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:

    Trailer towing
    - Drive in the middle of the engine speed range on uphill gradients. - Depending on the uphill or downhill gradient, shift down into shift range 3 or 2, even if cruise control or DISTRONIC PL ...

    Activating the HOLD function
    – Make sure that the activation conditions are met. – Depress the brake pedal. – Quickly depress the brake pedal further until HOLD display 1 appears in the multifunction display. The HOL ...

    Problems with the engine
    Problem Possible causes/consequences and - Solutions The engine does not start. The starter motor can be heard.  - There is a malfunction in the engine electronics. ...