Surprising Agility

At 17 feet long, the S550 is obviously a large car, but it doesn't feel the least bit ponderous from the driver's seat. It's pretty easy to maneuver through heavy, fast-moving highway traffic and feels rock-solid doing so, like nothing's going to move it off its line.

The big Benz also delivers a comfortable ride. An adaptive air suspension is standard on the S550, and it gives the sedan load-leveling capability as well as a lower ride height when traveling fast.

The sedan's size is most noticeable when you maneuver in tight spaces. Fortunately, there are a number of optional features that can lessen your chances of scuffing one of the bumpers, like front and rear parking sensors and a backup camera. Even with such aids, though, the S-Class can still sometimes feel like a giant when parking.

    See also:

    Brow of hill
    When driving up an uphill gradient, slightly reduce pressure on the accelerator immediately before reaching the brow of the hill. Use the vehicle's own impetus to drive over the top of the hill. ...

    Turn signals
    1 High-beam headlamps 2 Right turn signal 3 High-beam flasher 4 Left turn signal ► To indicate briefly: press the combination switch briefly to the pressure point in the direction of a ...

    Making adjustments in 1 mph (Canada: 1 km/h) increments
    Briefly press the cruise control lever to the pressure point, up 1 for a higher speed or down 2 for a lower speed. The last speed stored is increased or reduced. ...