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The 2021 Mercedes-Benz S-Class is an absolute banger, once again setting the standard for all other luxury cars.
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Under the hood is a 4.0-liter twin-turbocharged V8 producing 496 horsepower and 516 pound-feet of torque, augmented by a 48-volt mild hybrid system that can throw another 21 hp and 184 lb-ft into the mix, usually when leaving a stop or pushing the accelerator into the firewall.
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A nine-speed automatic transmission does its thing with near imperceptibility, and optional rear-axle steering (4.5 degrees, $1,300, although 10-degree steering is also available on some variants) means it’s pretty darn easy to navigate parking lots and other tight confines.
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The EPA rates the S580 at 17 mpg city and 25 mpg city.
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It shouldn’t come as a surprise that the 2021 Mercedes-Benz S-Class ain’t cheap.
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The S580 starts at $117,350, and a limited number of aesthetic and functional enhancements bump my tester’s price up to $131,500 — and there’s still an AMG variant or two that will live above this one, in addition to the big-boy Maybach.
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The S500 and its straight-6 engine are thankfully a little less expensive, coming in at $110,850. Thank goodness.
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Mercedes’ closest competitors, the BMW 7 Series and Audi A8, are both high-quality luxury cars in their own right, but it’s hard to recommend anything other than the S-Class.
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The standard bearer remains at the front of the pack, and should stay there for a while.
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Keep scrolling or clicking to check out even more pictures of the 2021 Mercedes-Benz S580.
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