Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class Review (2011-2017)
Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class cars for sale
4.0
Expert review
Pros
Coupe style combined with surprising practicality
Shooting Brake has lots of luggage space
Comfortable and refined to drive
Cons
Less practical than an E-Class
Not the most exciting car to drive
AMG models cost a fortune in fuel
The CarGurus verdict
The CLS is an elegant, luxurious machine that, while it’s slightly less practical than an E-Class, makes up for that with extra style and presence on the road. And in Shooting Brake form especially, it’s still capable of lugging a family and their belongings over long distances.
They’re not the cheapest things to buy or run, although the diesel ones are considerably more frugal than the petrols. We’d keep one eye on reliability, and make sure we pick one that has a solid service history. Do that, and you should avoid too many problems, and end up with a car that should hold onto its value well. While there are more exciting cars to drive, the CLS range is comfortable and solid on the road, just like a Mercedes should be. It’s a classy choice.
Imagine your head wants a practical, luxurious four-door saloon car, but your heart secretly yearns for a swish coupe. You’re not alone, and Mercedes-Benz knew that when it introduced the CLS back in 2004. The German manufacturer created a car that combined the practicality of a four-door with the style of a coupe, all while keeping the elements of premium luxury that Mercedes buyers expect. It called it, originally enough, a 'four-door coupe'.
This is the second generation of Mercedes CLS, introduced in 2011 and known by the codename C218. While it might not quite have the visual punch of the first car, it’s still a svelte-looking machine and objectively a better piece of engineering than the first-generation CLS. As well as the saloon model, which Mercedes cheekily refers to as the CLS Coupe, the company introduced an estate version in 2012. Called the CLS Shooting Brake, it adds extra practicality while retaining the sporty look.
When the CLS was new, you did have to pay for that extra pizazz. While it was based on the mechanical bits of the Mercedes E-Class it was more expensive. That seems to have translated to the used market as well; a mark of the car’s desirability.
Inside, you’ll find a very nicely made interior, with lots of leather and classy-feeling plastics. Depending on the version you’re looking at, there are wooden or carbon fibre bits and bobs to add to the premium feeling.
The saloon’s sloping roofline sacrifices rear headroom for its style, which means taller adults might struggle to keep their hair in place when compared to an E-Class. The boot’s a good size, though. In the Shooting Brake, the boot is massive and there’s a trifle more headroom.
To drive, the CLS is set up as a comfortable, wafting executive car with a slight hint of sportiness to it. This is especially true in cars fitted with air suspension, which was optional when new. Standard suspension was called Sport, and is slightly on the firm side, so we’d recommend avoiding it if you can. Comfort suspension is a bit softer, and a better bet if you can’t find an air-equipped model. It’s an easy car in which to drive long distances, with road and wind noise kept to a minimum.
The AMG model, the CLS63, has much more than a hint of sportiness, thanks in no small part to its massive engine. But more on that shortly.
If you’re in the market for a CLS, it’s relatively straightforward to work out which one you might want. A facelift to the car in 2014 brought updates to the infotainment system and a bigger screen, as well as new engine options. Pre-facelift cars were offered with two trims – standard and AMG Sport. Standard had 18-inch alloys and satnav, while the AMG Sport model had bigger 19-inch wheels and a sportier bodykit, as well as the sport suspension.
After the facelift, there was only one trim level outside of the AMG model, called AMG Line. This gave the CLS 19-inch alloy wheels and a sporty look by way of the bumpers and side skirts. All models got LED headlights, heated seats and a DAB radio. You could also add Premium or Premium Plus packs, which included features like an electric sunroof and an upgraded infotainment system.
The performance-orientated CLS63 AMG also got its own spec, with revised bodykit, louder exhaust and extra AMG styling bits inside.
The engine range spans petrol and diesel. The diesel engines start with the CLS250 CDI, which has a 2.1-litre engine with 201bhp. There was also a 3.5-litre V6-powered CLS350 CDI. After the car’s facelift, a new 2.1-litre diesel called the 220d was introduced, along with the 350d 3.0-litre V6.
Not as many petrol CLSs were sold, so you’ll have to hunt harder if you really want one. The range started with a 302bhp V6 model called the CLS350, a CLS500 with 402bhp from a 4.6-litre V8. These were replaced by the 328bhp CLS400 in the 2014 facelift.
The performance model, the CLS63, comes courtesy of Mercedes’ tuning arm, AMG, and boasts a 5.5-litre, turbocharged V8 engine with 518bhp. Post-facelift, the CLS63S was introduced, which upped power to 577bhp. Either of these will give serious performance, but running costs will be considerably higher.
Shooting Brake models were available in 250 CDI, 350CDi and CLS63 forms pre-facelift, and 220d, 350d and CLS63S after. All models of CLS have an automatic transmission.
The CLS is at the swanky end of the range from an already-premium manufacturer, so expect to pay a bit more for one than an equivalent E-Class. The Shooting Brake will be a bit pricier than the saloon too.
If you want to keep a handle on fuel costs then the diesel models are the ones to focus on. The 220d is the most efficient model available and should give you around 50mpg in the real world, while you should still manage mid-40s in the 350d. Coupe models will be slightly more efficient than the Shooting Brake. If you go for a pre-facelift model, you could realistically hope for high-40s mpg from the 250 CDI and low-40s from the 350CDI.
On the petrol side, you’ll be looking at mid-30s mpg for the 350 and mid-20s for the 500, while the post-facelift CLS400 should give you an mpg figure in the low 30s.
The AMG models, while great fun, will sip through fuel like there’s no tomorrow, so if you can get an mpg in the low 20s then you’ll be doing well.
Insurance costs won’t be cheap for any CLS, with the most wallet-friendly model falling into group 43, which is pretty high.
When it comes to servicing, intervals vary depending on how you use the car; a message will pop up on the dash telling you when one is due. Roughly though, budget for one every 12 months or 10,000 miles. Mercedes offers a service plan called ServiceCare, which covers the cost of parts and labour for up to four services, and also includes things like brake fluid, spark plugs, air and fuel filters and screen wash. Prices vary depending on the age of the car and how many services you want, but you can pay monthly with prices starting at around £40. This plan is transferable if you sell the car; if you’re buying a used one, see if it’s still valid.
If not, and especially if you’ve got an older, out-of-warranty CLS, it might be worth looking at Mercedes specialists rather than a franchise dealer. They’re likely to be cheaper, and have more in-depth knowledge of older models.
Mercedes-Benz as a brand doesn’t have the best reputation for reliability, and often sits at or near the bottom of independent dependability studies. If it’s any consolation though, so do Audi, Porsche and BMW.
But that said, horror stories about the CLS specifically seem to be few or far between. We’ve heard tales of owners having issues with the infotainment system, specifically connecting newer phones to it. There was a recall for the 250 CDI in 2012, following issues with injectors, so make sure these have been replaced before you buy. In addition, there was another recall in 2017 to update the car’s software in a bid to reduce emissions on diesel models.
Mercedes offered a three-year, unlimited mileage warranty on the CLS, so if you’re buying one of the later models you may find that it’s still covered. This warranty is actually better than Audi offers on the A7 Sportback, as it’s limited to 60,000 miles. If the warranty has expired Approved Used cars from Mercedes come with a new one-year, unlimited mileage warranty for extra peace of mind.
- The 2014 facelift didn’t just tweak the looks, it also saw the engine line-up change completely across the CLS range. Later engines were more efficient and in some cases more powerful too, so they’re the ones to look out for if either of those attributes are priorities for you. But the newer cars will also be more expensive to buy, so factor that into your equations.
- If you want a CLS Shooting Brake but don’t really want a diesel, your only options are the very powerful AMG models – the CLS63 pre-facelift, or the CLS63S post-facelift. ‘Normal’ petrol engines weren’t available in the Shooting Brake in the United Kingdom. Don’t get us wrong, we think the AMG models are brilliant, but they’re a big step up from the regular cars in terms of price and performance.
- If you’ve got five people to transport, then the CLS Coupe isn’t for you, as it only has two seats in the back. The CLS Shooting Brake has three, and extra headroom as well. although it’ll be a very tight squeeze for five adults as the middle seat is on the small side.
- If you want fuel efficiency: The post-facelift CLS220d diesel will get the best fuel economy, particularly if you opt for the saloon model. With some careful use of the right foot you should be able to get 50mpg. If your budget doesn’t quite stretch that far, then the earlier 250 CDI is worth a look too.
- If you want performance: The AMG CLS models are the ones to go for if horsepower is your bag. A 5.5-litre, turbocharged V8 under the bonnet will give you 518bhp in the CLS63 or 577bhp in the post-facelift CLS63S, which is a huge amount. But be prepared to pay for it, in both purchase price and running costs.
- If you want extra space: The CLS Shooting Brake has more space both for the heads of rear-seat passengers, and also in the boot, with 590 litres of volume versus 520 in the saloon. Fold the rear seats down and that expands to 1,550 litres.
- If you want to tow stuff: You’ll have to go for a Shooting Brake model, because the CLS Coupe wasn’t designed with towing in mind, and wasn’t type approved to do so. The Shooting Brake version, however, can haul up to 2,100kg (braked) or 750kg unbraked.
