Search Car Reviews



See all makes

Mercedes CLS 350 BlueEfficiency

Do the CLS's sharp new looks, improved cabin and cleaner engine line-up keep the Mercedes ahead of the four-door coupé pack?

Mercedes CLS

By Joaquim Oliveira

October 2010

  • Rating:
It’s the original four-door coupe – and now, the CLS is back for its difficult second instalment! Since 2004, a total of 170,00 customers have been seduced by the big Mercedes’ blend of luxury and striking good looks. And it’s inspired the likes of the Porsche Panamera and Audi A7. So can the all-new CLS pick up where its predecessor left off?

Video: watch CarBuyer's video review of the Mercedes CLS

 

The proportions remain as spectacular as ever. A long bonnet, pillarless side windows and sloping roofline make this unmistakeably a CLS, although the design is all-new. Most noticeable is the upright and prominent front grille. Taking cues from the SLS AMG and dominated by the huge central star, it gives the car a bolder and more aggressive appearance.
 
Forming an integral part of the nose are the LED headlights – the first in the world to offer all functions using LED technology. A total of 71 bulbs make up the indicator, sidelight and main beam functions, while daytime running lamps are integrated into the lower bumper.

The rest of the body trades the delicate flowing lines of the outgoing car for a more muscular stance. Flared wheelarches and wide hips give an imposing presence, while the strong crease around the rear wheelarch is taken from the E-Class Coupe.

The new cabin mixes a simple but elegant centre console with top-quality materials, and makes the CLS a supremely comfortable place in which to spend time. It can be tailored to the driver, with a choice of five interior colours, three qualities of leather, three types of wood and piano black or carbon fibre trim. Rear legroom is improved, but head space is still compromised – anyone over six foot tall should stick to the front seats.

Even though the car is 3cm longer and 1.5cm lower, overall weight has not increased. The new CLS is the first Mercedes to have frameless all-aluminium doors, which are 24kg lighter than regular ones, while the bonnet, front wings, bootlid and substantial parts of the suspension are made of the featherweight metal, too. New electromechanical steering uses energy only when the wheel is being turned, and helps to reduce fuel consumption.
  
From launch, there is a choice of CLS 350 models with petrol or diesel V6 engines. Both provide major efficiency gains over the outgoing units. For the first time, there’s an entry-level CLS 250 CDI, with a 201bhp four-cylinder diesel returning 55mpg. Topping the range is the CLS 500; it has 20bhp more power, at 402bhp, but is 25 per cent more efficient.

The CLS 350 BlueEfficiency we drove provides the smooth, effortless and quiet acceleration buyers are looking for. It can’t match the in-gear pace of the torquier 350 CDI, but is a class apart in terms of refinement.

Handling is improved, so the CLS is more agile and precise, especially with Mercedes’ Airmatic adaptive suspension. This allows the driver to select between Comfort and Sport modes, and adjust the ground clearance of the car.

The brakes are strong and consistent, too, while the electric power-steering offers more feel than ever, even though it helps cut CO2 output by 7g/km. The only letdown is the 7G-Tronic auto box, which tends to hold on to gears a little too long.

Rival: Audi A7
If the A8 is still too anonymous for you then the A7 will fit the bill. Its curvaceous bodywork adds a helping of style to the Audi hallmarks of superb build quality and refinement. 

Tell us about your car in our Driver Power survey.

For an alternative review of the latest Mercedes CLS-Class visit our sister site carbuyer.co.uk

What Next

For more breaking car news and reviews, subscribe to Auto Express magazine. We'll give you 6 issues for £1 and a free gift!

< Previous   Next >

Sponsored Results

10 Comments

Second opinion

First I wasn,t very impressed by the new cls , it still is hard to
beat the original model ( more elegant.) but on second opinion,
i think i am starting to like it.

By Pegasus on 6 October, 2010, 3:47pm

LOVE IT

WOW, I absolutely love this car and even the previous version. But this one is stunning, lovely front end (get the hell out of my way) and creases, and the lovely stitched detailed steering wheel, phoawwwwww! forget the (elongated A4 sorry A7), this one is for me!

By taaudi on 7 October, 2010, 9:13am

Not convinced

While no one could describe the first generation CLS as beautiful, the bionic banana profile of that car gave it a striking appearance. The new car is the love child of an SLS and an S-class and looks bulkier, even if the weight is unchanged.
The centre console is a real button-fest and the steering wheel looks like it was chosen from an aftermarket catalogue by someone with no taste.
A disappointment.

By snappyuk on 7 October, 2010, 9:54am

Ve haf vays of making you like zis kar!

German car design is getting more and more brutal.
The grill looks clumsy.
I know its a Merc, so do we need the badge to be quite so large?

By toycollector on 7 October, 2010, 11:42am

Issues

There are multiple grammatical errors and typos in this post. The vast majority of readers do not care or do not recognize them, but I do. I'd suggest you review this post, fix the errors, and re-post it.

By jlarson05 on 7 October, 2010, 1:41pm

Mmmmmm....not sure this does it really

The first CLS was unique and striking. The exterior of this is, albeit muscular, more typical in shape - gone is the swooping curve that distinguished the original. The most disappointing of all is the interior which is straight out of the E Class. I realise that commonality saves money but the CLS appealed BECAUSE it was different. Why do the grey suits always win........

By Tony27nine on 7 October, 2010, 10:14pm

USP ?

Surely the USP of the CLS was its striking looks. If you degrade the looks, you just end up with a less practical Merc that doesn't look too good. This seems to be what they have achieved. Well done Merc!

By pajbse on 9 October, 2010, 10:32am

I'm with jlarson05!

Just to say that I am also greatly saddened by the appalling grammar. spelling and punctuation in these, and all the other posts I read. However this is probably not the forum to debate why this is the case.

By pajbse on 9 October, 2010, 10:35am

THE BEST CAR IN THE WORLD

i love it.it doesn't exist a car to get closer to this cls' beauty,sportiness,sharp looks,luxury and seduction in the positive side

By flamuri on 10 October, 2010, 11:12am

Totally blue!

Sure those have great performance when Mercedes Parts roar into action.. Great auto!

By VintageGuy on 13 October, 2010, 9:45am

You need to register to post comments. Existing members can log in below to comment, otherwise click here to join.



Sponsored Results

- Advertisement -

Pictures

Mercedes CLS
Mercedes CLS
Mercedes CLS
Mercedes CLS
Mercedes CLS
Mercedes CLS

Sponsored Results

FIRST OPINION

    The CLS’s reputation for refinement and cutting-edge design remains intact. While the body looks more muscular and the whole car is longer, it still stands out from the crowd in the same way as before. The handling is more precise and the Merc feels more agile, too. A new engine line-up boosts power and efficiency – this petrol V6 is ultra-refined, but the CLS 350 CDI is the pick of the bunch, with its extra torque and better economy.

 

AT A GLANCE

    Price: £50,500 (est)
    Engine: 3.5-litre V6
    Transmission: Seven-speed automatic, rear-wheel drive
    Power: 302bhp
    Torque: 370Nm
    0-62mph: 6.1 seconds
    Top speed: 155mph
    Economy: 41.5mpg
    CO2: 159g/km
    Equipment: Stop-start, leather upholstery, LED lights, aluminium doors, electronic power-steering
    On Sale: March
     
    - Advertisement -