Mercedes-Benz CLS

The CLS at a glance

The CLS was always positioned above the E-Class and below the S-Class. Its siblings are covered in our pages on the Mercedes-Benz E-Class and S-Class.

First generation C219 (2004–2010): the original four-door coupé

The CLS began as the Vision CLS concept at the 2003 Frankfurt motor show (IAA). Designer Michael Fink gave the W211 E-Class platform a long, arched roofline, frameless side windows and a cabin with four individual seats. The production car debuted at the New York show in 2004, and sales started in October 2004. Its wheelbase was 2,854 mm.

Engines ranged from the CLS 320 CDI diesel with 165 kW (224 PS) to the CLS 500 V8. In 2006 the V8 grew from 225 kW (306 PS) to 285 kW (388 PS), sold as the CLS 550 in North America, and the CLS 350 gained direct injection (CLS 350 CGI, 215 kW). The supercharged CLS 55 AMG produced 350 kW (476 PS) and was replaced by the CLS 63 AMG with a naturally aspirated 6.2-litre V8 and 378 kW (514 PS).

A facelift in early 2008 brought a new grille, LED tail lights and an updated COMAND system. A new entry model, the CLS 280 with 170 kW (231 PS), arrived in April 2008 and became the CLS 300 a year later. When the last C219 left Sindelfingen on 26 July 2010, Mercedes had built more than 170,000.

Second generation C218 and Shooting Brake (2011–2017)

The second CLS was shown at the 2010 Paris Motor Show, with styling based on the F800 Style concept and cues from the SLS AMG. Production ran from January 2011 to December 2017. The 4MATIC all-wheel-drive versions went on sale in September 2011, and in October 2012 the X218 Shooting Brake added a five-door estate body.

The June 2014 facelift, shown at the Goodwood Festival of Speed and at the Paris show that autumn, brought MULTIBEAM LED headlights, a new steering wheel and a free-standing 8-inch COMAND screen. Most models received the 9G-TRONIC nine-speed automatic, and the CLS 400 with a 3.0-litre twin-turbo V6 replaced the CLS 350. Mercedes said each MULTIBEAM headlamp used 24 individually controlled LEDs, and that the high beam could reach up to 485 m without dazzling oncoming drivers.

Third generation C257 (2018–2023)

The C257 was presented at the Los Angeles Auto Show on 29 November 2017 and went on sale in March 2018. It dropped the Shooting Brake, gained a fifth seat and moved to a new family of in-line engines. Several versions used the EQ Boost 48-volt starter-generator, which adds 16 kW and up to 249 Nm for short bursts.

There was no CLS 63 in this generation, so the AMG CLS 53 with 320 kW became the top model. Visual updates followed in 2019 and 2021, and the last car was built at Sindelfingen in August 2023.

Dimensions and practicality by generation

The sloping roof costs rear headroom compared with an E-Class, so tall passengers are more comfortable in the C257, which has a slightly higher roof and a longer wheelbase. The Shooting Brake is the most practical CLS, with a long load floor and split-folding rear seats. Compared with the C218 saloon, the C257 is 51–64 mm longer and its wheelbase grew by 64 mm.

CLS fuel economy and running costs

The four-cylinder diesels are the most economical CLS models and the most common on the used market. The C257 mild hybrids recover energy when braking and can switch off the engine while coasting, which helps fuel use in mixed driving. The AMG V8s of the C219 and C218 are expensive to run: tyres, brakes and insurance cost far more than for a diesel, and the 5.5-litre biturbo needs specialist servicing.

On older cars, the AIRMATIC air suspension (where fitted), worn suspension bushes and complex electronics are the main cost risks. Check that the 7G-TRONIC or 9G-TRONIC gearbox has had its oil changed and that all driver-assistance cameras and sensors work.

Safety and assistance systems

We found no standalone Euro NCAP result for the CLS; it shares its body structure with the E-Class of its time. From the C218 onwards, the car offered Mercedes' full suite of assistance systems: DISTRONIC PLUS adaptive cruise control with Steering Assist, Active Lane Keeping Assist, Blind Spot Assist, Night View Assist Plus with pedestrian detection and PRE-SAFE brake. Eight airbags and NECK-PRO head restraints were standard on the C218.

Rivals: the four-door coupé class

The A7's tailgate makes it the more practical choice for luggage, while the CLS has the quieter, more comfortable ride. The 1cars comparison tool puts any two of these cars side by side, and the most powerful saloons ranking shows where the AMG versions sit.