2018 Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class

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 2018 Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class drops its entry-level CLS400. A rearview camera is now standard and newly optional is an LED Intelligent Light System with headlights that have a wider swath of illumination and are self-dimming. 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 Gran Coupe. The CLS also vies for sales against a variety of midsize luxury sedans from Europe, Japan, and the United States. The base CLS550 has a 402-hp turbocharged 4.7-liter V8 paired with a 9-speed automatic transmission and is available with all-wheel drive. The high-performance CLS63 AMG packs a 577-hp turbocharged 5.5-liter V8 and has a 7-speed automatic transmission with standard all-wheel drive. Available features include collision warning, autonomous braking, drowsiness alert, pedestrian detection, blind-spot alert, lane-keep assist, cross-traffic alert, and adaptive cruise control. 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.