If you’ve gone ahead and ordered yourself the brand new CLS from Mercedes, you probably did so because you like the posh styling that sets it apart from the most utilitarian E-Class.
While that’s perfectly fine, it does look as though this might not be the most practical four-door saloon in the world, and it’s mostly because the CLS really wants to be called a coupe. Even if it’s a four-door coupe, the posh design means you have to make certain concessions.
The first one concerns rear-seat passenger headroom. In this video, we have a reviewer measuring 179 cm (5’10) saying that even his head is brushing against the headliner while sitting in the rear. At the same time, visibility for rear-seat passengers isn’t optimal either. You might just end up looking directly at the C-Pillar whenever you turn your head 90-degrees. As for the middle seat, it’s a bit of a squeeze, so you’ll probably want to use it for short hauls only.
Sitting in front is clearly the better experience, as you can enjoy the car’s overall high build quality, loads of new tech, as well as its storage spaces, which are surprisingly generous.
Moving on to its powertrain and driving dynamics, we’re surprised to learn that the diesel unit in this CLS 400d is so noisy at idle. On the move it’s very refined, but when stationary, it’s a whole different story. On the bright side, the 3.0-liter inline-six diesel in the CLS 400d makes 340 PS (335 HP) and 700 Nm (516 lb-ft) of torque, and is capable of taking you from zero to 60 mph (96 km/h) in just 5 seconds, while also offering your relentless mid-range acceleration.
As for handling, while the new CLS is by no means sporty, mainly due to its size, the steering does feel precise and the car handles really well on the twisty bits.