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When we think of large, luxurious sedans, we typically think of brands such as Mercedes-Benz. The German automaker has stood at the forefront of innovative elegance for decades, so it’s no mystery as to why so many buyers flock to Mercedes to satiate their appetite for luxury. Mercedes-Benz knows this too, and the demand for its near-peerless affinity for dignified class reflects that sentiment.

However, there are other brands to look at if you’re in the market for a flagship sedan that won’t necessarily break the bank. You can have virtually everything the 2024 Mercedes-Benz S-Class offers for, in some cases, a fraction of the price, assuming you can let go of the desire to own something with the three-pointed star. In order to shed some light on the cars you can buy, CarBuzz has compiled a list of a few good choices that are worth a second look before you set a course for your local Mercedes-Benz dealership.

1 Toyota Century

Prices Start At $180,000 (Approx.)

First on our list of S-Class alternatives is the Toyota Century sedan, a nameplate that has been around since 1967. It’s sat at the very top of Toyota’s sedan lineup since then, and has also served as the preferred mode of transport for many Japanese dignitaries over the last 57 years. Not only does it deserve to be considered equal to the S-Class, it’s well past the German boy, chiefly due to the amount of luxury packed within the Century’s near-19-foot-long body.

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Sadly, those of us who live outside the confines of Japan won’t be able to buy one of these sedans, at least not brand-new. The current Century, dubbed the G60, is the first Century sold since its predecessor, the G50, failed to capture enough of the international market. This prompted Toyota to focus solely on selling the Century within Japan.

The Century name will be returning as an all-new luxury brand that will slot in above Lexus. Whether it can lure people out of their Rollers and Bentleys remains to be seen.

2 Genesis G90

Prices Start At $89,200

Next up is an entrant from Genesis, Hyundai’s luxury marque. The G90 is its flagship sedan, and it sports a rather unique, futuristic look. Compared to the S-Class, the G90 is certainly the more striking choice. On top of having the looks, the G90 also has a much more agreeable price than the S-Class’ $117,300 entry level cost. With the G90, you receive luxurious amenities such as standard Nappa leather, active noise cancelation tech, and a 375-horsepower mill under the hood.

Unlike the Toyota Century, the G90 is offered in most major markets around the world. Meaning, those of us who don’t fancy the old man’s Mercedes-Benz S-Class have a cheap, good-looking alternative to look in to. And if you’re after an AMG Mercedes, Genesis is coming for them, too.

3 Hyundai Grandeur

Prices Start At $30,000 (Approx.)

Another entrant from Korea, the Hyundai Grandeur, is similar to the Toyota Century in that it’s solely offered in its home country, South Korea. It’s Hyundai’s flagship sedan, and has been since it was first introduced in 1986. However, unlike the Century, the Grandeur’s base price is much more agreeable, coming in at roughly $30,000 for the base, 2.5-liter inline-four iteration. It’s surprising to see such a futuristic design in a car that’s less than most run-of-the-mill SUVs in the United States.

Sadly, as per Hyundai, we’ll never see the Hyundai Grandeur sold in the United States.

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4 Kia K9

Pricing Not Available Yet

Next up is the Kia K900, or K9 as it’s known in its home country of South Korea. It’s yet another luxury sedan manufactured by the Hyundai family, and was sold in the USA for three years before Kia pulled the plug due to slow sales. The previous-generation K900 is a brilliant used luxury buy, in case you were wondering.

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The all-new K9 made its debut shortly after the previous model’s death, and is way more elegant than before. The previous model looked a bit frumpy, and fell short of what we’d call graceful. As you can see in the images, the K9’s interior is now as fancy as its corporate cousin, the G90.

5 Lucid Air

Prices Start At $69,900

The first electric vehicle to hit our list is the Lucid Air sedan. It’s positioned as a more-luxurious competitor to the Tesla Model S sedan, although it hasn’t seen nearly as much popularity. Regardless, the Lucid Air can be considered a viable alternative to the Mercedes-Benz S-Class. That is, if you don’t mind owning an EV, although the Air can manage a respectable 406 miles of driving range before requiring a charge-up.

If you’ve got the need for speed and the coins to back it up, you can opt for the $249,000 Lucid Air Sapphire which boasts 1,234 horsepower and 1,430 lb-ft of torque courtesy of three electric motors.

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6 Volvo S90

Prices Start At $59,495

The Swedish Volvo S90 makes it onto our list as an unsung hero of the luxury flagship sedans, mainly due to its extremely agreeable base price of $59,495. However, with its cheap price comes an underpowered engine, with less than 200 horsepower on tap from a turbocharged inline-four. You can spring for the S90 T6, which sports a 316-horsepower turbocharged and supercharged inline four, but even at its most powerful, the S90 can’t hold a candle to the S-Class and its AMG-powered top-end iteration.

If power isn’t on your mind, the S90 is one of the best options on our list. It’s reasonably priced, boasts Volvo-bred safety, and is offered as a relatively well-rounded package. Again, except for its power department, which is disappointing at best.

7 Hongqi H9+

Prices Start At $45,500 (Approx.)

A Chinese entrant makes it onto our list, the Hongqi H9+. The “+” denotes the long wheelbase version, which makes the H9+’s total length at just over 17.5 feet. There isn’t too much known outside of China about the Hongqi H9+, but we do know it comes with a choice between a 2.0-liter or 3.0-liter powertrain, both of which are 48-volt mild hybrids, and that its starting price equates to roughly $45,500.

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On April 25th of this year, a facelifted version of the H9 and the H9+ was unveiled at Auto China, their annual, state-sponsored auto show. If you find yourself residing in CHina or the UAE, the Hongqi H9 and H9+ deserve a second look over the S-Class, for sure.

8 Denza Z9 GT

Prices Start At $34,850 (Approx.)

Lastly, we have another Chinese car; the Denza Z9 GT. It’s an EV, which sports three electric motors, all-wheel drive, and just over 950 horsepower. As of now, we’re unsure of its torque metrics, or if it will be sold outside China. However, Mercedes-AG owns a 10 percent stake in Denza, so we may see this particular EV hit other markets like Europe and North AMerica, although only time will tell. Pricing is slated to begin at just about $35,000, much lower than a Mercedes-Benz S-Class. We can only speculate as to how the Z9 GT will do once it goes on sale in full-force.