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:

    Side windows
    Important safety notes WARNING   When opening or closing the windows, make sure there is no danger of anyone being harmed by the opening/closing procedure. The door windows are equipped ...

    Automatic emergency braking when a collision is imminent
    The well-proven, radar based assistance systems from the S-Class are now also optionally available to Mercedes-Benz E-Class customers. A further development of the long-range radar sensor now has ...

    Adjusting the seats
    Vehicles without Memory function: the seats can be adjusted within three minutes of a front door being opened. The time period starts over again if, within these three minutes, you: • open or ...