2008 Mercedes-Benz S-Class

Today's S-class is dripping with luxury accoutrements and high-tech accessories, from a full-leather interior to a hands-free communication system to a fourteen-speaker stereo.

But the S-class is more than just the sum of its equipment list. The S-class rides and handles in a way that belies its size, with taut steering, perfect driver feedback, and an athletic demeanor when the going gets curvy.

The Mercedes-Benz S-Class is the benchmark for luxury sedans.

The S-Class cabins are among the most beautiful interior executions on the market today.

Underway, the S-Class cars are smooth, quiet, and powerful.

The exterior's most noticeable features are the exaggerated fender flares front and rear.

The transmission shifter operates like the one in the M-Class and R-Class SUVs: A tiny stalk on the right side of the column features up, down and in positions for Reverse, Neutral, Drive and Park modes, and all models come with three-mode shifting including Manual, Sport and Comfort shifting using the steering wheel paddles on the reverse side of the spokes, left for downshifts, right for upshifts.

There isn't a better luxury car for the price produced anywhere in the world. It's lightning quick, 155 mph fast (limited by electronics, not power), much sportier than we expected, quiet as a winter night in Wyoming, and comfortable enough for the famous Bangor to Tijuana run twice a week for a month.