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:

    Folding the exterior mirrors in or out automatically
    This function is only available in vehicles for Canada. If the "Fold in mirrors when locking" function is activated in the on-board computer  - the exterior mirrors fold in automa ...

    Opening the call list and selecting an entry
    To call up the telephone menu: press the function button. Select Call lists in the telephone basic menu by sliding and turning the COMAND controller and press to confirm. A menu appea ...

    Tow-starting (emergency enginestarting)
    Vehicles with automatic transmission must not be started by tow-starting. This could otherwise damage the transmission. ...