The S430 is both refined and enjoyably sporty. The most comfortable-riding car we'd ever tested at that point, its agile handling also made it a delight to drive. The roomy cabin provides vault-like silence and the engine delivers strong acceleration. Safety equipment was state of the art for the time, led by the Mercedes-Benz Pre-Safe system, which is designed to detect a collision before it occurs and rapidly adjust critical components in the cabin to provide optimum passenger protection. On the other hand, the infotainment system is needlessly complex.