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:

    Installing the towing eye
    Vehicles with a trailer tow hitch: if possible, secure the towing device on the trailer tow hitch. – Remove the towing eye required for frontal or rear coupling from the vehicle tool kit. The ...

    Decoupling a trailer
    WARNING Vehicles with air suspension program: While you are coupling or decoupling a trailer, make sure nobody locks or unlocks the vehicle and/or opens or closes doors or the tailgate. The v ...

    Selecting a radio station
    SIRIUS XM satellite radio acts like a normal radio. For more information on satellite radio operation, see the separate operating instructions. You can only change the waveband and store new ...