For telegraphing accomplishment, driving- or being driven in- a Mercedes-Benz S550 tells the world you’re not trying to eek out a living as a journalist. I’m Tom Voelk with Driven for The New York Times. Even without the obvious clue, the Mercedes flagship is a stately piece of transportation. Seldom do so few lines convey so much success. (ON CAMERA) As you might imagine there not giving these away in cereal boxes, as- tested this one goes for just under $129,000. It is well optioned. OR And you might consider that a bargain. The price can climb considerably higher but let’s see what 129 large buys. One thing you won’t find are light bulbs. Instead, nearly 500 LEDs handle illumination, including the lustrous ambient lighting that flows through the entire cabin. The seats heat, cool, massage and actively move while driving to hold you securely during cornering. Oh, and the armrests? They’re heated too. An interior perfume system keeps things fresh, I’ll assume “sport mood” does not smell like a locker room. The 4.7-liter V8 sports two turbochargers (SOUND UP) there’s a nice bit of theatre as 455 horsepower comes to life (SOUND UP) A classic Mercedes joystick controls the 7-speed gearbox. Rear-drive is standard, all four wheels get motivation on this one. 0-60 (SOUND UP) glides up in just under 5 seconds. S-Class is deceptively light, 50 percent of the body shell is aluminum (ON CAMERA) I could describe the ride quality as buttery smooth but I haven’t had butter this silky. Throw it into a corner and it does not wallow. That’s courtesy of an adaptive suspension. The S is boardroom quiet. I’d need a half hour to cover the safety technology so I’ll just touch on the night vision. It automatically switches on when animals- or pedestrians too busy to look up from their phones- appear. At speeds under 31 miles an hour, S-Class can automatically brake to keep from hitting humans and cars in it’s path. The auto stop-start feature (SOUND OFF) is so smooth and unobtrusive (SOUND UP) I didn’t notice it at first. You would expect this sedan to be luxurious but there’s something more here, much like a stay at a Four Seasons resort. It’s easy to linger and fawn over the craftsmanship while soaking in the powerful Burmester audio system. Even though it’s improved, I’m still lukewarm on the COMAND user interface. Part of its complexity has to do with the seemingly endless features packed into this car. (ON CAMERA) The middle position is raised but headroom is still fine. Space is really not an issue with the S-Class Some packages allow the seats to recline nearly 45 degrees. Also available are folding tables for working executives and cupholders that maintain hot and cold beverage temperatures. Down headrests are the softest I’ve ever experienced (ON CAMERA) S-Class is a large sedan, you would expect the trunk to be enormous. I think you know where this is going... The chauffeur could keep his lunch in this space I suppose. All those features in the back seat rob room back here. Most mid-sized sedans hold up to seven packs, S- Class tops out at an easy six. It’s difficult to understand the depth of S550 without experiencing it. Doors that finish closing for you are a clue. Mercedes calls this car “The essence of luxury” for 129 grand it should be. Wealth is only one measure of success, The S is not the most expensive status symbol on wheels, but it can be considered a benchmark.