The latest Mercedes-Benz CLS is pretty
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00:00 This is a 2022 Mercedes-Benz CLS, a luxury 4-door fastback sedan that has updated looks
00:17 for 2022.
00:19 But with the new AMG GT 4-door, is it pretty enough to justify the CLS place in the Mercedes-Benz
00:25 lineup?
00:26 Let's find out.
00:32 The CLS first started the luxury midsize fastback segment back in 2005, that's when the first
00:37 generation debuted.
00:38 Today, we have more players in that segment, like the Audi A7, Porsche Panamera, and BMW
00:45 8 Series Grand Coupe, and even the Audi e-tron GT is in there.
00:50 Who is the CLS for?
00:51 It's for those who want something more than an E-Class or a 5 Series, but they don't
00:56 want to go full on board with an AMG GT 4-door.
00:59 The CLS will deliver a smoother ride while adding some performance.
01:04 We said at the beginning that the CLS was a pretty car, so let's walk around it and
01:08 point out what makes it so pretty.
01:10 Let's start here in the front with the grille.
01:13 You have this expansive grille that runs from side to side, that houses that huge Mercedes-Benz
01:18 logo in the front, and then you have these little three-pointed stars around the grille,
01:23 something unique that you don't see in the segment a lot.
01:25 And you have this very sporty lower fascia that has some air vents added into it.
01:31 And then what makes it very pretty and very slick are these fine lines that run on the
01:35 hood over to the back.
01:37 It's just something that looks so elegant in the CLS.
01:41 Its low profile also makes those 20-inch wheels stand out even more.
01:46 And then moving over to the profile, this is what makes it so special.
01:50 This roofline drops super dramatically right around here, and that's what makes the CLS
01:55 a fastback sedan.
01:57 Over here in the back, you see that fastback line drop onto the trunk, and then you have
02:01 these taillights that wrap around the corners also.
02:04 As far as looks go, the CLS definitely hit a home run.
02:10 Inside the CLS, you'll feel like you're driving in something special, and just look at this
02:14 cabin, how nice it is.
02:17 There are a lot of elements that come from other Mercedes models, but that's not a bad
02:21 thing.
02:22 Let's talk about the technology first.
02:24 There are two 12.3-inch screens, one for the digital instrument cluster right here in front
02:29 of me, and the other one for the MBUX infotainment system.
02:32 Now this is a new system that's coming over to the CLS, and it's something that we've
02:37 seen in other models.
02:39 In fact, newer models have a different display now that's more vertical instead of horizontal.
02:44 However, the CLS gets the old school system.
02:48 That's not necessarily a bad thing because look at this cabin and how nice it looks.
02:53 There are other cool things like the ambient lighting that runs along the doors here and
02:57 all the way across the cabin.
02:59 Even inside the air vents, there's some ambient lighting.
03:02 When this is dark, it makes you feel like you're in an Ibiza nightclub or something
03:06 like that.
03:07 In terms of materials, everything feels pretty nice and polished.
03:10 The steering wheel is new for the CLS.
03:12 It has that touch-sensitive controls that we've seen in other Mercedes cars.
03:17 Space-wise, I'm pretty comfortable here, but backseat passengers won't be as comfortable
03:21 because this is a fastback design.
03:24 So taller passengers may have a little bit of trouble with headroom.
03:27 Legroom is also compromised because there's a pretty big drivetrain hump in the middle
03:31 seat.
03:32 Overall, I would say that this looks like a very polished cabin.
03:35 The materials feel great, the technology is up to date, but in terms of space, it's not
03:40 the best one.
03:42 While the CLS is not a numbers car, it will still deliver plenty of punch.
03:46 Underneath the hood, there is a 3-liter inline-six turbocharged engine with 362 horsepower and
03:52 369 pound-feet of torque.
03:55 There is a 9-speed automatic transmission sending that power to all four wheels thanks
03:59 to an all-wheel drive system.
04:01 Now, the engine is a mild hybrid engine, so you'll get better fuel economy, about 22 miles
04:06 per gallon on the city and 30 on the highway.
04:09 In terms of how it drives, 0-60 is about 4.9 seconds according to our own testing, and
04:15 that is pretty good when merging on the freeway or passing anybody.
04:19 Those numbers are a little bit slower than what a Porsche Taycan or Audi e-tron GT will
04:23 deliver, but still, that's plenty of punch for the CLS.
04:26 Because neither the NHGSA or the IIHS have safety rated the CLS, it's a little bit hard
04:34 for us to talk about the safety of the CLS.
04:37 However, do know that the E-Class shares its platform with the CLS, and that car has gotten
04:42 the best safety scores out there.
04:44 So what can we talk about safety in the CLS?
04:47 It's all about the technologies that it has.
04:50 There is a long list of available features like adaptive cruise control, lane centering,
04:54 and even a new feature that detects when your hands are on the wheel.
04:58 Let's talk about pricing.
05:01 The CLS starts at $74,000 and this trim next to me, as equipped, has over $20,000 in option,
05:08 landing at over $94,000.
05:11 That's a lot of money.
05:12 But when you compare that within the segment, it's actually not that bad.
05:16 Now the A7 does start a little bit lower than the CLS, but when you compare the CLS to the
05:22 8 Series Grand Coupe, it will feel like a bargain because that car starts at over $80,000.
05:28 Now when you compare that with the rest of the segment, it's right in that middle ground, right?
05:32 It's a little bit more expensive than the A7, but it's not as expensive as a Porsche
05:36 Taycan or an Audi e-tron GT.
05:39 The CLS is a very elegant and stylish car, and it does a good job distinguishing itself
05:46 from other mid-sized luxury sedans.
05:49 But in 2022, where there are electric cars that look better and perform better, you have
05:54 to ask the question, is the CLS really worth it?
05:57 To see our vehicle rankings and complete buyer's guide, visit Motortrend.com/cars.
06:03 (upbeat music)