Compare the2023 Mercedes S-ClassVS 2023 Rolls-Royce Ghost

For enhanced safety, the front seat shoulder belts of the Mercedes S-Class are height-adjustable to accommodate a wide variety of driver and passenger heights. A better fit can prevent injuries and the increased comfort also encourages passengers to buckle up. The Rolls-Royce Ghost doesn’t offer height-adjustable seat belts.

The rear seatbelts optional on the S-Class inflate when a collision is detected, helping to spread crash forces over a much larger area of the body and limiting head and neck movement. This can help prevent spinal and internal injuries. The Ghost doesn’t offer inflatable seatbelts.

Earlier warning of stopped traffic, traffic signals, dangerous road conditions, weather, or accidents, can keep driver's safer and prevent crashes. The S-Class has Car-to-X Communication, a system that seemlesly communicates important warnings to the driver about impending danger, if they're available. The Ghost doesn’t offer a system that can receive automated systems from infrastructure or other vehicles.

Both the S-Class and Ghost have rear cross-traffic warning, but the S-Class has Active Brake Assist (automatically applies the brakes) to better prevent a collision when backing near traffic. The Ghost’s Cross Traffic Warning doesn’t automatically brake.

Both the S-Class and the Ghost have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front and rear seatbelt pretensioners, four-wheel antilock brakes, all wheel drive, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, post-collision automatic braking systems, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, around view monitors, rear cross-path warning and driver alert monitors.

The S-Class’ corrosion warranty is 1 year longer than the Ghost’s (5 vs. 4 years).

There are over 10 times as many Mercedes dealers as there are Rolls-Royce dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the S-Class’ warranty.

The Maybach S 680 4MATIC Sedan’s 6.0 turbo V12 produces 30 more horsepower (621 vs. 591) than the Ghost Black Badge’s optional 6.6 turbo V12.

As tested in Motor Trend the S 580 4MATIC 4.0 turbo V8 hybrid is faster than the Rolls-Royce Ghost (base engine):

On the EPA test cycle the S-Class running on electricity gets better mileage than the Ghost:

On the EPA test cycle the S-Class running its gasoline engine gets better mileage than the Ghost:

The S 580e 4MATIC can travel with zero emissions for 46 miles. The Ghost can’t move without running its internal combustion engine.

Regenerative brakes improve the S-Class (except S 680)’s fuel efficiency by converting inertia back into energy instead of wasting it. The Ghost doesn’t offer a regenerative braking system.

In heavy traffic or at stoplights the S-Class’ engine automatically turns off when the vehicle is stopped, saving fuel and reducing pollution. The engine is automatically restarted when the driver gets ready to move again. If the conditions warrant or the driver wishes, the system can be manually disabled at any time for the duration of a trip. The Ghost doesn’t offer an automatic engine start/stop system.

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Mercedes S-Class higher (5 to 6 out of 10) than the Rolls-Royce Ghost (3). This means the S-Class produces up to 23.4 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the Ghost every 15,000 miles.

For more complete vehicle control the S-Class has a manually controlled automatic, with the available convenience of an automatic transmission and the complete gear control of a manual transmission without the inconvenience of a clutch. A manually controlled automatic allows the driver to eliminate unwanted shifts and maximize engine braking by down shifting while cornering. The Ghost doesn’t offer a transmission that allows complete gear control.

A nine-speed automatic is standard on the Mercedes S-Class, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only an eight-speed automatic is available for the Ghost.

The S-Class’ optional 255/35R21 front and 285/30R21 rear tires provide better handling because they have a lower 35 series front and 30 series rear profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Ghost’s 40 series front and 35 series rear tires.

The S-Class’ drift compensation steering can automatically compensate for road conditions which would cause the vehicle to drift from side to side, helping the driver to keep the vehicle straight more easily. The Ghost doesn’t offer drift compensation steering.

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the S-Class is 1.4 inches wider in the front and .9 inches wider in the rear than the track on the Ghost.

For better maneuverability, the S-Class’ turning circle is tighter than the Ghost’s:

The Mercedes S-Class may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 150 to 700 pounds less than the Rolls-Royce Ghost.

The S-Class is shorter than the Ghost, making the S-Class easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces:

For excellent aerodynamics, the S-Class has standard flush composite headlights. The Ghost has recessed headlights that spoil its aerodynamic shape and create extra drag.

The S-Class Sedan has 1.5 inches more front headroom, .2 inches more front shoulder room, .4 inches more rear headroom, 1.5 inches more rear legroom and 3.2 inches more rear shoulder room than the Ghost.

To make loading groceries and cargo easier when your hands are full, the S-Class’ trunk can be opened and closed just by kicking your foot under the back bumper, leaving your hands completely free. The Ghost doesn’t offer a hands-free gesture to open its trunk, forcing you to put cargo down if your hands are full.

The S-Class has a standard remote vehicle starting system, so the vehicle can be started from inside the driver's house. This allows the driver to comfortably warm up the engine before going out to the vehicle. The climate system will also automatically heat or cool the interior. The Ghost doesn’t offer a remote starting system.

Heated windshield washer fluid is standard on the S-Class to defrost the washer nozzles and quickly clear ice and frost from the windshield without scraping. The Ghost doesn’t offer heated windshield washer fluid. Its standard heated washer nozzles will defrost the washer fluid but not the windshield.

To better shield the driver and front passenger’s vision, the S-Class has standard dual-element sun visors that can block glare from two directions simultaneously. The Ghost doesn’t offer secondary sun visors.

A power rear sunshade and rear side window sunshades are standard in the S-Class to help block heat and glare for the rear passengers. The Ghost doesn’t offer a rear sunshade.

The S-Class has a 115-volt a/c outlet on the center console, allowing you to recharge a laptop or run small household appliances without special adapters that can break or get misplaced. The Ghost doesn’t offer a house-current electrical outlet.

The S-Class’ Active Parking Assist can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. Remote Parking Assist will park and retrieve your car remotely: press a button and watch it park itself. This is ideal for tight locations. The Ghost’s automatic parking system does not offer parking by remote control.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the S-Class second among large premium cars in owner reported satisfaction. This includes how well the vehicle performs and satisfies its owner’s expectations. The Ghost isn’t in the top three.

The Mercedes S-Class outsold the Rolls-Royce Ghost by over 28 to one during 2022.