$400,000 Rolls-Royce Ghost And A $140,000 Mercedes S-Class Compared – Here Is What The $260K Difference Gives You

$400,000 Rolls-Royce Ghost and a $140,000 Mercedes S-Class compared – Here is what the $260K difference gives you.

Mercedes S-Class

The Mercedes-Benz S-Class and the Rolls-Royce Ghost are no doubt one of the most luxurious chauffeur-driven sedans on the market. But, is the $400,000 Rolls-Royce really that much better than a $140,000 Mercedes?

While most of us may never get to ride in these luxurious sedans, Tim Levin, a transportation reporter at Insider, was privileged to test the two and he came to the conclusion that S-Class is nice — but the more expensive Ghost is even more comfortable and luxurious.

Rolls-Royce Ghost

According to Tim Levin :

“I recently got behind the wheel of a Rolls-Royce Ghost (worth about $400,000) and a Mercedes S-Class sedan (MSRP: $139,900) — and learned firsthand the difference between automotive opulence and regular old luxury.

Mercedes-Benz S-Class

“The S Class is classy (pun intended), enormously spacious, and provides a degree of all-around comfort that’s almost unparalleled.

“The S580e Mercedes lent me came decked out in rich leather and an interesting woven pattern on the dashboard.

“The quilted leather seats were plush yet supportive and had a few tricks up their sleeves: heating, cooling, and massage functions.

“The backlit door handles popped out to greet me whenever I approached with the key fob.

“In motion, the S580e effortlessly absorbed bumps in the road and stayed whisper-quiet.

“Cruising around in one, you might even get the sense that life couldn’t possibly get any easier — until you pull up at a stoplight next to a Rolls-Royce Ghost.

Rolls-Royce Ghost

“Sure, a Mercedes may have soft-close doors, but in a Ghost you don’t need to close the doors at all. Hop in and hold down a button in the center console and your door will magically shut for you.

“An S-Class interior is nicer than almost anything else — don’t get me wrong. But a Rolls serves up a kind of elegant simplicity and attention to detail that’s tough to compete with.

“My test car was awash in soft leather and had genuine wood accents.

“The S Class had sleek buttons controlling how much air the vents put out. That’s nice, but in a Rolls-Royce, you get sturdy metal plungers.

“The Ghost provided an analog clock and lots of satisfying switches. That’s a contrast to the Benz’s digitized experience.

“My Ghost came with Rolls-Royce’s famous Starlight headliner, which relies on thousands of hand-cut, fiber-optic lights to mimic the look of a glistening night sky.

“The Ghost glided down the road like a kayak on a glassy lake — gently rocking in response to the road but never too bothered by it.

“Other features that set the Ghost apart from regular luxury cars: Center caps on the wheels that stay upright even when the car is in motion, rear-hinged rear doors, and umbrellas in the doors.

“The other thing you’re paying for in a Rolls-Royce is exclusivity. On that front, Mercedes can’t hold a candle.

“All Rolls-Royces are hand-assembled in a single factory in England that produced some 6,000 vehicles last year. You don’t see them every day — and when you do, you can’t help but gawk.

“Mercedes, on the other hand, sells millions of cars a year. In just the first half of 2023 in the US alone, Mercedes sold over 6,000 S Classes.