It seems that everyday someone asks me what my favorite car is. Usually I reply with a Lexus model, either the GS 430 or the GS 450 hybrid; both of which are excellent cars and made by, in my opinion, one of the best carmakers around. Ask me right now and the answer will probably be the Mercedes S 550 uber luxurious Sedan. The 07’ S 550 is about as impressive as you will find on four wheels. From massaging front seats to radar speed sensing cruise control, the engineers in Germany missed nothing. I have always said in the past the best car would likely be a cross between an Infiniti, Lexus, and Mercedes with a touch of BMW thrown in. It seems that there is usually something on a car that is missing which I had found on another model. Not this time.

As you walk up to the beautifully sculpted S 550 with its sleek lines and beautiful curves, you need not reach in your pocket for the key as the sensor will allow you to automatically open the doors by simply grasping the door handle and opening. Once inside you will find the nicest of materials. From the leather/wood steering wheel to high grade metal basils on the instruments everything is first class. The front seats are 14-way adjustable and are both heated and active ventilated for cooling. They also have full massage capabilities should you choose to relax on your drive home. The seats also have one of the coolest features a seat can have - they inflate on the opposite side of the way you are turning so as to pull you in and minimize the amount of energy you must expend to keep yourself in a complete upright position while turning. The rear seats are 8-way power adjustable and allow your guests in the back to get comfy as well. The long wheel base allows for plenty of comfort both in front and the back. The center of the dash board is where the command center is located and controls information on everything from music to ride control. Almost everything can be accessed via a 2 inch diameter round button in front of the center arm-rest which brings up the information on the screen. The system is easy to use and well designed.

The safety and performance of the S550 are what you would expect from the flagship S class sedan. The 382 h.p. motor is smooth and delivers enough power to rocket the big sedan from 0-60 in 5.4 seconds. Not bad for a 4465 lb car. Once up to the electronically controlled maximum speed of 130 m.p.h. the Sedan is equipped with 4 wheel disc brakes to bring you back to a quick stop. The 4 wheel disc brakes with brake assist are comprised of front-ventilated, cross-drilled 13.8” front rotors with 4-piston fixed caliper brakes while the back are internally ventilated 12.6” rotors with single piston floating caliper design. The design is more than adequate for the weight and allows for easy stopping in all conditions. The suspension system is more complex that just about anything out there on the road. From active body control, which monitors pitch angle and a multitude of other things, to the power assisted speed sensing rack and pinion system the body roll is virtually eliminated. The ride of the sedan is awesome. You can actively switch the hydraulic settings from a cruise setting, which will suck up the bumps more, to the sport setting which will tighten everything up and allow for more aggressive driving in turns.

This is definitely the most impressive vehicle I have driven this year and I can’t wait to drive it again. There are so many things I left out of this review simply because of space and in no way should be dismissed. I urge anyone to go check out the website mbusa.com to check out more of the attributes of this beautiful sedan and as you will definitely be as impressed as I was.