Compare the2024 Mercedes S-ClassVS 2024 Maserati Quattroporte

The S-Class’ pre-crash front seatbelts will tighten automatically in the event the vehicle detects an impending crash, improving protection against injury significantly. The Quattroporte doesn’t offer pre-crash pretensioners.

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 Quattroporte doesn’t offer inflatable seatbelts.

The S-Class has standard Post-Collision Brake, which automatically apply the brakes in the event of a crash to help prevent secondary collisions and prevent further injuries. The Quattroporte doesn’t offer a post collision braking system: in the event of a collision that triggers the airbags, more collisions are possible without the protection of airbags that may have already deployed.

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The S-Class has standard Maneuvering Brake Function that use rear sensors to monitor for objects to the rear and automatically apply the brakes to prevent a collision. The Quattroporte doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

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 Quattroporte doesn’t offer a system that can receive automated systems from infrastructure or other vehicles.

Both the S-Class and Quattroporte 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 Quattroporte’s Rear Cross Path doesn’t automatically brake.

The S-Class’ driver alert monitor detects an inattentive driver then sounds a warning and suggests a break. According to the NHTSA, drivers who fall asleep cause about 100,000 crashes and 1500 deaths a year. The Quattroporte doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

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

The Mercedes S-Class weighs 507 to 1268 pounds more than the Maserati Quattroporte. The NHTSA advises that heavier cars are much safer in collisions than their significantly lighter counterparts.

The S-Class’ corrosion warranty is 1 year and unlimited miles longer than the Quattroporte’s (5/unlimited vs. 4/50,000).

There are almost 4 times as many Mercedes dealers as there are Maserati dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the S-Class’ warranty.

A reliable vehicle saves its owner time, money and trouble. Nobody wants to be stranded or have to be without a vehicle while it’s being repaired. Consumer Reports rates the S-Class’ reliability 20 points higher than the Quattroporte.

The S 500 4MATIC’s standard 3.0 turbo 6-cylinder hybrid produces 18 more horsepower (442 vs. 424) than the Quattroporte’s 3.0 turbo V6. The S 580 4MATIC’s standard 4.0 turbo V8 hybrid produces 72 more horsepower (496 vs. 424) and 88 lbs.-ft. more torque (516 vs. 428) than the Quattroporte’s 3.0 turbo V6. The S 580e 4MATIC’s standard 3.0 turbo 6-cylinder hybrid produces 86 more horsepower (510 vs. 424) and 125 lbs.-ft. more torque (553 vs. 428) than the Quattroporte’s 3.0 turbo V6. The Maybach S 680 4MATIC Sedan’s standard 6.0 turbo V12 produces 197 more horsepower (621 vs. 424) and 236 lbs.-ft. more torque (664 vs. 428) than the Quattroporte’s 3.0 turbo V6.

On the EPA test cycle the S 580e 4MATIC running on electricity gets better mileage than the Quattroporte Ultima (53 city/48 hwy MPGe vs. 17 city/25 hwy).

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

The S 580e 4MATIC can travel with zero emissions for 46 miles. The Quattroporte 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 Quattroporte doesn’t offer a regenerative braking system.

The S-Class 680’s standard fuel tank has 1.1 gallons more fuel capacity than the Quattroporte (22.2 vs. 21.1 gallons).

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 Quattroporte.

For better stopping power the S-Class’ brake rotors are larger than those on the Quattroporte:

For better traction, the S-Class has larger standard tires than the Quattroporte (255/45R19 vs. 245/35R21). The Maybach S 680 4MATIC Sedan’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Quattroporte (265/35R21 vs. 245/35R21).

Changing a flat tire near traffic can be dangerous and inconvenient. The run-flat tires available on the S-Class can be driven up to 50 miles without any air pressure, allowing you to drive to a service station for a repair. The Quattroporte doesn’t offer run-flat tires.

The front and rear suspension of the S-Class uses air springs for a smoother, controlled ride than the Quattroporte, which uses coil springs. Air springs maintain proper ride height and ride more smoothly.

The S-Class offers an available adjustable active suspension system, which counteracts cornering forces actively, limiting body roll and improving handling and stability. Maserati doesn’t offer an active suspension on the Quattroporte.

The S-Class has a standard automatic front and rear load leveling suspension to keep ride height level with a heavy load or when towing. The S-Class’ height leveling suspension allows the driver to raise ride height for better off-road clearance and then lower it again for easier entering and exiting and better on-road handling. The Quattroporte doesn’t offer a load leveling suspension.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the S-Class Sedan’s wheelbase is 1.8 inches longer than on the Quattroporte (126.6 inches vs. 124.8 inches). The Maybach S-Class Sedan’s wheelbase is 8.9 inches longer than on the Quattroporte (133.7 inches vs. 124.8 inches).

For better maneuverability, the S-Class Sedan w/Rear-Axle Steering’s turning circle is 2.8 feet tighter than the Quattroporte’s (35.9 feet vs. 38.7 feet).

The S-Class uses computer-generated active noise cancellation to help remove annoying noise and vibration from the passenger compartment, especially at low frequencies. The Quattroporte doesn’t offer active noise cancellation.

The S-Class Sedan has 3.5 inches more front headroom, 1.6 inches more rear headroom, 4.1 inches more rear hip room and 3.7 inches more rear shoulder room than the Quattroporte.

With its sedan body style, locking rear seatbacks and remote trunk release lockout, the S-Class offers cargo security. The Quattroporte’s non-lockable folding seat and non-lockable remote release defeat cargo security.

Unlike the driver-only memory system in the Quattroporte, the S-Class has standard driver and passenger memory, so that when drivers switch, the memory setting adjusts the driver’s seat, steering wheel position, power steering assist, outside mirror angle and climate settings and the front passenger seat also adjusts to the new passenger’s preset preferences.

The S-Class offers an optional heads-up display that projects speed and navigation instruction readouts in front of the driver’s line of sight, allowing drivers to view information without diverting their eyes from the road. The Quattroporte doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

If the windows are left open on the S-Class the driver can close them all at the outside door handle or from a distance using the remote. On a hot day the driver can lower the windows from a distance using the keyless remote. The driver of the Quattroporte can only close the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

The S-Class’ standard Keyless-Go allow you to unlock the doors from any outside door handle, open the trunk, and start the car, all without removing the key from the pocket or purse. Keyless Go standard on the Quattroporte doesn’t offer a sensor on the rear doors, so you’ll have to reach a front handle to unlock the rear door.

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 Quattroporte 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 Quattroporte doesn’t offer secondary sun visors.

The S-Class has standard massaging front and optional massaging rear seats. Massaging seats aren’t available in the Quattroporte.

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 Quattroporte doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

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 Quattroporte isn’t in the top three.