Can you believe it? In 2026, when touchscreens are running rampant and carmakers seem desperate to make even the window switches touch-sensitive, the Mercedes-Benz S-Class—the elder statesman of the automotive world—has actually bowed its head and admitted it was wrong.

It has thrown that capacitive touch steering wheel, which countless owners have complained is "anti-human," into the trash and brought back physical buttons.

This is hardly a facelift—it is essentially an apology letter to us old-school drivers.

But reading that letter leaves a somewhat complicated taste.

What did we used to say the S-Class was? Deep. Understated. The kind of presence that says you know better than to mess with me even when I say nothing.

And now? The grille is 20 percent larger, the horizontal bars have increased to four, and the key point is that it lights up. Paired with that illuminated three-pointed star stand-up badge, once the lights come on at night, the front end is as lively as a newly opened nightclub.

Some say this is to cater to young wealthy buyers. I see it as Mercedes having been thrown off its rhythm by those new carmaking forces.

That once elegant gentleman now insists on wearing an LED-lit jacket to go clubbing, afraid that no one will notice him.

Sit inside, and that sense of dislocation gets even stronger.

The previous generation's signature vertical waterfall central screen is gone, replaced by the same MBUX Superscreen as the E-Class. A large sheet of glass stretches across the entire center console, and the front passenger also gets a 12.3-inch screen.

Does it look good? The tech vibe is certainly maxed out. But the question is, where is the S-Class's uniqueness? Getting into an S-Class used to feel like a one-of-a-kind privilege. Now when you sit in, you may briefly wonder whether you've hailed a high-spec E-Class chauffeur car.

Still, Mercedes is Mercedes after all. When it comes to making people comfortable, it remains that fanatic.

The front seat belts can heat up—this feature sounds rather fantastical. The official claim is that they can quickly rise to 44 degrees.

Imagine getting into the car in the dead of winter and having the seat belt press against your chest like two hot towels. That really is more direct than any seat heating.

Then there's that 4D Burmester sound system, with 1,690 watts of power and oscillators hidden in the seats. This is not just listening to music—it is giving your back a sonic massage.

As for power, this may be the part where I most want to give Mercedes a thumbs-up.

At a time when everyone is busy shrinking engine displacement and wishing they could replace everything with electric motors, the new S 580 still sticks with that M177 Evo V8 engine.

537 horsepower and 750 Nm of torque. The moment you press the accelerator, that dense, heavy, endlessly sustained surge of push is something no electric motor can simulate.

Electric motors are just dumb-fast; V8 is real confidence. Even the entry-level six-cylinder has had its torque raised. It seems the Germans also understand that people who buy an S-Class still cannot bear to give up the composure of an internal combustion engine.

On the chassis side, the Magic Body Control system remains black technology. The camera scans the road ahead, and the suspension softens in advance to wait for the pothole.

That feeling of gliding over flat ground is indeed the S-Class's signature trick. Add rear-wheel steering, and this big car of over 5.3 meters turns as nimbly as a Golf.

But I have to pour a bucket of cold water.

With this facelift, Mercedes is clearly anxious. That illuminated grille, that passenger entertainment screen, and those digital headlights that can project a snowflake logo are all desperately trying to prove it is "very intelligent" and "very young." Why? Because there are pursuers behind.

The S-Class used to have only the 7 Series and A8 as rivals. Everyone knew each other inside out and took turns being on top.

Now it is different. New faces such as the Eastern Maextro S800 are eyeing the luxury car market at the door with lidar and AI large models. They do not play by the old rules—they come straight at you comparing intelligence, service, and price.

The new S-Class is still a good car, even a perfect industrial product, one could say. The return of physical buttons proves it still cares about the driving experience, and that V8 engine proves it still preserves mechanical dignity.

But that flashy front face and homogenized interior big screen also expose its anxiety.

It is like an old gentleman in bespoke tailoring who, in order to fit into young people's circles, insists on pinning a glowing electronic brooch to his chest.

After this car enters China, it will certainly still be the first choice of bosses. After all, with the three-pointed star standing there, the face is there.

But if it were up to me, I would miss the S-Class that did not need a glowing grille to grab attention, the S-Class that was as steady as a mountain.

True luxury never needs to make a loud noise.