2011 Mercedes-Benz S Class vs. Its Competition

2011 Mercedes-Benz S Class 4-door Sedan 5.5L V8 RWD Angular Front Exterior View

Meta Rating 9.2 out of 10

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Bengt Halvorson

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Jun 13, 2011

The 2011 Mercedes-Benz S-Class covers a huge range, from the wealthy to the very rich, and competes directly through most of that range with the BMW 7-Series.

Within most of the lineup, we have a slight preference toward the 7-Series, mainly because of its somewhat better tailored exterior; it's no longer the clear handling favorite.

The Lexus LS range comes in hybrid and gas versions, but even though it's attractive and welcoming it's woefully short on handling.

The new Audi A8 and Jaguar XJ are the most stylish rivals; the XJ is absolutely stunning, builds on the sportier, edgier feel of the XF, and hits the mark with its interior, while the new A8 also steps up in performance while adding more in-cabin tech and even better interior detail.

Lastly, there's the fabulous new Aston Martin Rapide and the bulkier-looking Porsche Panamera.

2011 Mercedes-Benz S Class Browse Used Listings	2011 Audi A8 Browse Used Listings	2011 BMW 7-Series Browse Used Listings	2011 Jaguar XJ Browse Used Listings	2011 Lexus LS 460 Browse Used Listings	2011 Porsche Panamera Browse Used Listings
Quick Specs
Meta Rating
9.2 From earth-friendly to exclusive and exotically fast, the 2011 Mercedes-Benz S-Class does it all in superb comfort.	8.8 Suave styling, an impeccable cabin, innovative cabin tech, and a lean, athletic driving feel earn the 2011 Audi A8 a spot in the top tier.	9.4 Call us converts: The latest BMW 7-Series turns our eyes more than ever and drives with real big-guy brio.	8.8 The 2011 Jaguar XJ severs ties with its past, and rocks a mod new look that suits its dynamic personality.	8.4 The 2011 Lexus LS sedans deliver a luxury-liner ride and hushed interior, with some options that are unmatched by all but ultra-luxury brands, but they sorely lack driving involvement.	8.2 There's not much ordinary or traditional about this phenomenal fastback, and that's mostly a good thing.
MSRP From
$91,000	$78,050	$70,650	$72,700	$67,130	$74,400
Gas Mileage
12 MPG City / 25 MPG Hwy	17 MPG City / 27 MPG Hwy	13 MPG City / 25 MPG Hwy	15 MPG City / 23 MPG Hwy	16 MPG City / 24 MPG Hwy	15 MPG City / 27 MPG Hwy
Engine
Gas/Electric V6	Gas V8	Turbocharged Gas I6	Gas V8	Gas V8	Gas V6
EPA Class
Large	Large	Large	Large Car	Midsize cars	Large Car
Style Name
4-Door Sedan S400 Hybrid RWD	4-Door Sedan	4-Door Sedan 740i RWD	4-Door Sedan	4-Door Sedan RWD	4-Door HB
Drivetrain
Rear Wheel Drive	All-Wheel Drive	Rear Wheel Drive	Rear Wheel Drive	Rear Wheel Drive	Rear Wheel Drive
Passenger Capacity
5	5	5	5	5	4
Passenger Doors
N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
Body Style
Sedan	4 Door Sedan	4-Door Sedan	4 Door Sedan	4 Door Sedan	4 Door Hatchback
Transmission
Automatic	Automatic	Automatic	Automatic w/OD	Automatic w/manual shift	Automatic w/Manual Shift