2022 Mercedes CLS 450 Video Review: MotorTrend Buyer's Guide

MotorTrend

The latest Mercedes-Benz CLS is pretty

Transcript

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)

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