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:

    Cornering light function
    The cornering light function improves the illumination of the road over a wide angle in the direction you are turning, enabling better visibility in tight bends, for example. It can only be ...

    Manual interior lighting control
    To switch the front interior lighting on/off: press the c button. To switch the rear interior lighting on/off: press the u button. To switch the reading lamps on/off: press the p button. ...

    Safety, Reliability & Mileage
    Because the E-Class has been redesigned, we don't yet have predicted reliability ratings for this model. Furthermore, the 2010 E-Class hasn't yet been crash-tested by our preferred source, the Ins ...