2025 Hyundai Sonata vs 2025 Mercedes-Benz S-Class

The 2025 Mercedes-Benz S-Class is an automotive icon that fulfills its lofty expectations for comfort, performance, technology, and refinement. Last redesigned for the 2021 model year, the brand’s flagship sedan receives only small changes for 2025.

Verdict: Quite simply, the S-Class is the best luxury sedan that doesn't wear a Bentley or Rolls-Royce badge. With several models to choose from and a dizzying array of options, there seems to be a perfect match for a variety of tastes, provided you have a six-figure budget.

While its standout features are its value and safety ratings, in N Line trim the Sonata also offers some emotional appeal. Affordable sports sedans are increasingly rare, and there’s little else in the 2025 Sonata N Line’s segment that gives you this much horsepower for this kind of price. Of course, there is a penalty to pay at the gas pump, but otherwise the N Line delivers. In general, new rear-seat air conditioning vents and improved crash-test ratings boost the 2025 Sonata’s appeal.

Verdict: Hyundai refreshed the Sonata in 2024 and improved its safety rating in 2025, keeping it competitive against midsize sedan rivals. All versions offer compelling value and are impressively safe, while the N Line model is pleasantly sporty.