2026 Mercedes-Benz S-Class: Top 5 Upgrades Over Previous Model

Mercedes-Benz has provided a comprehensive update to the S-Class. Unveiled on the occasion of the brand’s 140 years of existence as a car manufacturer, the latest model is essentially a mid-cycle facelift of the current W223 generation of the luxury saloon. That said, it gets some very substantial upgrades over the pre-facelifted. Here are the top 5 most significant upgrades seen in the 2026 Mercedes-Benz S-Class.

1. Sharper Exterior Styling & Lighting

The exterior styling of the new Mercedes-Benz looks definitely a lot sharper courtesy of the revised LED signatures in the lighting setup. The three-pointed star LED motifs have been embedded in the headlights as well as taillights. The S-Class gets new micro-LED Digital Light technology that provides 40 percent greater illumination . Further, the front grille is now 20 percent larger and encircled by a subtly illuminated frame.

2. Next-Gen MBUX Superscreen

The new S-Class sets the tone for the next generation Mercedes-Benz software-defined vehicles. With the new S-Class, the German marque has introduced the latest iteration of the MBUX digital architecture, referred to as the MB OS. Integrated with the expansive MBUX Superscreen, MB.OS functions as Mercedes-Benz’s “supercomputer on wheels,” unifying the vehicle’s core systems while enabling a wide range of intelligent features. These include a digital AI assistant that integrates technologies such as ChatGPT, Gemini and Bing, along with Google-based services for enhanced connectivity and functionality.

3. Advanced Biometrics & Cabin Care

The fingerprint scanner previously available in the S-Class has been replaced with a more advanced facial recognition system. This includes a camera mounted on the dashboard for personalized profile loading and video calls. Additionally, a new multi-stage air filtration system ionises fine dust and can fully renew the cabin air roughly every 90 seconds.

Also READ: Mercedes-Benz Teams Up With Nvidia, Uber To Build Robotaxis

4. Heated Seatbelts

After heated seats and steering grips, it is now time for heated seatbelts. Mercedes-Benz has introduced the revolutionary heated seatbelts for the front seats. These belts warm up to 44°C, providing a "gentle embrace" that encourages passengers to remove thick jackets, which also improves the seatbelt's safety effectiveness.

5. New Flat-Plane V8 Engine

At a time when car manufacturers have been forced to downsize due to emission norms, Mercedes continues to believe that there is “no replacement for displacement”. Hence, it continues with the V6 diesel and V8 turbo petrol. The 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 (M177 Evo) has moved to a flat-plane crank design with a new firing order, and uses dual balancer shafts to offset the vibrations. 

Like all modern Merc models, both engines of the S-Class come with a 48V mild-hybrid system and 17kW integrated starter generator (ISG), which has also been upgraded to provide a stronger boost. Moreover, the engines have been updated to meet the upcoming Euro 7 emissions norms