We spent a week and 520 miles in a 2025 Mercedes‑Benz S580 4MATIC to focus on the parts that matter in daily luxury: interior quality, onboard technology, and long‑haul comfort.
Our test car was an S580 4MATIC on 20-inch wheels with AIRMATIC air suspension, rear‑axle steering, and the Executive Rear Seat package. The drivetrain (4.0‑liter twin‑turbo V8 with 48‑volt assist, 9‑speed automatic, 496 hp/516 lb‑ft) was largely incidental to this interior‑centric test, but it informed refinement. We drove a loop mixing dense city traffic, coarse‑chip county roads, and interstate cruising (ambient 48–83°F) with two adults up front and, on two days, two passengers in back. Material quality is exemplary.
Our car’s Nappa leather showed uniform grain and tight stitching, the open‑pore wood trim felt naturally finished (no plasticky sheen), and the knurled metal vents and switchgear actuated with consistent damping. Panel joins aligned precisely around the console and door caps, and we noted no creaks over diagonal driveway entries. The active ambient lighting is more than decoration; it ties into driver assistance prompts and climate changes, adding clear, at‑a‑glance feedback without feeling gimmicky. Front‑row comfort is a standout.
The multicontour seats offer a wide range of power adjustment with a long thigh extender, effective ventilation, and heating that reaches temperature quickly. The massage suite has multiple programs with adjustable intensity and actually reduced fatigue over a four‑hour interstate stint. Sightlines are good for a big sedan, and the low cowl helps with placement. Not everything is perfect: the touch‑sensitive steering‑wheel controls can register accidental inputs when palming the rim, and the glossy central screen shows fingerprints in bright sun.
Rear‑seat comfort in the Executive package approaches lounge‑class. The right‑rear seat reclines with calf support, and both outboard seats get heating, ventilation, and effective massage. Headrest pillows, heated armrests, and soft‑close doors elevate the experience. Legroom is generous, and the ride remains settled even over broken patches.
Cabin quiet is exceptional; our meter logged 62 dBA at a steady 70 mph on smooth asphalt, rising to 64–65 dBA on coarse surfaces, with little tire slap thanks to acoustic glass and thorough isolation. Technology feels mature rather than flashy. The 12.8‑inch OLED central display, 12.3‑inch 3D instrument cluster, and augmented‑reality head‑up display are crisp and readable. MBUX responds quickly to voice prompts (“Hey Mercedes”) for navigation, climate, and seat functions, and the fingerprint sensor reliably loads driver profiles.
Wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto remained stable with one brief drop in a week; the phone charger held devices securely and kept temps reasonable. The Burmester 4D audio (with seat‑mounted resonators) adds tactility without buzzing panels when set below max intensity. Ride comfort is the final piece. In Comfort mode the AIRMATIC calmly rounds off sharp edges and expansion joints; with E‑Active Body Control equipped, body motions are further trimmed without float, and Curve mode reduces head toss on sweeping roads.
Four‑zone climate control maintained set temps quietly, and the Air Balance fragrance/filtration kept outside odors at bay during city stints. Overall, the S‑Class remains a benchmark for interior quality and real‑world comfort. We’d spec the Burmester audio, rear‑axle steering, and Executive Rear Seat package, and avoid the largest wheels to preserve ride and cabin hush.
