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:

    Control panel for dual-zone automatic climate control
    To set the temperature, left () To set climate control to automatic () To switch climate control on/off () To switch the MONO function on/off14() To switch maximum cooling MAX COOL on/off ...

    Exterior
    The E-Class was redesigned for 2010, and I'm not a huge fan of the new look. It trades the rounded edges and quad headlights I liked from the previous model for a more angular, sharper look. It bl ...

    Panic alarm
    - To activate: press button 1 for at least one second. An alarm sounds and the exterior lighting flashes. - To deactivate: press button 1 again. or - Insert the SmartKey into the ignit ...