If I were to get a 2022 Mercedes S580, I think I would get it in the Diamond White that our press loaner was. The diamond name is a perfect way to describe the brilliance the pearl finish give to the white paint. You also can’t go wrong with the classic white. It was also nice to have a Mercedes with the tri-star hood ornament.

The large 20” wheels are needed to set proportions correct in this flagship-sized sedan. Thanks to the AIRMATIC air suspension, the stance is just right and absorbs any road bumps. The cross drilled rotors also helped get this big sedan stopped like a sports car. The grip was also incredible with the help of the Pirelli tires and the 4Matic system directing the power to the correct wheels.

You get inside and this is when things get classy with modern touches. Even though I wouldn’t personally opt for the lighter interior color, it was the perfect color for the S580. The diamond patterned seats offered the trifecta of options; heat, cooling, and massage. Add an array of adjustability to the seats, and you’re not going to care about being stuck in traffic.

The new infotainment system did take me a bit to get used to. I had finally gotten a hang of the previous system after about a month’s worth of Mercedes loaners. This one shares some of the same menus but there were some items that I had to dig deeply for. The exciting thing about the S580 was the ambient lighting. This wasn’t like other systems that use a tiny bulb that can barely be seen at night. This system can be clearly seen in complete daylight. When it was dark, it truly made it an ambiance with different color themes.

Under the hood, the 4.0L V8 biturbo with mild hybrid system made this sedan go. With 496 horsepower, the power delivery and shifts were still smooth. Take this as a warning, you will not feel like you’re going fast in the S580, but a look down at your speedometer will show that you’re probably going about 15 mph over than what it feels like.

I was a massive fan of the Mercedes E Class but the S Class definitely takes the flagship title. The S580 had me feeling more relaxed after my drive. I was finding any reason to go run errands to experience everything from the V8 sounds, to the different massage options available on the seats.