On October 28, Mercedes-Benz announced the launch of its 2026 Mercedes-Benz S-Class sedan. The lineup represents an annual facelift, with official prices ranging from RMB 898,800 to RMB 2,042,600.
Exterior Design
The new S-Class continues Mercedes-Benz’s signature family design language, featuring an aerodynamic body with a drag coefficient of 0.22Cd. It is equipped with dynamic “Star Emblem” welcome lights and “Lake Light & Shadow” horizontally extended dual-section taillights. The top and sub-top trims come with AMG exterior packages, and customers can choose between 19-inch or 20-inch wheels.
Interior Features
Inside, all models are equipped with a head-up display with augmented reality (AR) navigation, a 12.3-inch 3D digital instrument cluster, and a 12.8-inch OLED central touchscreen.
The entry-level S 400 L Special Edition, however, removes several features compared with the previous S 400 L Business Edition — including rear intelligent climate control, Smog Terminator 3.0, and omits optional upgrades such as the in-car air quality system, active ambient lighting, intelligent gesture control, rear wireless charging pad, adaptive rear lighting system, and MBUX rear-seat smart tablet.
In addition, the 2026 S 450 L 4MATIC model drops the remote parking system, adds active ambient lighting as standard, changes the MBUX premium rear entertainment system from standard to optional, and no longer offers the intelligent gesture assistant as an option.
Specifications and Powertrain
The dimensions remain unchanged at 5290 mm (5320 mm for some trims) × 1921 mm × 1503 mm, with a 3216 mm wheelbase.
The S 400 L and S 450 L are powered by a 2.5L inline-six turbocharged engine paired with a 48V mild-hybrid system.
The S 400 L delivers 230 kW of maximum power and 450 Nm of peak torque.
The S 500 L 4MATIC features a 3.0L inline-six turbo engine with a 48V mild-hybrid system, generating 330 kW and 560 Nm of torque.
All models come with a 9-speed automatic transmission (9AT).
The 2026 update refines the luxury flagship with subtle feature adjustments, emphasizing efficiency, comfort, and cutting-edge in-car technology while maintaining the classic S-Class elegance.
