Pros: Dazzling “4-door-coupe” sloped-roof styling; impressive cabin materials; muscular acceleration, especially in AMG models
Cons: Significantly pricier than similar E-Class; swoopy roof cuts into rear-seat headroom; ride is somewhat stiff on AMG models
CG Says: The CLS-Class is a midsize 4-passenger, 4-door luxury sedan with a coupe-like rear roofline. It is based on the E-Class sedan, and priced between the E-Class and the flagship S-Class in Mercedes’ lineup. Mercedes introduced the CLS for the 2006 model year, calling it a 4-door coupe, and kicking off a niche class that was later followed by the Audi A7 and BMW 6-Series. The CLS also vies for sales against a variety of midsize luxury sedans from Europe, Japan, and the United States. For 2014, CLS550s get a fuel-saving start/stop feature. The CLS-Class lacks the E-Class’s rear seat room and cargo versatility, and it costs considerably more. For their money, buyers get svelte, dramatic styling and perhaps even more cachet than the Mercedes brand already holds. Power and refinement are exemplary, and the CLS63 AMG offers more of both.
