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:

    Override feature for the rear sidewindows
    WARNING   When children ride on the vehicle's rear seats, activate the override switch. Otherwise, the children could be injured, e.g. by trapping themselves in the rear side window. ...

    Pause function
    In audio CD/DVD and MP3 mode To pause playback: briefly press the button on the multifunction steering wheel. To continue playback: briefly press the button on the multifunction steeri ...

    EBD (electronic brake force distribution)
    Observe the "Important safety notes" section. EBD monitors and controls the brake pressure on the rear wheels to improve driving stability while braking. WARNING If EBD has malfu ...