2019 Mercedes-AMG S65 Sedan

The S-Class Mercedes-Benz is more than a status symbol; it is a showcase of what the human mind can achieve, and just like Mozart or Einstein, the S-Class towers above its peers in shameless glory. As if the standard car wasn't enough, the Mercedes-AMG S65 takes things to a whole other level, most notably by utilizing the earth-moving force of a hand-built 6.0-liter twin-turbocharged V12 engine producing 621 horsepower. The swooping exterior belies the fact that this car can accelerate to sixty faster than most vehicles on the road, all while cradling its passengers in supreme comfort and luxury. Rivals such as the BMW M760i xDrive offer more practicality for much less, but can't match the S65's presence and personality. Starting at over $230,000, it makes the Mercedes a tough sell, but if money isn't an issue, it's one of the best things on four wheels.

The 2019 Mercedes-AMG S65 Sedan is the ultimate representation of what the German automaker is capable of, and as such, it requires one to fork over a stunning amount of money. The 2019 model starts off with an MSRP of $232,500, excluding a $1,700 gas guzzler tax, which is well over $75,000 more than the BMW M760i xDrive Sedan, and over $120,000 more than its smaller sibling the Mercedes-AMG E 63 S. If you think that the base price is slightly exorbitant, ticking off the options will see the price of the S65 Sedan rise to over $270,000. The high asking price of the S65 might put some buyers off: why should they spend well over $50k more for a car that offers only slight improvements over its competitors in terms of luxury, but isn't as practical?

Gone are the days when full-sized luxury sedans could get away with a squelchy and unresponsive driving experience, which sacrificed driver engagement for a plush ride. The 2019 Mercedes-AMG S65 Sedan does a good job of hiding its weight through the corners, which is mainly due to its active sport suspension, developed by AMG, which makes use of Mercedes-Benz's Magic Body Control system with curve control. In comfort mode, the S65's steering feels overly light, which is perfect for in-town driving, but you'll need to select one of the more aggressive driving modes if you want it to weigh up. As with so many performance luxury sedans, placing the nose is easy enough, but there's minimal road feedback, which puts the S65 out of contention for being a true sports car, but it stays flat in the corners and has a surprisingly good amount of mid-corner grip. When not driving like a hooligan, the S65 is one of the most comfortable cruisers out there and soaks up road imperfections without raising a sweat.

What makes the 2019 Mercedes-AMG S65 Sedan a good car? The S65 is a big car that does a lot of things really well, and others relatively well; for its size, it performs like a much smaller car, accelerating to sixty in the low four-second range, handling sharp turns with surprising athleticism and providing one of the most comfortable cruising experiences out there. Inside, there's very little that can touch the S65 in terms of refinement, build quality and sheer luxury. Premium Nappa leather seats with massage function, four-zone climate control, and a massive 12.3-inch infotainment system connected to a sublime Burmester 3D surround sound system adds to the sense of occasion. The S65 does have its drawbacks; that twin-turbocharged V12 engine is one of the heaviest drinkers around, trunk space is cramped compared to its rivals, and the warranty, which doesn't provide a maintenance plan, isn't up to standard. The final hurdle to cross is the exorbitant asking price, which is difficult to justify when so many of its competitors do it as good for much, much less money. As a standalone car, it's awesomely excessive and luxurious, but out in the real world, it might struggle to justify itself.

There's only one model and one trim level available, which means that the options list will become your best friend. The standard S65 offers more space and power than its smaller sibling the AMG E 63 S sedan, thanks to a considerably longer wheelbase and total length, matched up with a 6.0-liter twin-turbocharged V12 engine. The exterior of the big Merc features adaptive LED headlights as well as a surround camera system and a panoramic roof. The AMG carbon fiber package, which adds carbon fiber side mirror covers, air dam inserts, and side sill inserts, looks great on white and silver cars and is the perfect addition for those looking for a sportier look. On the inside, semi-aniline seats can be had for $1,000, and passengers in the rear can enjoy a set of fold-out tables, perfect for doing licit and illicit activities. Tech features such as a rear wireless phone charging dock and the futuristic auto-dimming Magic Sky Control panoramic roof all contribute towards future-proofing the S65 for years to come. If we were buying, we'd include the Magic Sky Control roof, carbon-fiber exterior bits, and call it a day.

This is the story of a full-size versus a mid-size luxury performance sedan from the same brand. The E63 S is powered by a 4.0-liter twin-turbocharged V8 engine producing 603 hp and 627 lb-ft of torque from 2,500 rpm. That's not too far off the S65's numbers, and considering the fact that the E63 is a lighter vehicle helps it score a better fuel consumption figure of 15/23/18 mpg city/highway/combined, and its AWD system gives it a supercar-like zero to sixty time of 3.3 seconds. So it's more economical and faster, but it sits below the S65 for a reason: the S65 offers vastly superior interior space and is visually and tangibly more luxurious. Whereas the E 63 S gets dual-zone climate control and premium leather sport seats, the S65 covers four zones and gets exclusive Nappa leather seats with hot stone massage functionality. The differences in size and luxury are apparent, but there's more to the E 63; it is the better driver's car, and can actually be taken around a track if you ever have the need.

This comparison should be called the Battle of the Bulge, and by the bulge, we're talking about those V12 engines hiding beneath the hoods of both cars, or the bulging wallet required to purchase either of these German behemoths. BMW has gone all out on their range-topping Seven; power comes in the form of a massive 6.6-liter twin-turbo V12 producing 601 hp and 590 lb-ft of torque, which is considerably less powerful than the S65 but returns a matching 13/20/16 mpg city/highway/combined. Size-wise, the M760i and S65 share similar dimensions, but the BMW somehow manages to offer both superior passenger and trunk space, making it the more practical car to live with if that's all you care about. Unless you are really knowledgeable about cars and can appreciate the subtle differences in ride comfort, the BMW feels just as refined and comfortable out on the road but feels cold and clinical on the inside, which counts in the S65's favor. Both offer more safety and tech features than most would know what to do with. As with most things in life, good things come at a cost, but to go beyond good, costs even more, and that's the case with the BMW M760i xDrive and Mercedes-AMG S65; the BMW is great, but the Merc is better, and for that, you'll have to pay.