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Used Mercedes-Benz S-Class: the years to buy and the years to skip
Every Mercedes-Benz S-Class from 2014 to 2020: what each year typically sells for (about $24,000 to $46,500), its crash rating, and whether it's a year to target or skip. The best bets are 2014, 2016–2020. Look harder at or skip 2015.
2014–2020 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
A benchmark luxury sedan with a serene ride, a lavish rear seat and advanced tech.
Years to target: 2014, 2016–2020. Look harder at or skip: 2015. It has a below-average reliability record.
| Year | Typical price | Verdict | Crash rating | Typical miles |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | $24,000* | Target | Not rated | ~100,000 |
| 2015 | $27,000 | Look harder | Not rated | ~95,000 |
| 2016 | $29,500 | Target | Not rated | ~85,000 |
| 2017 | $33,000 | Target | Not rated | ~80,000 |
| 2018 | $37,000 | Target | Not rated | ~70,000 |
| 2019 | $41,500 | Target | Not rated | ~60,000 |
| 2020 | $46,500* | Target | Not rated | ~55,000 |
* Estimated from nearby years, since few were listed for sale.
Worth knowing
- 2015: owner complaints spike (51, mostly the seats and belts).
- 2018 brought updated engines and features, and the low purchase prices hide very high running costs.
- It requires premium fuel.
The trim we'd park in our garage
Look for the S550 or 2018 and later S560: their twin-turbo V8 delivers the classic S-Class experience, and the 2018 refresh brought newer driver aids; budget carefully for maintenance.
On the test drive
Pay for an inspection at a Mercedes specialist. Air suspension and electronics repairs are expensive. Pay for an inspection at an independent shop that specializes in the brand.
Safety tech
- Automatic emergency braking: standard from 2016, optional from 2014.
- Adaptive cruise control: optional from 2014, never standard in this generation.
- Blind-spot monitoring: standard from the start of this generation (2014).
Also worth comparing at this price
- Toyota Avalon 2021–2022 · $30,500–$33,500
- Lexus GS 2019–2020 · $30,500–$34,500
- Lexus ES 2020–2022 · $30,500–$37,000
Find one near you
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Prices are typical dealer and private asking prices from used listings, collected in September and October 2026, for an average-mileage car. Years with too few listings are estimated from nearby years. Crash ratings, recalls and owner complaint counts come from NHTSA public records. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and a vehicle history report before you buy. Spot something off? Let us know.