Mercedes-Benz S550 Overview

Mercedes-Benz's S-Class has long set the standard for supreme comfort and convenience in the full-size luxury sedan segment. The 2011 S550 is similar to the S400 Hybrid and slots in below the S600, S63 AMG and S65 AMG in price and features. Power comes from a 5.5-liter 382-hp V8, mated to a 7-speed automatic transmission with manual shift control and either rear-wheel drive or 4MATIC all-wheel drive. At $93,650 the S550 is significantly more expensive than the BMW 7-Series and Audi A8 base models, though its standard equipment list is extremely generous, meaning buyers wanting true luxury features need not rely on expensive options. A 15-speaker harmon/kardon surround sound system with HD and satellite radios, voice-controlled Bluetooth phone and navigation interface, and leather seating with heated and massaging front seats all come standard. Fuel economy measures 15 city/23 highway mpg with rear-wheel drive and 14 city/21 highway mpg with 4MATIC.