This Rs 2.20-Crore Mercedes-Benz S-Class Has 15 Airbags, 115km Electric-Only Range

Mercedes-Benz has launched the 2026 S-Class facelift in India at Rs 2.20 crore (ex-showroom) and the biggest news isn't the styling update — it's the S 450e plug-in hybrid making its India debut for the first time in S-Class history here. The car is locally assembled at Chakan, Pune and comes in three powertrain options: a diesel, a mild-hybrid petrol and the new plug-in hybrid. Mercedes-Benz says over 50% of the car has been freshly developed, with around 2,700 components reworked across the board.

What's Changed Inside and Out

The exterior revision is subtle. The grille is larger, the front bumper is redesigned around it and the bonnet star is now illuminated. The headlights have been upgraded to DIGITAL LIGHT units — these use millions of micro-mirrors to project precise

beams and can display road information like lane markings or warnings directly onto the road surface ahead. Cameras move from the door mirrors into the front fenders. At the rear, revised LED taillights are linked by a slim chrome strip with a star motif running through the centre.

Inside, the dashboard is built around what Mercedes-Benz calls the MBUX Superscreen — three displays running across the full width of the cabin. A 14.4-inch central screen, a 12.3-inch passenger-side display as well as a 12.3-inch instrument cluster. Physical buttons for vehicle controls are gone. The system runs Mercedes' own MB.OS software with fourth-generation MBUX, which includes updated voice recognition and AI-based assistance. In the rear, two smartphone-style controllers handle seat functions — heating, ventilation, massage — alongside a pair of 13.1-inch entertainment screens and a video conferencing feature built in. Rear seat recline goes to 43.5 degrees. Air suspension is standard across the range.

Three Engines, One Price Confirmed

The S 450e's powertrain pairs a 3.0-litre inline-six turbo-petrol with a rear-mounted electric motor and a 22kWh lithium-ion battery. Combined output stands at 429bhp and 680Nm, sent to the rear wheels via a 9-speed 9G-Tronic automatic. Mercedes-Benz claims a 0-100kmph time of 5.7 seconds and a top speed of 250kmph. The battery alone is rated for up to 115km of electric-only running on the WLTP cycle — enough to cover most city commutes without the petrol engine cutting in. For charging, the system supports 60kW DC fast charging, with the battery going from 10 to 80% in around 20 minutes.

Where It Sits Against the BMW 7 Series

The BMW 7 Series starts at Rs 1.84 crore (ex-showroom) in India — roughly Rs 36 lakh less than the S 450e. BMW currently doesn't offer a plug-in hybrid 7 Series here; the electrified option in that lineup is the fully electric i7 at Rs 2.05 crore (ex-showroom). The S 450e sits between those two price points and fills a specific gap — buyers who want a combustion engine with meaningful electric range, without going full EV. On paper that's a clean proposition. The 100km electric range claim will need real-world validation though, particularly with Indian traffic conditions and air conditioning loads factored in. Claimed figures and actual range in a Delhi or Mumbai summer are rarely the same number.