Mercedes-Benz Gives Its Best Luxury Car A Very Subtle Facelift

The Mercedes-Benz S-Class has received a mid-life refresh to keep the iconic luxury sedan fresh. As with the most recent facelifts (like the updated Mercedes GLS-Class), the automaker has kept changes to a minimum, with subtle updates to the exterior, interior, technology, and Manufaktur personalization service. No powertrain changes have been announced.

For a start, the Sonderklasse can be specified with Verde Silver metallic or Velvet Brown metallic paintwork. Inside, the luxury sedan now benefits from standard comfort head restraints for the front seats. The MBUX interface has been upgraded to include the RIDEVU service from Sony Pictures Entertainment. The system allows occupants to stream video entertainment (including a library of films) from the leather-lined cabin. Customers can also stream video content via YouTube.

More Tech And Safety Features

The MBUX interface is also more intuitive than before. The assisted parking suggestions, for example, are located in a user-friendly place. US customers can use the Mercedes me ‘pre-installation for the Digital Vehicle Key’ service for the first time. Aside from pre-installation, it will be compatible with Android mobile devices for the first time. The updated S-Class also receives the standard MBUX Entertainment Plus and an OLED center display.

On the safety front, the W223 gains a new occupant presence reminder. This feature ensures that an occupant is not left behind in the vehicle. The system is activated and deactivated by opening the rear doors for a longer period. It works on the assumption that people have entered the car and are seated in the second row. In Europe, the S-Class also receives the Automatic Lane Change function supported on certain roads, like motorways and dual-carriageways. Mercedes notes all these changes will be applied to the armored S680 Guard. There’s no mention of whether the Maybach is included in this light refresh.

More Manufaktur Personalization Options

Aside from this, the marque’s Manufaktur customization program has been expanded for the S-Class, with 12 exclusive colors for the luxury sedan. This includes solid paints like Vintage Blue and Silicon Gray, metallic hues such as Rubellite Red and Kalahari Gold, and ‘Magno’ (matte) finishes a la Opalite White Magno and Graphite Gray.

Manufaktur has multiple upgrades for the S-Class interior, including walnut brown open-pore wood with aluminum lines or black piano lacquer with flowing lines. Nappa leather upholstery with diamond quilting and cushions with an embroidered Mercedes star are also available. Plush Nappa hide can also be applied to the dashboard, center console, armrests, and door cards. Deep-pile floor mats with Nappa leather piping can be matched to the chosen upholstery. Five unique color combos are available: Yacht Blue/Black, Walnut Brown/Black, Deep White/Black, Tartufo Brown/Black, and Pastel Yellow/Black.

Manufaktur Components Crafted With The Utmost Care

But it doesn’t end there. Customers who want something Mercedes or Manufaktur can’t offer can discuss bespoke personalization solutions for their S-Class. If possible, the Mercedes Manufaktur workshop will take on the task of creating one-of-a-kind solutions for the luxury sedan. All Manufaktur components are mostly handmade, with a team of 250 experts crafting the headliners, unique window frames, and vanity mirrors, to name a few custom parts. Mercedes doesn’t just hire anyone for this department; experts must undergo a three-year training regime, with an extra six months required depending on specific components.

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Mercedes has not announced pricing for the updated S-Class, but the automaker says the first batch of refreshed models will reach American dealerships in August. We expect pricing to be shared closer to the on-sale date, with an anticipated increase in the MSRP (owing to the increased standard features). As a reminder, the big Benz has a starting price of $117,300 before options. While the latest update has been very mild, a Mercedes insider says that a more substantial update will be announced in 2026, with another facelift to arrive in 2029.