The Mercedes CLS was released in 2004 to target a brand new target market. Although many other brands have attempted this with the occasional release every few months, the Mercedes CLS is the first brand to actually garner actual success in the endeavor. The four door Mercedes CLS is the first of its line. It was first introduced as a concept in 2003, and even then it was a hit among the audience.

Pros

The original Mercedes CLS was well received thanks to its attractive appearance. The current generation is more aggressive in looks compared to its previous life, giving the new model elements from the E-Class yet still including certain additions within a sleek profile. The design has a prominent nose that sports more space behind. There’s more pedestrian impact as well around the exterior, making it a friendly car from both sides. The bonnet’s length adds to the overall visual aesthetic, while other elements such as the massive star on the grill contribute to the sports like look of the Mercedes CLS.

The interior combines both form and function. Rear space is more than enough for passengers, and the sculpted seats provide more than enough comfort for a long trip. There’s also plenty of room for the elbow, leg, and head, even for the six-feet tall passengers. Up front the CLS sports a unique dash that exudes all around class in its appearance. Memory seats that can be electrically adjusted and an ambient lighting pack are other great optional additions that can enhance the interior experience. The boot has enough capacity at 520 litres, but could use some improvement in terms of width.

The CLS stands out the most in terms of performance. The second generation’s six cylinder engines perform so well on all levels that you might forget about the four-cylinder CLS250 CDI of the entry-level model. The CLS250 CDI may not be as powerful as its successor, but it is powered by a 2.1-litre diesel engine that packs in 369lb ft torque and 201bhp in power. The CDI also releases a more efficient fuel economy and lower CO2 emissions.

If you want an upgrade, there’s the 3.0-litre V6 rail diesel of the CLS350 CDI. It achieves the best balance among economy, refinement, and performance. This engine is marketed at reaching 62mph in 6.2 seconds, which is a great 0.8 seconds faster than the CLS350 CDI. The 350 BlueEfficiency highlights the strength of the petrol V6 engine, along with its ability to provide flexible yet clean power delivery. As all this happens, the engine stays quiet throughout the ride.

Cons

Unfortunately the steering weight becomes consistent when going at town speeds. Compared to the Jaguar XF, the CLS isn’t as satisfying in drive. Dynamic ability, however, is quite broad and maintains the standard expected of this class. The interior isn’t completely perfect either, as passengers will have problems getting into the rear’s low, sloping roof. The Comand system of the CLS isn’t as intuitive as the touchscreens most people are now used to.

These are the only flaws seen in the CLS. Overall it impresses on its own and has made the right changes in its current model.

        If there is one car classification the car manufacturing mogul, Mercedes-Benz can be proud of, it is the Mercedes CLS. The Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class is a relatively young automobile, barely even ten years old. It was initially released back at 2004, and since then, has had only one generation change (it has two generations so far).

        The CLS-Class is classified as an “executive-size sedan”. This particular car made a significant contribution to Mercedes-Benz, since it signified the return of Mercedes-Benz into the executive-size coupé race. Before the CLS-Class revived Mercedes-Benz into the executive-size coupé race, it was Mercedes-Benz’s E-Class coupé that gave them the advantage in the coupé classification. The E-Class, however, was halted of production in 1995. Now, the CLS-Class is stronger than ever in its classification type.

        The 1st generation of the CLS-Class started from 2004 and lasted up until 2010, wherein its 2^nd generation now reigns. The CLS-Class is arguably one of the safest cars to drive around, since Mercedes-Benz made it a point to add in all of their most advanced safety features in this car. The Mercedes CLS is also one of the most powerful cars, performance-wise, since both the 1^st and 2^nd generations of this car were modelled after multiple Mercedes automotive platforms.