by Brad Anderson
- Entry-level S350d in Germany offers optional cloth upholstery.
- New interior uses linen and recycled polyester seat centers.
- Leather remains a no-cost option on the base S-Class trim.
The latest update to the Mercedes-Benz S-Class might be labeled a facelift, but a few of its changes are more consequential than that title suggests. Alongside a new V8 option and the usual cascade of tech upgrades, a big surprise lies inside. For the first time in the S-Class’s 54-year history, buyers can now configure it with cloth upholstery.
Read: 2027 Mercedes S-Class Trades Old School Luxury For Screens And A Surprise V8
That may not sound groundbreaking on its face, but the S-Class has long been synonymous with interiors swathed in some of the most opulent leather imaginable. While leather has long been considered the most posh interior car material, many brands are pushing to introduce more environmentally friendly alternatives that still feel premium.
Cloth Joins The Conversation
Looking through the German online configurator, it appears that at least one version of the S-Class, the entry-level, diesel-powered S350d, can now be specified without leather seats. Instead, customers can choose a combination of linen and recycled polyester for the seat centers, called “Mirville fabric stormy grey”, paired with “Artico” leatherette bolsters.
Surprisingly, this new cloth option is not presented as a budget choice. In fact, customers will actually pay more if they want it. While all-black leather upholstery remains a no-cost option, selecting the fabric seats requires bundling them with the “Electrically adjustable rear seats including memory function” package, which adds €1,856.40 euros (about $2,200 at current rates).
As such, we expect very few customers to opt for the textile, but it’s nice to know that the option is available.
What About The US?
So far, Mercedes-Benz has not released the US configurator for the updated S-Class so we can’t confirm whether the textile option will be offered stateside. Given that the S350d variant is not part of the US lineup, it seems unlikely the fabric seats will be offered here either.
Market-specific details for the new S-Class haven’t been announced in the United States. The outgoing model starts at $119,500 with a 3.0-liter turbocharged inline-six mild-hybrid, and it’s reasonable to assume the updated model will cost a little more.