Classy Merc reinvents the saloon

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Introduction

Less spacious but more beautiful and more expensive than the E-Class upon which it's based, the CLS has been a huge success for Mercedes-Benz.

What are its rivals?

The CLS doesn't really have any direct rivals as such, Mercedes liking to call its sleek saloon a four-door coupé. It's based on the E-Class, but the CLS is so much prettier than its rather boring relative. It's just as likely to appeal to those buyers in the market for an E-Class but attracted by the alternative looks as it is to people who may consider a BMW X6 or 6 Series coupé. At £45,278, this 320 CDI model is above all but the most expensive E-Class models, but people seem happy to pay a bit extra for the CLS's good looks - it has been a big sales winner for the three-pointed star.

How does it drive?

Forget sporting involvement with the CLS 320 CDI, as it's best suited to being a relaxed, comfortable cruiser. It'll eat up motorway miles with consummate ease, the 3.0-litre V6 turbodiesel pulling strongly from low revs and being very refined. It lacks the kick in the back urgency of BMW's similar capacity turbodiesel engines though, the Mercedes unit's pace seemingly blunted by the smoothing action of the seven-speed automatic transmission. It's normally a slick shifter, but it's not difficult to confuse it, resulting in sometimes jerky progress.

The steering offers decent weighting but there's next to no feel at the wheel's rim, the CLS for all its athletic looks not feeling particularly sporty to drive. The standard steel coil spring suspension copes better with our shockingly surfaced roads than the optional air system, but even it struggles sometimes to smother the nasty ridges and holes that laughably pass as roads in the UK.

What's impressive?

The refinement of the CLS is very appealing indeed; it's what makes t such a comfortable long-distance machine. It's great to see too that Mercedes didn't just throw the E-Class fascia into the CLS. Instead it created a unique dashboard with a large wooden trim piece that, while not to everyone's taste, is a neat touch. The exterior styling remains the CLS's key selling point though; even Mercedes struggled to find ways to improve on its svelte lines in its 2008 facelift. Some of the only differences between the current cars and the original being very slightly revised front and rear lower bumpers and some side repeaters in the door mirrors.

The rear roofline might compromise headroom for taller rear seat passengers but the CLS is actually remarkably practical. There's decent legroom all round and the boot is massive too. But everything comes back to the way it looks; it may now be a familiar sight on our roads but that doesn't make it any less beautiful. Standard specification is pretty comprehensive too, with all CLS models coming with leather upholstery, climate control and electrically adjustable driver's seat.

What's not?

Given its low-slung sporting looks the CLS disappoints as a driver's car. There's precious little feel through the steering, the overall feeling behind the wheel being one of detachment.

Taller people might find the headroom lacking in the rear a bit too and some of the plastics inside feel a bit cheap. Neither are we big fans of Mercedes's seven-speed automatic, it doesn't perform quite as smoothly in all situations as you might expect. The CLS isn't cheap either, particularly when you compare it on a like-for-like basis with the E-Class upon which it's based.

Should I buy one?

There's a lot to recommend the CLS for. If you're after a smart, refined executive car then it's very appealing indeed. It works best in 320 CDI guise where it excels as a comfortable, leggy cruiser.

Kyle Fortune