Luxury sedans are supposed to represent the very best a car company can build, but they also tend to lose value faster than almost anything else on the road. That creates an unusual opportunity for used-car buyers willing to look past depreciation charts and intimidating original sticker prices. Some flagship sedans may lose half their value within just a few years, yet still deliver the same quiet confidence, craftsmanship, and road presence that made them special when they were new.Many high-priced luxury sedans become forgotten machines because the value loss creates the appearance of inferior packaging or poorly thought-out features, but that’s simply not the case. Others end up forgotten because the luxury badge scares shoppers away, with fears of high-cost repairs and maintenance that they can’t afford. Luxury Sedans Often Depreciate Faster Than Their Prestige Suggests Flagship Sedans Commonly Lose Thousands In Value Within A Few Years Mercedes-Benz Typically, the larger, pricier, and more upmarket a vehicle is positioned, the faster it will depreciate. It's not the car's fault; the high original MSRP, expensive technology, and shifts in market demand can easily cause flagship sedans to lose value quickly. The shift toward SUVs is a major factor in several top-tier luxury sedans losing value quickly. Depreciation isn’t just about projected value; it's also about projected demand.The list of vehicles that depreciate the fastest over the first five years of ownership is filled with flagship models — sedans and SUVs alike. The Infiniti QX80 loses 62.8 percent of its value in the first five years, while the BMW 7 Series loses 61.6 percent of its value during that time. These high-depreciating vehicles are just a couple of examples of the price decrease that second and third owners can easily benefit from by simply being a little patient. The Best Luxury Cars Retain Their Character Even As Values Fall Mercedes-Benz The perceived value of some luxury cars can be “just a number” to some shoppers. While smart shoppers wait for the right time to pounce on their favorite luxury ride, they aren’t thrown off by brand prestige, vehicle positioning, or depreciation. Instead, they realize that a luxury flagship should retain its character, because you can’t put a price on character. This is what makes at least one luxury flagship sedan stand out in the crowd. Despite losing half its value, it still drives and feels like a flagship sedan, which is what shoppers are after. The W222 Mercedes S-Class Still Looks And Feels Like A Modern Flagship Mercedes-Benz Designed The W222 To Age Gracefully Mercedes-Benz The Mercedes-Benz S-Class is one of the most elegant, sophisticated, and luxurious flagship cars to ever hit the market. It almost doesn’t matter what generation you look at; it comes with pure style, incredible presence, and dominates the scene. Still, if you want to discuss a version that’s not only attainable but feels relatively modern, the W222 generation is that car.The W222 generation spans model years from 2014 to 2020, offering the world a coveted flagship car that combines comfort, technology, and style. Because of the heavy depreciation, which reaches 55.4 percent after five years and hits 67.1 percent after seven years, you can easily find this car for a virtual steal today. That means you can buy a car that once cost six figures for one-third of the original price and still enjoy the benefits of flagship-level Mercedes-Benz comfort and class. The Interior Still Delivers A True Luxury Experience Mercedes-Benz Stepping inside the W222 S-Class is like stepping into a world that’s been kept from you all your life. The cabin is one of the most opulent available, with nearly every touchpoint covered in high-quality materials, including leather, wood, and metal. There’s a standard Air Balance fragrance system to ensure the aroma is perfect for the high-class cabin.Just because the W222 model is the previous generation doesn’t mean the S-Class was void of modern technology. Mercedes-Benz has consistently added the most modern tech features at the top of the lineup first, which means the 2019 S-Class comes with standard 12.3-inch display screens for infotainment and instrumentation, giving the dashboard a modern feeling.Mercedes-Benz Every seat is roomy and comfortable, but, as expected of a flagship luxury car, the rear seat offers the greatest comfort and features, designed for owners to be passengers rather than to drive this car themselves. This is the foundation of the Mercedes-Maybach models, which feature two individual rear seats and no middle seat to add more class and comfort to the cabin. Massive Depreciation Has Created An Unusual Luxury Bargain Many W222 Models Have Lost Roughly Half Their Original MSRP Mercedes-Benz The original MSRP numbers are shockingly high compared to the average purchase price of a W222 S-Class sedan. That high depreciation percentage took its toll, which could benefit smart shoppers who are patient enough to find the right Mercedes-Benz sedan. In 2019, the base S 450 model cost $97,245, but today the average price is $30,700. At the top of the sedan models, the S 560 was originally priced at $110,345, but today it goes for an average of $37,100. That significant difference can seriously benefit today’s used luxury car shoppers. Buyers Now Get Features That Once Belonged Only To The Ultra-Wealthy Mercedes-Benz Even in the base trim, the 2019 Mercedes-Benz S-Class includes features that you still don’t find in many mainstream vehicles. These features have seemingly been reserved for the ultra-wealthy and only flagship luxury shoppers, but now they are available in these affordable W222 models. Some of these features include an air suspension system, heated 16-way power front seats, leather upholstery, a power trunk, soft-close doors, and a Burmester audio system.Other items were added to some models as options, including comfort, convenience, and opulence, which took them to new heights. You could find a version with a rear-seat refrigerator and massaging seats, and the Driver Assistance Package with a semi-autonomous driving system, available even in 2019. You might also see a surround-view camera, ventilated front seats, power rear sunshades, and a parking assistant system. The S-Class Delivers Charm In Ways Modern Luxury Cars Sometimes Miss Comfort And Isolation Matter More Than Raw Performance Mercedes-Benz The S-Class isn’t meant to tear up a track or rocket to 60 MPH in a hurry. Instead, it’s a classy car that brings charm and sophistication to every journey. The relaxed driving personality, comfort-oriented suspension tuning, and effortless power delivery make it a serene, calm car on every road.There’s plenty of power on tap to ensure the S-Class never feels stressed, regardless of the power needs. The base powertrain includes a 3.0-liter twin-turbocharged V6 that produces 362 horsepower and 369 pound-feet of torque. The W222 S-Class was available with either RWD or AWD. The S 560 models feature a more powerful setup, with a 4.0-liter twin-turbocharged V8 engine producing 463 horsepower and 516 pound-feet of torque. Both engines mate perfectly to a nine-speed automatic transmission for smooth shifting that is barely felt in the cabin. The W222 Represents A More Elegant Era Of Mercedes-Benz Design Mercedes-Benz Before the heavy focus on screen size, sterile cabin environments, and overdone technology, there was the W222 generation of the Mercedes-Benz S-Class. It has enough tech to feel modern, but not so much that you lose touch with the car's pure class and elegance. It is considered the last traditionally elegant S-Class, making it a desirable luxury flagship. Buying One Today Requires Careful Shopping Maintenance Costs Can Quickly Erase The Bargain Mercedes-Benz Although the W222 generation of the Mercedes-Benz S-Class is the previous generation, it still has the traditional high maintenance and repair costs. Maintenance alone, without any repairs, could cost more than $4,000 per year, and if you need actual repairs, parts can be costly to source, especially if you stick to OEM parts. The W222 delivers the pure comfort, class, and charm you want, but these qualities come at a cost: upkeep. The Best Used Examples Balance Luxury, Reliability, And Value 2019 Mercedes-Benz S-Class front 3/4 shot drivingThe W222 S-Class has the charm and the presence desired, but those aren’t tangible items. When shopping for this car, treat it like any other used car. You want consistent, complete maintenance records, reasonable mileage, and everything to be working properly. A test drive is a must, and the luxury items that make it special should be in good condition. If it passes your used car test barriers, it could be the car you’ve dreamed of driving, and you’ll get it for a fraction of its original MSRP.The W222-generation Mercedes-Benz S-Class may have lost more than half its value, but it never lost the qualities that made it special. It still delivers the quiet confidence, craftsmanship, comfort, and presence expected from a true flagship sedan. For buyers willing to shop carefully and maintain it properly, it remains one of the most compelling used luxury values on the road today.Sources: Mercedes-Benz, iSeeCars, Kelley Blue Book, Edmunds, RepairPal