"Even the chairman may not want to let go of the wheel"... A drive in the Mercedes-Benz S 500 4MATIC Long [Ggittongchan Mobility]

[Financial News] The road kept bending. As the steering was turned uphill, the 5.3-meter-plus body rotated its nose a beat earlier than expected. The sensation of the rear wheels turning with the front was felt right through the fingertips. A full-size sedan on a winding road would normally feel cumbersome, but instead it became fun to drive. It was the moment when a sedan known mainly as a rear-seat car was seen anew from the driver’s seat. This is the facelifted flagship from Mercedes-Benz, the new S 500 4MATIC Long.
On the 20th, I drove the S 500 4MATIC Long at the media test-drive event for the new Mercedes-Benz S-Class held in Yeongwol, Gangwon Province. The route ran from The Hanok Heritage in Yeongwol to the Hoengseong area and back, alternating between winding mountain roads and open expressway sections. It was an ideal course for judging both the car’s ride comfort and the way its long body moves.
Although this S-Class is a facelift, the changes are substantial. Mercedes-Benz said it newly developed or redesigned more than 50% of the vehicle’s components, or about 2,700 parts. That goes well beyond the usual scope of a simple refresh limited to bumpers and lamps.
The first thing that stands out on the exterior is the front end. For the first time in S-Class history, an illuminated grille has been applied. The grille is about 20% larger than before and is filled with 112 three-pointed stars that light up at night or in dark surroundings. The headlamps feature DIGITAL LIGHT with a twin-star design inspired by the Mercedes emblem, while the rear gets signature star taillights engraved with three stars. The star motif is bold, but in person it feels less excessive than expressive, adding to the presence of a flagship sedan. It has a sense of dignity that is large and commanding, rather than the sharpness of the latest design trends.
It measures 5,305 mm in length, 1,920 mm in width, and 1,505 mm in height, with a wheelbase of 3,216 mm. The long hood and gently sloping roofline give the massive body elegant proportions.
After starting the engine and pressing the accelerator, the S 500 4MATIC Long delivers 449 horsepower and 61.2 kg·m of torque from a 3.0-liter inline six-cylinder gasoline engine paired with a 48V mild hybrid system. It goes from 0 to 100 km/h in 4.5 seconds. Excluding the V8-powered S 580, it is the quickest accelerator in the lineup.
Excluding the S 580, it is the quickest accelerator in the lineup.
But the numbers did not fully match the actual driving feel. Even when the pedal was pressed deeply, the car did not lunge forward. Instead, power followed calmly in proportion to how far the pedal was pushed. Even on uphill mountain roads, it kept speed smoothly without ever feeling strained. The 9-speed automatic transmission rarely revealed its shifts. It was quick, but never rushed — acceleration in the true S-Class manner.
Its character also changed depending on the drive mode. In Comfort, it softened road impacts with ease. In Sport, the engine note became clearer and the road surface came through more directly. Rather than smothering every sensation in softness, the setup leaves room for the driver to feel closer to the road when desired.
The real surprise came on the winding roads. Putting a full-size sedan of more than 5.3 meters into a twisty route would normally feel daunting. But the reality was different. Through consecutive corners, the body did not sway heavily from side to side, and the nose followed the steering input precisely.
At the center of that is rear axle steering, which can turn up to 10 degrees. At low speeds, the rear wheels move in the opposite direction of the front wheels to reduce the turning radius. At higher speeds, they steer in the same direction to improve stability. In effect, the rear wheels share the burden created by the long wheelbase. As a result, even in tight U-turns it changed direction like a smaller car, and on winding roads the body stayed on the line the driver intended. On the S 500 4MATIC Long with 20-inch tires, this rear axle steering operates up to 10 degrees.
Because of its nickname as a “chairman’s car,” the S-Class is often seen only as a car to be ridden in from the back. But after driving it myself, its appeal was clearly in the driver’s seat. The joy came from being able to handle a massive flagship sedan without tension, and even with some fun. Throughout the drive, it felt as if multiple technologies were quietly sharing the burden of moving such a large car.
Of course, the S-Class still belongs in the rear seat. Once I handed over the wheel and moved to the back, the car’s character changed again. The S 500 4MATIC Long comes standard with an Executive Seat that can recline the backrest behind the front passenger seat by up to 43.5 degrees. The Chauffeur Package adds even more room, moving the front passenger seat forward by up to 37 mm and raising it by 40 mm, giving the rear passenger more legroom. In addition to heated and ventilated seats, two touch displays behind the front seats allow entertainment and even video conferencing. The road feel that was so clear from the front became a layer of filtered comfort in the rear.
The cabin is dominated by the MBUX Superscreen. A 14.4-inch center display and a 12.3-inch passenger screen are joined under one pane of glass, while a separate 12.3-inch instrument cluster sits in front of the driver. The latest Mercedes-Benz User Experience (MBUX), based on Mercedes-Benz Operating System (MB.OS), allows new functions to be added continuously through wireless updates. Even with more screens, the controls felt intuitive, and at intersections the navigation direction was overlaid on the forward camera view, reducing the chance of getting lost.
Safety features are also extensive. MB.Drive Assist monitors the surroundings with 27 sensors, including 10 cameras, five radar units, and 12 ultrasonic sensors, helping maintain distance and lane position. Its interventions are smooth rather than abrupt, which reduces fatigue on long drives. The S 500 also includes up to 15 airbags and heated front seat belts that warm up to 44 degrees.
There is, however, one drawback. The AIRMATIC suspension held the body more firmly than expected when going over speed bumps, so drivers looking for an especially plush ride may find it a matter of personal preference.
The new S-Class comes in six trim levels, with prices ranging from 154 million won to 270 million won, including VAT. The S 500 4MATIC Long I drove is priced at 220 million won. To mark the launch, Mercedes-Benz will sell only 140 units of the S 500 4MATIC Long “Sparkling Black Edition.” Preorders, which began in May, had surpassed 2,500 units as of Aug. 18.
After spending a full day on the winding roads of Yeongwol and Hoengseong, one impression remained: it would be a shame to define the S-Class only as a car for the rear seat. Its 449 horsepower delivers calm confidence without showiness, and the 10-degree rear axle steering made the large body feel agile even on winding roads. The rear seat still offers top-level comfort, but this S-Class adds another layer in front of that: a car that is genuinely enjoyable to drive. Whether to leave it to a chauffeur and sit in the back, or take the wheel yourself — that happy dilemma is part of what you pay for.

[email protected] Kim Dong-chan Reporter