Overview: Based on the Ford Taurus, the MKS is the luxury car you’re likely to be upgraded to the next time you are at Hertz. Handsomely anonymous in appearance, it drives anonymously, too. Riding on a long 112.9-inch wheelbase, it’s roomy enough for three to ride comfortably in the back seat—and the trunk is ample enough to hold everyone’s luggage for a long weekend at the Marriott. A 304-hp V-6 and front-wheel drive are standard; a 365-hp turbocharged EcoBoost V-6 and all-wheel drive are optional.
Of all the Mercedes-Benz models that could be accused of being born with a silver spoon in its mouth, the SL arguably tops the list. Unlike many grand-touring cars, the Mercedes SL has never been forced to compromise its blue-blood personal-luxury/sport ideals with feigned attempts at practicality to please executives or attract buyers. It has, more or less, remained an unapologetic take-it-or-leave-it proposition since it debuted nearly six decades ago, and the 2013 SL550 does nothing to alter its course. Cool, Quiet Confidence Every move the 2013 SL550 makes is steeped in a competent, laid-back confidence; pin the throttle, and the car takes a moment to gather itself, as if saying to the driver, “Okay, dude, you ready? This is gonna be pretty awesome.” And with that, the seven-speed automatic downshifts, the twin turbos gorge themselves on air, and the whole shebang takes off, pulling hard to an observed 159-mph top speed (Mercedes claims an electronically limited 155). Life in th...