The latest version of the full-size S600 sedan joined the lineup for 2015 as part of the redesigned S-Class that had emerged a year earlier. Very few ultra-luxury automobiles are powered by a V12 engine anymore, and the one in the S600 is turbocharged, yielding 523 horsepower.
If this $169,050 sedan isn’t quite large and lavish enough, Mercedes-Benz has launched a Mercedes-Maybach S600, priced $20,000 higher and measuring more than 8 inches longer. Of course, the sport-minded buyer might find a performance-packed, 621-horsepower S65 AMG irresistible, despite its $225,000 price.
What's New for 2016
S-Class is the first Mercedes-Benz series with Speed Limit Assist, now part of the Driver Assistance Package. Near Field Communication is newly standard. Otherwise, little has changed for the 2016 model year.
Choosing Your Mercedes-Benz S600
Each member of the Mercedes-Benz sedan lineup is offered in a sequence of escalating levels, arranged according to engine size and price, typically topped by an AMG edition. Serving as the pinnacle of the full-size S-Class is the S600. Priced some $70,000 higher than its closest sibling, the V8-powered S550, the S600 sedan contains a 12-cylinder engine. For an outlay of that magnitude, the buyer expects -- and receives -- a fully luxury-oriented four-door that contains nearly every posh comfort and convenience that a person could desire, and more besides.
The S600 gets its model designation from the 6-liter turbocharged V12. With 523 horsepower lurking beneath the hood, an 600 is capable of accelerating from zero to 60 mph in about 4.5 seconds. All S600 sedans hold a seven-speed automatic transmission. All-wheel drive is available as an alternative to standard rear-wheel drive. Operation of the adjustable air suspension is aided by Magic Body Control, a system that detects upcoming road imperfections and adjusts the suspension accordingly.
Beyond the usual choice of fine wood and leather interior trim, few decisions need to be made when purchasing Mercedes-Benz's top sedan. Each S600 comes standard with nearly every available S-Class feature. That means it's packed with items you might never have thought of, such as a 24-speaker Burmester 3-D surround sound system, rear side-impact airbags, rear-seat entertainment, and a cabin fragrance atomizer. Ventilated front seats offer six massaging programs. Adaptive cruise control, also standard, incorporates automatic braking and accelerating. Naturally, each S600 has a full complement of advanced safety technology.
No need to stop there, as the brief option list includes a refrigerated compartment concealed in the rear seatback, a heated windshield, and a split-view dashboard display that permits front-passenger entertainment. An Executive Rear Seat package includes two power rear seats with foldout tray tables and heated/cooled cupholders. The new, longer Mercedes-Maybach S600 is equipped with the Executive Rear Seat package.
Clearly, the S600 stands ready to deliver just about every conceivable element of luxury motoring, without making the buyer think much about options to add. Those additional rear-seat amenities may be tempting, but they make sense only if an S600 will be chauffeuring rock stars, bankers, or heads of state. Most buyers need only pick a cabin fragrance and prepare to enjoy all the pampering.