2014 Mercedes-Benz S550 4Matic: Mercedes: 1, Winter: 0

You’ve probably seen the TV ads. You know, the ones where Mercedes-Benz claims that its vehicles are designed to stand up to winter’s worst conditions. There’s no doubt that the brand’s SUVs (ML, GLK, GL and G Classes) are up to the task, but what about its sedans? It seems that the Stuttgart-based manufacturer doesn’t want to let winter win any battles, not even against its more luxurious models.   

We were curious to see if Mercedes could deliver on its word, so we spent a week driving the S550 4Matic sedan, even though we know that it’s almost sacrilegious to drive a car equipped with a 400-hp V8 in winter. Mother Nature cooperated by delivering medium-intensity snowfalls and cold nights.

• Also: 2014 Mercedes-Benz S550 4MATIC: Operating On Another Level
• Also: Mercedes-Benz S-Class Pullman: 6.4 Meters of Armored Luxury

More than four pages

I can’t even begin to list the multitude of accessories and equipment in this car. In fact, the list is fully four pages long (double spaced). Included are heated armrests, panoramic roof, active seats, 360-degree camera and numerous safety features including an emergency call system and the Pre-Safe Plus anti-collision system that stops the vehicle when there is an obstacle detected in its path. The front seats even have a massage function. Starting to get the picture? It was very, very luxurious.

In fact, the offering is so complete and complex that it takes a while to figure out the various controls. The console features a management centre with a large central control element that allows you to display the main settings on a 12-inch screen located in the middle of the dashboard. This is how you control the colour of the interior lighting, the fragrance diffuser, the seat heating and countless other things. It’s very sophisticated, but it doesn’t do it all. For example, the heat distribution for the front seats is controlled via the screen. However, if you want to turn the seat heating on, you have to push a controller on the door.

To get acquainted with all the controls and settings, I spent some time fiddling with them without bothering to consult the owner’s manual—a decision that only made things harder! I’m ashamed to admit it, but it took me several days to find the control for the heated steering wheel, which is on the tip of a lever just left of—you guessed it—the steering wheel!

But once I found it, I realized it was great. I personally loved the heated arm rests and the 3D display for the navigation system.

Dashing through the snow with 449 horses

A sedan powered by a large V8 can potentially be tricky to drive in winter, especially if the power is transmitted to the rear wheels and there are no electronic driver-assist systems. But technology has come a long way over the years. ABS brakes have allowed Mercedes’ engineers to develop an anti-skid system and then a lateral stability system to prevent sliding in bad weather. Finally, the 4Matic all-wheel drive system has been refined with time and is now light, efficient and transparent.

In Canada, there is just one engine available for the S550 4Matic: a 4.6-litre twin-turbo V8 with 449 horsepower.  It’s mated to the 7G-Tronic Plus seven-speed automatic transmission. The engine only accepts super-unleaded gas and, according to the manufacturer, its fuel consumption is 12.6 L/100 km in the city and 7.9 L/100 km on the highway, for a combined average of 10.5 L/100 km. During our test week, we recorded an average of 12.9 L/100 km.

Snowing? No problem!

Our test drive involved dry roads, snowy roads and ice-covered roads. The car demonstrated impeccable traction in all conditions, as well as uncompromising directional stability. The 4Matic system proved efficient—the wheels didn’t even skid when we accelerated enthusiastically on a snow-covered road. This Mercedes-Benz comes with an outstanding windshield-wiper system. Press the button on the end of the indicator lever to activate the wipers for a short time. Press it twice for windshield-wiper fluid. Just a little is spritzed, but it goes a long way.

Some might consider it a crime to drive an S Class in winter, but the truth is that this car has what it takes to be both comfortable and safe during the cold season. And it goes without saying that it offers incredible performances, with the 0-100 km/h sprint coming in under the five-second mark. Expensive, it is. But you definitely get a lot for your money, in both summer and winter.