Heated seatbelts, AI assistants and self-driving tech: new Mercedes S-Class revealed

The Mercedes S-Class has been around for over 50 years, and it’s the car you look to if you want to know what features your family hatchback will have in 10 years time. It’s always been packed with technology which is miles ahead of its time, and now there’s a new one.

Well, I say “new”. This is actually a heavily updated version of the existing S-Class with revised styling, a new interior and new technology. This revamp was needed as well, because the BMW 7 Series was starting to pull ahead of the Mercedes in terms of innovation. Does the update do enough to pull things back for the S-Class? Let’s dive a little deeper to find out.

New Mercedes S-Class design: more than meets the eye

At a glance, the new S-Class doesn’t look much different than the old one. There are plenty of subtle changes though which, when added together, make quite a big impact.

The most obvious difference comes up front with that new grille. It’s 20% larger than the old car’s, and it’s flanked by updated, sleeker LED headlights with star-shaped running lights. The three-pointed star bonnet ornament also lights up, which is a first for the S-Class.

Those headlights also feature new digital technology which increases their range by 40% at night, lighting up the road up to 60 metres in front of you. That’s around the same as six football pitches.

Down the side there isn’t much to report, apart from a few new alloy wheel options. The rear lights are also the same basic shape as before, but now feature the star-shaped LED signature you’ll find on cars like the new Mercedes CLA.

Compared to the BMW 7 Series, the S-Class looks much more, well, classy. It’s not as garish or in-your-face as the polarising BMW, so choosing between them will come down to your own personal preference.

New Mercedes S-Class interior and technology: is it a big step forward?

Changes to the interior of the new Mercedes S-Class are quite dramatic compared to the old one, but not compared to the existing EQS.

The portrait-oriented free-standing touchscreen from the previous car has been replaced by Mercedes’ Superscreen setup, which you’ve been able to get in the E-Class for some time now. It’s also not as large as the Hyperscreen you get in the electric EQS.

It comprises three massive displays including a 14.4-inch central touchscreen and two 12.3-inch screens, one in front of the driver and one for the passenger. It’s more impressive to look at than the twin-screen setup you get in the BMW 7 Series, and it’s packed with clever features.

It uses an AI assistant which combines the power of Chat GPT, Microsoft Bing and Google Gemini that allows you to have “natural” conversations with the car. It can also answer more complex questions you may have by referring to the internet.

Another slightly odd, but still interesting feature is the heated seatbelts. The front belts will warm up to keep you cozy on cold winter mornings, which is something I’ve certainly not seen before.

New Mercedes S-Class rear seats: the BMW 7 Series is better in one way

The rear seats of an S-Class are almost more important than the front, because this is a car to be chauffeured in.

If you’re a high-flying businessperson who needs to be dialled-in at all times, you can use the twin 13.1-inch rear displays to join video conferences with the HD webcams. You can also use the AI voice assistant to take notes for you, and there are fast-charging USB sockets so you can quickly top your phone up during short hops across the city.

But let’s say you’ve finished work for the day and just want to relax? Well, in that case you can recline your chair and watch a movie while enjoying a cooled drink from the temperature-controlled cup holders.

However, a BMW 7 Series may be a better car for enjoying videos, because it’s available with a huge 32.0-inch display which folds down from the ceiling. This makes the two stuck-on tablets in the S-Class look a bit old-school.

New Mercedes S-Class driver assistance: taking the strain out of being a chauffeur

The driver assistance systems in the new Mercedes S-Class are so advanced that it actually has a water-cooled supercomputer to power them.

Lots of cars have adaptive cruise control these days, even the tiny Toyota Aygo X, but the S-Class has a setup which is way more clever than any small hatchback. It’s constantly scanning the road ahead and can automatically swerve around obstacles in your lane if you don’t react.

The S-Class can also proactively change lanes on the motorway for you to overtake slow-moving traffic without any input from you, and around town it can see approaching red lights and stop for you.

These systems aren’t fully self-driving because you do have to be in control of the car and paying attention, and some of these features may not be available in the UK due to our regulations on autonomous driving.

New Mercedes S-Class: is it better than a BMW 7 Series?

It’s a bit too soon to say at this point as we haven’t driven the new Mercedes S-Class yet, but I reckon choosing between the two could be tricky.

The outgoing Mercedes S-Class was slightly more comfortable than the BMW 7 Series, and the new one has a revised air suspension system which can detect bumps long before you reach them and adjust to absorb the impact. It stands to reason that the Mercedes will be the car to choose if you value comfort over anything else, and the BMW is likely to be more fun to drive.

We’ll be driving the new Mercedes S-Class as soon as it hits UK shores, so keep an eye out for our full review.

Car change? Carwow!

Looking for a new set of wheels? With Carwow you can sell your car quickly and for a fair price – as well as find great offers on your next one. Whether you’re looking to buy a car brand new, are after something used or you want to explore car leasing options, Carwow is your one stop shop for new car deals.

Click here to follow us on WhatsApp, where you can keep up-to-date with all the latest news, reviews, advice guides and videos.