The latest Mercedes-Benz S-Class comes loaded with new features. After an interesting online campaign that included may teaser videos and photos, Mercedez-Benz, finally on Wednesday, pulls off the veil on its latest full-size luxury sedan at last. And there are so many things to like.

Although a close examination shows it may not look all that different on the outside, the flagship four-door debuts with a list of new engineering and technological innovations that promise to make this icon even better. Some of the most important new features include two hybridized engine options, a massive central touchscreen with the latest MBUX infotainment setup, and more active safety technology than ever before.

There are minor changes to the exterior bringing the2021 Mercedes-Benz S-Class into the modern age. The hood is longer, the headlights and wheels are sharper, the C-pillar flows more smoothly into the rear shoulder, and for the first time in three generations, the S-Class gets horizontal taillights.

The door handles are now completely flush with the body, and there are new ‘aerostripes’ on the insides of the mirrors that help improve airflow. All of it helps yield a drag coefficient 0.22, making the S-Class one of the world’s most aerodynamic cars. 

In terms of size, the new S-Class is longer than its predecessor by up to 1.3 inches (in the long-wheelbase model), wider by up to 2.0 inches, and it stands about 0.4 inches taller. 

The features of the interior are breathtaking. The new 12.8-inch touchscreen is what immediately draws the eye when one gets in. It floats up and out of the centre console. But look beyond the new hardware and you’ll realize just how much the inside of the S-Class has changed. The 2021 model has 27 fewer knobs and dials (mechanical switches, essentially) than the previous model – nearly all of those functions move either to voice or touch controllers.

Four horizontally oriented sleek new air vents sit on top of the dash, just above the screen, replacing the four rounded vents on the previous model, and depending on the trim, Mercedes offers full-length dash finishes like carbon fibre and piano black wood with pinstriping. There are also 30 loudspeakers and eight resonators available part of the Burmester high-end 4D surround sound system. Also new is the steering wheel, which has updated capacitive controls.