The CLS has the upper exec marques in its sights, particularly the Audi A7 and BMW 6 Series Gran Coupe. The hybrid engines ensure lower running costs but the style keeps up the executive expectations. While it may feel like an E-Class from behind the steering wheel, it somehow doesn’t look as big from the outside and looks extremely similar to the CLA coupe.
Special mention : Luxury interior, comfort, waft-ability, infotainment with multiple ways of accessing functions. Front and rear cameras as well as excellent turning circle make it a breeze to get out of tight spots. Has good visibility even though it’s quite low. Once you turn lane assist off, it stays off (for all journeys).
Needs work : It’s a coupe body style so there’s no point in complaining about space. The engine can be a bit grumbly sounding, not much else intrudes into the peaceful cabin.
| HP 194 | Diesel / Auto |
| 0-100 km/h in 7.5 seconds | Road Tax €270 |
| Price: €83,090 As spec’d: €85,296 | Boot space 520 litres |
The CLS lineup consists of two petrol and three diesels. Mercedes Ireland expects this €83,090 CLS 220d AMG design line to be its biggest seller. There’s also a CLS 300d 4MATIC and CLS 400d 4MATIC models. Mercedes also includes the AMG CLS 53 4MATIC+ version within the new facelift lineup. Building 520 Nm of torque from a 2999 cc engine with 423 bhp it goes from 0–100 km/h in 4.5 seconds. Available to order now, the AMG Line models get a sportier makeover, which includes a larger front splitter, deeper side skirts, boot lid spoiler and a new radiator grille. Alloys come in the form of AMG-branded 20-inch wheels available in two colours. The other petrol model available will come in the form of the CLS 450 4MATIC. Most modern Mercedes come with the ability to adjust the Dynamic control and while the steering, suspension and engine can be adjusted individually or you can set Comfort, Sport or Eco, refinement and luxury are what Mercedes do best and unless you have an AMG engine, it’s really best left in Comfort mode.
If you’ve driven one of Mercedes latest launch models, you may notice the difference between those and this CLS facelift. It still feels incredibly luxurious, with supportive and comfortable seats and modern technology throughout. If you can, you should definitely option the Burmester stereo as it’s an experience in itself. That’s not to say the standard stereo is any less of a good system, it’s just the Burmester systems have a way of elevating the experience.
The interior is absolutely near perfect, the widescreen dashboard display comes straight out of the E-Class. You also have the comforting ambient lighting that offers 64 different colours. Normally I’m the first to adjust screen brightness to a less retina burning level, I’ve found the difference the ambient lighting Mercedes has developed provides a cosseting and enjoyable environment particularly during winter months, it lifts the mood entirely.
Inside Mercedes has given us a new nappa leather trimmed multifunction steering wheel, equipped with the same capacitive technology available on the facelifted E-Class and the latest C-Class. While the haptic feedback style buttons are de-rigeur, they’re small and packed closely together. This can lead to the odd accidental adjustment of track/volume or even a random phone call. The new interiors are made up of a combination of material and leather upholstery, now included is a centre console in open-pore brown walnut or high-gloss grey wood. The brown version lends itself to a higher quality finish, for some reason the grey has a slightly plasticky finish. The leather upholstery options have been expanded to include a new two-tone grey option and a black and brown combination.
The space up front has a very S-Class feel. Thankfully unlike the CLA saloon, the luxurious leather seats adjust in countless different directions making it easy to find the perfect driving position. It’s not as versatile as the E Class saloon, and yet not as sporting as the soon to be amalgamated E Class Coupé. The raised transmission tunnel and sloping roofline make it cramped in the back. And while you can technically fit an adult bike in the boot of the CLS (if you remove the front wheel and seat post) it’s a lot easier to do so in the A7 due to its liftback boot design.
It’s a large, heavy car and you feel it particularly when cornering. It’s best left to it’s own devices and kept in comfort setting to let the air suspension get on with its job of wafting the occupants along with a powerful and effortless aplomb. With this facelift they’ve given us more efficient hybrid engines, a multitude of tech options and new, sleeker styling, the four-door coupe styling is desirable from an aesthetic point of view. It’s all about the relaxing drive above anything else and the sumptuous interior comes laden with kit and looks incredible at night. A new four-cylinder engine helps pull it all along.
The rear boot space is limited due to its design but at least they have split folding rear seats which are operated via two pull tabs from the boot. There’s a really high lip which doesn’t help when loading awkward items but again, you’re not buying a coupe style saloon for practicality.