Mercedes-Benz S-Class 2021 Review

As a core player in Malaysia's luxury mid-to-large sedan market, the Mercedes-Benz S-Class has always been synonymous with the term "flagship benchmark" — and the arrival of the 2022 S 580 e PHEV not only continues this status but also expands on fuel efficiency and electrification experience. Its core selling points are clear: it combines the smooth performance of a traditional fuel engine with the ability to cover daily commutes in pure electric mode, all while maximizing the hallmark luxury configurations of the S-Class. This time, we got our hands on the vehicle, primarily to verify the practicality of its hybrid system, the consistency of its luxurious experience, and its overall adaptability as a family or business vehicle.

From the exterior, the S 580 e maintains the signature elegance of the S-Class. The large-size three-pointed star emblem on the front, paired with a vertical chrome grille, makes it highly recognizable; the side profile of the car has smooth lines, with the waistline extending from the A-pillar to the rear, ensuring the 5289mm length does not appear bulky. The 19-inch multi-spoke rims also match the car's overall aesthetic. At the rear, the LED taillights adopt a transverse design, creating a cohesive and refined light strip when illuminated. The dual chrome exhaust outlets on both sides retain the ceremonial feel of a fuel vehicle. The lighting system is a highlight, with LED headlights that support automatic adjustment and adaptive high and low beams, offering wide illumination at night and evenly paved light coverage.

Opening the door, the luxurious interior atmosphere is overwhelming. The dashboard is wrapped in large areas of Nappa leather with fine stitching, and there is almost no hard plastic in areas within reach. The 12.8-inch vertical touchscreen in the center console serves as the visual focal point, offering high interface smoothness where frequently used features like navigation and air conditioning are accessible with a single touch. The instrument panel is fully digital, offering rich information and allowing switching between different themes. In terms of configuration, the front seats support electric adjustment, memory, heating, and massage functions. The headrests feature pillow-like designs, ensuring they remain comfortable during long drives. The rear seats are the focus: the outer seats also come with electric adjustment, heating, ventilation, and massage functions. The left seat is even equipped with an electric leg rest and Ottoman function, with a neck heater embedded in the headrest — an excellent feature for business receptions or long family trips. Additionally, features like a 360-degree parking camera, rear-seat LCD screens, a 15-speaker audio system, a fragrance system, and an air purifier all deliver on the promise of a luxurious interior experience.

The space performance fully meets flagship standards. The 3216mm wheelbase ensures ample legroom in the rear; for passengers around 1.8 meters tall, there is still over two fists of space between their knees and the front seats. Headroom is also sufficient, without any sense of claustrophobia. In terms of storage, the front central armrest box is deep, door storage compartments can hold two large bottles of water, and the trunk offers 350L of capacity. Although the battery takes up some space, it's still sufficient to hold two 28-inch suitcases, and the rear seats support central folding, making it possible to accommodate longer items when needed. The rear also features independent air conditioning, a sunroof above, and sunshades on the sides, providing comprehensive comfort configurations.

The first driving impression is smoothness. The S 580 e is equipped with a 3.0T six-cylinder turbocharged engine combined with an electric motor, delivering a system total of 510PS (engine 363PS + motor 147PS) and a torque of 900N·m. In pure electric mode, starting is very quiet, and the power response is immediate, ideal for urban commuting. When switching to hybrid mode, there is virtually no noticeable lag during engine engagement when accelerating. The official 0-100km/h acceleration is 5.2 seconds, and stepping on the throttle for overtaking provides abundant power. Accelerating further at 120km/h on the highway is also effortless. The chassis uses an independent multi-link suspension system for both front and rear wheels, tuned for comfort. When driving over speed bumps or uneven roads, vibrations are softly filtered, avoiding harsh impacts. The steering wheel offers good precision with minimal play, feeling light at low speeds and heavier at high speeds, providing a stable driving experience.

In terms of energy consumption, our test measured a pure electric range of approximately 85km (in urban Malaysian traffic conditions, with air conditioning on). For a daily round trip of 40km to work, charging twice a week is basically sufficient. In hybrid mode, the combined fuel consumption is about 7.5L/100km, which is much more fuel-efficient than the purely gasoline-powered S-Class. Noise control is excellent, with minimal wind and tire noise at 120km/h on the highway, allowing for a quiet conversation inside the car. The massage function of the seats can relieve fatigue during long drives, and the neck warmer in the rear row is especially practical in rainy or cool weather.

The braking performance is also worth mentioning. It features ventilated disc brakes at both the front and rear, offering short braking distances and a linear pedal feel that inspires confidence. There are three levels of energy recovery; when set to the highest level, releasing the accelerator significantly slows the car down, making single-pedal driving possible without any dragging sensation, which is easy to adapt to.

Overall, the core advantages of the 2022 S 580 e are highly prominent: it comes fully loaded with luxury features, especially for rear-seat comfort, which is almost unrivaled among competitors at the same level. The hybrid system balances power and fuel consumption, while the pure electric range is sufficient for daily commuting, and fuel economy is much better than the gas-only version. The chassis tuning emphasizes comfort, making it suitable for both business and family use. Compared to peers like the BMW 7 Series PHEV or Audi A8L PHEV, the S 580 e stands out for its superior rear-seat luxury and feature richness.

It is clear who this car is for: either business executives who emphasize a luxurious rear-seat experience for business receptions or high-end users seeking comfortable family travel while also prioritizing fuel economy. Of course, if you enjoy a quiet and smooth driving experience without wanting to rely entirely on pure electric, the S 580 e is also an excellent choice.

In summary, the 2022 Mercedes-Benz S 580 e lives up to the "S-Class" name – it is both a hybrid sedan capable of meeting daily commuting needs and a flagship vehicle offering a top-tier luxury experience. In the Malaysian luxury mid-to-large sedan market, it remains a "benchmark" presence.