ethos, with handsome good looks that belie the sinfully hedonistic interior.

Few can afford a vehicle of this caliber, but those that can certainly won't be disappointed with the S 560 Coupe, even if there are more impressive status icons out there. However, Mercedes has an answer to those rivals, too, in the form of the AMG S 63 Coupe. At a slightly more reasonable price, the S 560 4Matic S-Class coupe still delivers a top-notch interior and ride quality that might leave you wondering if the almost 500 hp under the hood is actually hurtling you down the highway at well over 100 mph.

It's true that there are more agile coupes on the market, like the BMW 8 Series, but as luxurious as they are inside, they can't match the Merc. You're also unlikely to care that the S-Class provides several cubic feet less cargo space, that the rear seats are pretty cramped, or that the COMAND infotainment system is now quite outmoded. If you have the cash to spare, the S-Class Coupe is one of the best options on the market.

There is no such thing as a cheap S-Class, and the Coupe ups the price even more. With only one model offered, the S 560 4Matic Coupe starts the bidding at $131,400, but it doesn't stop there. If you want the best the S-Class has to offer, you can opt for the AMG Line Exterior styling package, which adds $5,900 to the bill. The top-of-the-range driver-assistance features are locked behind the $2,250 Driver Assistance Package and should really be standard at the price. The best audio and tech features can add up to $10,000. Keeping your prized coupe in tip-top shape will also require optioning one of the Premier Service pre-paid maintenance plans. At the end of the day, you will likely be looking at a final quote in the region of $150,000 before tax, registration, licensing, or Mercedes-Benz' $1,050 destination charge.

The Coupe variant of the S-Class is only offered in a single non-AMG trim level, the S 560 4Matic Coupe. As well-appointed as it is, with its 12.3-inch COMAND infotainment suite with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and HD Radio, as well as blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and forward-collision avoidance, the S-Class can be accessorized to reach even higher levels of premium appeal. While it may hike the price quite a bit, we suggest opting for the available Driver Assistance Package, which adds a host of active safety features like lane-keeping assist and adaptive cruise control, as well as the Burmester 3D Surround Sound system. The high-tech head-up display is a nice addition, and who wouldn't want Mercedes-Benz's patented Magic Sky Control roof, whose glass can be darkened electrically?

BMW and Mercedes have always pushed one another to up their game to new levels - something we should be grateful for. If not, we would not have these excellent coupes to compare. Each boasts a capable powertrain, although the V8 on the M850i xDrive is a little more powerful at 523 horsepower and 553 lb-ft of torque. This isn't surprising, as BMW has always put more emphasis on performance. Mercedes-Benz leans the other way, with the S-Class offering an interior that can't be matched and a ride quality that makes driving feel like a day at the spa rather than a high-concentration feat of daring. It is a bit disappointing that the S-Class Coupe can't quite match the 8 Series' in cargo capacity, but these are not practical vehicles, so buyers are unlikely to fuss over such foibles. Both cars are excellent in every regard, but the S-Class just feels a touch more refined as a luxury coupe.

At $38,000 cheaper than the S-Class Coupe, the Lexus LC 500 Coupe has a hard time matching its rival in terms of sheer luxury. Its naturally aspirated V8 does sound glorious and has more power (471 hp) and slightly better performance (0-60 mph in 4.4 seconds) albeit with a lower 398-lb-ft torque figure. The interior can't match the opulence of the S-Class, though, even if it comes with many of the same features and gadgets. The Lexus also supplies a laughably small trunk, with only 5.4 cubic feet on offer, utterly undermining any semblance of practicality. And while the LC may provide better handling characteristics, it's the coupe's striking exterior design that is likely to catch a buyer's eye. If all you care about is looking good and enjoying the drive, then the Lexus LC Coupe will almost certainly make your shortlist. But if you want to feel luxurious, too, then it will be hard to place the LC above the Merc S-Class Coupe.