2026 Mercedes-Benz S-Class PHEV: Top five things you need to know

Mercedes-Benz India has just launched the new 2026 Mercedes-Benz S-Class in the Indian market. For 2026, the luxury sedan has many enhancements designed to keep it ahead of the competition in the premium segment. While the overall design remains the familiar S-Class, the latest model brings subtle updates to the styling, advanced technology features, improved connectivity, and refinements that elevate the ownership experience. In this article, let’s take a look at the top five things you need to know. Power train The 2026 Mercedes-Benz S-Class is offered with a single hybrid powertrain option. Notably, it is the first S-Class to be offered with a plug-in hybrid powertrain in India, combining a petrol engine and an electric motor for optimum performance. It is powered by a 3.0-litre turbo-petrol inline-six cylinder engine combined with an electric motor to produce 435hp and 680Nm of torque. Power comes from a 22kWh battery, which Mercedes-Benz claims can bring electric vehicles up to 115 kilometers under ideal conditions.

Power is sent to the rear wheels via a 9-speed automatic transmission, and it can accelerate from 0-100 kph in just 5.7 seconds. The S 450e’s 22kWh battery can be charged from 10 to 80 percent in 20 minutes using a 60kW DC charger. The plug-in hybrid luxury sedan is claimed to deliver a fuel efficiency of 32.2kmpl in the WLTP test.Creation In terms of design, the updated Mercedes-Benz S-Class retains all its history, although most of the visual changes are concentrated in the front. The facelift introduces a larger grille with a chrome star pattern and light surrounds, while the Mercedes badge on the bonnet is now re-lit. The redesigned lamps are large and have three lamps shaped like the stars of the day.

Mercedes-Benz has also equipped the sedan with its latest LED Digital Light technology, which the company claims improves brightness by 40 percent. The system also includes a high beam that can illuminate up to 600 meters ahead. Side changes are minimal and include newly designed alloy wheels. The luxury sedan now includes a wide range of cameras, radars and sensors to support driver assistance functions. At the rear, the main change comes in the form of low-profile LED headlights with three-star lighting elements, similar to those seen on the latest Mercedes-Benz E-Class.

Interior, appearance Moving to the interior, the updated S-Class gets a new black color display incorporating three screens, dubbed by Mercedes-Benz as the Superscreen. The configuration includes a 12.3-inch driver’s display, a front passenger’s screen and a larger 14.4-inch center console for multi-tasking car functions. The sedan also adopts the latest MB OS architecture, including systems such as lighting, cameras, suspension and power management. The app enables cloud connectivity, AI-based services, Google Maps navigation and automotive technology to virtually everything.Rear passengers continue to get two 13.1-inch screens, while the rear panel has been replaced with two smaller controls. The cabin features leather upholstery and wood trim, while climate controls are integrated behind the metal panels for lighting and electronic controls.Most of the car’s functions are controlled by the touchscreen interface and capacitive shortcut controls. The car also features facial recognition via a dashboard-mounted camera, which also supports video calling and cabin monitoring. The comfort of the rear seats remains the focus, while the long wheelbase model continues to 43 degrees of sitting down, as well as heating, ventilation, ticketing functions and a four-seat configuration.Price, varietyThe 2026 Mercedes-Benz S-Class is offered in two main variants – Launch Edition Exclusive Line priced at Rs 2.20 crores and Top-spec Manufacture Edition AMG Line priced at Rs 2.38 crores (both ex-showroom prices). Compared to its predecessor, which was priced from Rs 1.85 crore, the new S-Class commands a price tag of Rs 35 lakh at the entry level.

Booking, shipping Interested customers can book the new S-Class by visiting their nearest location, and deliveries are expected to begin around Diwali in the fourth quarter of 2026. The luxury sedan competes with the BMW 7 Series and Audi A8 L in the Indian market. Although Mercedes-Benz India hasn’t officially confirmed the trim level, the new S 450e is apparently being exported as a CBU, which also explains its higher price tag over the outgoing S-Class.