2021 Lexus LS vs. 2021 Mercedes S-Class
2021 Lexus LS vs. 2021 Mercedes S-Class
Overview
Certain brands are iconic. When you hear those names, you know what they stand for. When it comes to luxury vehicles, Lexus and Mercedes definitely qualify. The 2021 Lexus LS and the 2021 Mercedes S-Class are both quality luxury sedans. Is there really much difference between them? It turns out there are some significant differences, and considering the prices, those differences are worth thinking about.
Exterior (Overall Design)
The Mercedes S-Class looks like a classic Mercedes. The grille and the styling have the look you'd expect: this looks like a sedan your grandfather would drive. On the other hand, of course, it looks like a sedan your grandfather would drive. This is a big car, and it looks it, even from a distance. It also feels it when you're driving. Overall, the Mercedes is just a little longer and a little taller. The Lexus LS, on the other hand, has reinvented the look of luxury. Does it look and feel large and spacious? Yes, of course, but it manages to do this while also retaining a sleek and sporty look. This sedan looks as if someone took all the good things you love from your grandfather's sedan, ditched what was outdated, and developed a luxury car for the 21st century.
Interior Features
On the inside, expect to find luxurious leather and thoughtful trims. Although the Mercedes is a whopping $30,000+ more than the LS, you only get three standard options for interior materials, though. If you want more, you have to pay for them. The LS offers you 13 interior design options standard. And while the Mercedes has slightly more room in the backseat, they achieved this by sacrificing an enormous amount of trunk space: only 12.9 cubic feet to the Lexus' 16.9! Both offer you some nice interior features like hard disk drive media storage, a premium sound system, HD radio, bucket seats, leather steering wheel, and sun/moonroof, as well as some optional goodies like a head-up display. But the LS offers a few convenience and control items standard that you have to pay extra for on the already-more-expensive Mercedes, like a heated steering wheel, and some things you can't get on the Mercedes at all, like a hands-free liftgate and A/C for the rear.
Engines
The base Lexus model offers a 3.4 L Twin-Turbo V6 that generates 416 hp. On the Mercedes, a 3.0L Turbo Inline 6 gets you 429 hp. Those numbers are pretty close, but there's a big divide when you get to the torque. On the Mercedes, you get 384 lb-ft of torque to take you off the line, while the Lexus has an enormous 442 lb-ft. With the Lexus' 10-speed automatic transmission, you're getting a smoother driving experience than with the 9-speed Mercedes, and with better acceleration, too.
Safety Features
Both these vehicles have a full suite of standard safety features, including things like a backup camera, blind-spot monitor, stability control, and airbags for the front and rear passengers. Overall things are pretty close here, though with the Mercedes you can't get a rear parking aid like the LS offers standard, nor a remote trunk release.