Lexus LS vs Mercedes S-Class: Who Makes a Better Flagship Sedan?
A Club Lexus member shares his experiences with owning both a Lexus LS and Mercedes S-Class. His findings may surprise you.
You are reading a Club Lexus article, so it is probably safe to assume that you are a fan of the Lexus brand. However, even the most dyed-in-the-wool Lexus fan must admit that there are other car manufacturers out there that make some terrific cars. Perhaps most notable is the Mercedes-Benz S-Class. The S-Class has always been known as an innovative car. If you want to know what technology will eventually trickle down to nearly every car in the world look to the S-Class. Automotive technology is often premiered in that car, and it has been that way for decades. The original Lexus LS was developed to compete with the S-Class. And in many ways, it outshined the big Mercedes. But what about more recent models? Is the Lexus the better car? What if you are thinking about keeping the car long-term?
Recently Club Lexus member SW17LS began a thread in the forums titled: Two years in, life with a Mercedes is a lot like life with a Lexus…just a little +$. Please check out his post and the resulting conversation for more details, but here’s a quick breakdown:
In his thread, he does a rather comprehensive comparison between his current 2020 Mercedes S560 and his previous 2017 LS 460L. He put about 50,000 miles on the Lexus and about 31,000 miles on his Mercedes so far. He compares the vehicles from a reliability and maintenance cost perspective. The comparison also focuses on the dealer experience, vehicle performance and general driving impressions. Overall, SW17LS is quite impressed with both cars but feels like the S-Class is the better overall car. We are not so sure we agree. The Mercedes might be the best car to lease. But what if you plan to keep the car long-term? Can the Lexus turn the tide? Let’s take a look.
Points for Mercedes
SW17LS feels that the S-Class beats out the Lexus in road presence and overall enjoyment of the driving experience. His friends and family want rides in the Mercedes whereas they showed little interest in his Lexus. He puts the Mercedes dealer experience above that of Lexus as well. In addition, the Mercedes averaged about 2.5 mpg more than the Lexus. The Mercedes so far even has a slight edge in reliability. The only significant demerit for the Mercedes is the cost of maintenance which is at least 50 percent higher. SW17LS tells folks that they should not be afraid of going with the German sedan. His experience has been overwhelmingly positive. As it should be — the S560 is a fine automobile. And Mercedes carries more cache than Lexus. But we also must caution that it might not always be the better choice.
Your Mileage May Vary
While putting 31,000 miles on a car is certainly plenty to get a feel for a car, it doesn’t really say much for long-term reliability. A $15,000 Chevy Spark should be able to give you 31,000 mostly trouble-free miles. A modern car is just getting broken in at that point. What happens when the odometer is showing six digits? There are always exceptions but generally speaking the Lexus LS is going to be the more reliable car as the mileage piles up. And with the significantly higher cost of repairs for the Mercedes, fixing that car over the years is really going to add up. If you are the type to lease a car for three years and dump it, the S-Class might be perfect for you. If you plan to keep a car for a decade the Lexus is probably going to be a better bet.
Variables
Dealer experience is a factor in the forum discussion, but that experience can vary greatly from dealer to dealer. Your local Lexus dealer may be fantastic, but you might not ever want to set foot in your local Mercedes dealership. And vice versa. Also, as SW17LS admits he used the dealership for most service on his Mercedes. As we all know that is always the most expensive option. So, if you do want to go German you can cut the maintenance bill by using a good indy shop. That may or may not be an option depending on where you live.
Summary
Both of these cars are great. Nobody is going to throw a pity party for you if you have to drive either one of these every day. They each have advantages. The Mercedes may have more of a wow factor and have equal short-term reliability. The Lexus may be a bit more staid but it should be less to maintain and more reliable long-term. The choice will come down to your specific situation and preferences.
Images: Car Gurus
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