The New York Times has a new review of the 2007 Mercedes-Benz S-Class. It’s safe to say that the reviewer liked most of the car - he called the S a pleasure to drive, with an impressive powertrain and thought highly of the Distronic Plus, which is a kind of cruise control that uses radar to work the brakes and accelerator in order to maintain a safe distance from the cars ahead.

Much of the remainder of the article, however, is an invective on the ills of over-automation. The author laments such things as the 700 page owner’s manual, the 12+ buttons that control the front seats, the not-walk-up-and-use sound & GPS systems and the sporadic yet cryptic error messages sometimes displayed on the control panel. The S550 Sedan specs can be found here.

Lest we label him a luddite, the author reminds us that the previous-gen S-class suffered from a number of electrical and warranty problems. Still, at the end of the review he’s able to squeeze off a compliment, albeit a stingy one.

Those among us, Benzophiles included, who are dismayed by the tone and timbre of the Times’ article and who seek comfort in a more traditional, respectful even lyrical review, should instead go to this article by Automobile Magazine.

2007 Mercedes-Benz S-Class: Leave the Driving to the Microchips - NYT, May 28, 2006

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