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A silver Mercedes-Benz S-Class driving along a curving road through green hills under a soft evening sky
Mercedes-Benz S-Class. Trim and equipment can differ from South African cars.Photo: Mercedes-Benz USA Media Newsroom

S-Class

The W223 S-Class is the Mercedes-Benz flagship sedan. It launched in South Africa in 2022 as the S 350 d diesel and the S 500 4MATIC mild-hybrid petrol.

Brand
Mercedes-Benz
Body type
Sedans
Fuel
  • Petrol
  • Diesel
Generation
W223, revealed in September 2020 and launched in South Africa in 2022

Overview

The current W223 generation of the S-Class was revealed on 2 September 2020 and replaced the W222. It only comes as a four-door sedan, in standard and long wheelbases, and the Mercedes-Maybach S-Class is a still longer version of the same car.

South Africa got the long-wheelbase W223 in 2022, with two six-cylinder models. The S 350 d is a turbodiesel and the S 500 4MATIC a turbo petrol with 48-volt mild-hybrid assistance. Both have a nine-speed automatic gearbox.

A mid-life update was unveiled on 29 January 2026, with a larger illuminated grille, new lights and a new central computer behind the MBUX Superscreen. The Mercedes-Benz South Africa models page didn't list the S-Class when we checked it on 19 October 2026.

How it launched in South Africa

  • S 350 d3.0-litre six-cylinder turbodiesel, 210 kW and 600 Nm, nine-speed automatic
  • S 500 4MATIC3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo petrol with 48-volt mild-hybrid assistance, 320 kW and 520 Nm, all-wheel drive, nine-speed automatic

Good to know

  • The two versions above are the ones launched in South Africa in 2022. Later changes to the local line-up aren't covered here.
  • Production of the updated S-Class started in March 2026 for the standard models. It was unveiled in January 2026.

Sources

The Mercedes-Benz South Africa models page did not list this model when it was read on 19 October 2026. We don't show prices. Specifications and availability change, so check with an authorised dealer. Photographs: Mercedes-Benz USA Media Newsroom, used for editorial coverage. A picture shows the manufacturer's own car, so trim and equipment can differ from cars sold in South Africa. Mercedes-Benz Owners wrote this guide independently, and it isn't affiliated with, endorsed by or sponsored by Mercedes-Benz.

The other sedans in the guide. Pick one to compare it with the S-Class.

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