Review Car

2011 Mercedes Benz S600

The 2011 Mercedes Benz S600, the most popular model, offers plenty of power for quick passes, merging into fast freeway traffic, and accelerating out of corners. The 2011 2011 Mercedes Benz S600 is a beautiful line of cars, sleek and aerodynamic. They are smaller yet roomier than the bulky pre-2000 models they replaced. And they are extremely sophisticated. Microprocessors and onboard sensors instantaneously determine forces acting upon the car, filter the data, and adjust the handling. There’s much technology here and learning all of the features takes some time. It exudes the tremendous presence of a Mercedes S-Class. The S600 delivers much more responsive performance, with crisp acceleration that should please any closet hot-rudder.

The top-level 2011 Mercedes Benz S600 and the high-performance S55 AMG get even more power for 2011. A lot more power. As if they needed it. Fast traffic is a description fits an S600 and an S55 AMG. The S600 represents the ultimate in Mercedes-Benz luxury and power. The S55 AMG is a limited-production high-performance model.

For 2011, the S-Class comes with new safety systems that can actually anticipate a collision, and prepare driver and passengers to get through it as safely as they possibly can. Electric seat belt tensions are activated, and the power seats adjust to a lower and more upright position. Mercedes-Benz calls this system Pre-Safe, and points out that it is the only system in production today that engages before the impact, when milliseconds can minimize the energy spikes that cause serious injuries. Also new for 2011 Mercedes Benz S600 is the availability of 4Matic all-wheel drive.

The 2011 Mercedes Benz S600 offers a lot, as it should, given its price and reputation. It represents the state of the technological art of the high-performance luxury sedan. Its interior comfort is unsurpassed; its styling is aerodynamically efficient. It exudes status. The S-Class is a better choice for many of us than the new BMW 7 Series, which is marred by a driver interface that’s a real challenge to learn. The S-Class cars have a daunting set of features that requires some study of the owner’s manuals, but it isn’t insurmountable. Soundstage positioning, it’s called. According to Mercedes, “From a driver in the car alone, listening to talk radio, to a car full of people, listening to symphonic or vocal music, there is an audio setting to make the listening experience more enjoyable.

The 2011 Mercedes Benz S600 we drove featured a substantial cup holder sprouting out of the left side of the passenger seat. It works well, but it rubs against the passenger’s left leg and we couldn’t figure out how to remove or stow it. Speaking of stowing things, there aren’t enough places to stow things in the S-Class. “People have stuff!” complained one passenger. Also, drivers who are not familiar with driving a Mercedes may find themselves turning on the cruise control when they meant to signal a turn. The roofline, the C-pillar, creates a blind spot when you look over your right shoulder. But there’s no blind spot through the windshield, not even in the spray of a truck in the rain, thanks to powerful wipers with no less than six nozzles to spew washer fluid.