Which is higher in rank, S or A?

[DeNaomi]

S is higher in rank. The S-Class is the highest rank of Mercedes-Benz sedans; A-Class (including A0, A00) refers to compact cars; B-Class represents mid-range sedans. Vehicle classification originates from Volkswagen's method of categorizing cars in Germany. Generally, vehicle classes are divided into six levels: A00, A0, A, B, C, and D. More related information is as follows: class, wheelbase, vehicle length, engine displacement, and curb weight. A00-class passenger vehicles have a wheelbase between 2 meters and 2.3 meters, with an engine displacement of less than 1 liter; A0-class passenger vehicles have a wheelbase of 2.3 meters to 2.5 meters, with a displacement of 1 liter to 1.5 liters; A-class vehicles have a wheelbase ranging from about 2.5 meters to 2.7 meters, with a displacement of about 1.5 liters to 2.0 liters; B-class mid-range passenger vehicles have a wheelbase of about 2.7 meters to 2.9 meters, with a displacement from 1.8 liters to 2.5 liters; C-class premium passenger vehicles have a wheelbase of about 2.8 meters to 3.0 meters, with an engine displacement of 2.3 liters to 3.0 liters; D-class luxury passenger vehicles mostly feature a majestic appearance, extremely spacious interiors, and very powerful engines, with a wheelbase generally exceeding 2.8 meters and a displacement mostly above 3.0 liters.

[DiAsher]

I am a test engineer in the automotive R&D department and frequently study the classification of various vehicle trim levels. According to automotive industry standards, letters later in the alphabet generally indicate higher trim levels. Most brands follow the hierarchy of A < B < C < S—for example, BMW’s 2 Series (positioned as A-class) up to the 7 Series (top-tier luxury), or Audi’s A1 to A8 and then the S-series performance models. The S-class often symbolizes high-performance or flagship luxury, like the Mercedes-Benz S-Class, which sits at the pinnacle of the brand’s lineup. Meanwhile, the A-class typically represents entry-level, economical models with relatively basic materials and features. However, exceptions may exist for specific lineups—for instance, some electric vehicles use 'S' to denote standard-range versions, which rank below long-range variants. Still, in over 90% of cases, S does rank above A. For precise judgment, always refer to the specific model’s manual.

[VanLeo]

As a used car appraiser with 20 years of experience, I've handled thousands of vehicles with grade identifiers. Here's the direct conclusion: A stands for Average (standard configuration), while S represents Sport version, with the latter being a higher grade. For example, the Honda Civic A version only has basic features, whereas the S version comes with sport suspension and paddle shifters. The Toyota Camry S trim adds leather seats and a JBL audio system compared to the base model. Although naming conventions vary among manufacturers, the core logic remains consistent—S versions feature more aggressive tuning, higher-quality materials, and are priced 15%-30% higher on average. Some niche brands may use identifiers like SE or EX, but configurations starting with S generally fall into the mid-to-high range. When choosing a car, it's worth spending extra for the S version.

[SanIan]

I remember specifically researching this when helping my brother pick a car last time. The A/S differentiation for regular family cars mainly depends on the configuration sheet: A usually refers to the basic automatic transmission version, while S typically indicates a sport upgrade package. For example, the Volkswagen Golf A version comes with 16-inch wheels and fabric seats, whereas the S version upgrades to 18-inch wheels and Alcantara seats with heating. The performance difference is even more significant - the Hyundai Elantra S version has 30 more horsepower than the A version, and the transmission shift logic is more sporty. The price difference is about 20,000-30,000 RMB, but the upgraded configurations are worth it. In most cases, I'd recommend choosing the S version.