Category: Large Executive 
Price Range: £84,995 to £150,180
Uncanny refinement, startling agility, breathtaking performance, state-of-the-art technology and movie-star looks coupled with genuine four-seater practicality.
It doesn't come cheap.
The world's fastest magic carpet.
Being over five metres long and the best part of two metres wide, the CL is no tiddler. That said, and with a basic comprehension of the CL's many, many electronic systems and functions, driving doesn't get any easier or simpler.
The Keyless-Go system automatically unlocks the car, one push of the brushed metal button starts it, one flick of the column stalk selects Drive, the parking brake releases itself and, with the difficult stuff completed, away you go in utter serenity and almost complete silence, even in the AMG versions - unless you floor the throttle, which will enliven the soundscape considerably.
On the move, the steering is well weighted and accurate, and throttle response is quick and precise. Both transmissions (seven- and five-speed) usually facilitate almost imperceptible changes, either automatically or via Direct Select buttons on the back of the steering wheel, or paddles in the case of the AMG cars, but erratic use of the throttle can occasionally induce a clunky downshift in full auto mode.
While driving along, the CL aids and abets with a veritable Pandora's box of technical cleverness. Perhaps most notable is the improved Active Body Control suspension. This further reduces pitch and body roll in corners, and lowers the body by up to 10mm at speeds over 37mph to reduce drag and improve handling stability. The result is an impeccable magic carpet ride coupled with imperceptible body roll, even when hammering through a tight S bend.
Although the CL makes no pretence at being a sports car per se, its effortless performance places it firmly in the GT category. The 383bhp CL500 can shoot to 62mph in 5.4 seconds, while the 510bhp CL600 can manage the same in a fleeting 4.6 seconds.
As on most German autobahn bruisers (bar Porsches and Brabuses), the voluntary maximum of 155mph comes into play, but these figures don't begin to convey the thrilling reality of the barely believable straight-line performance.
Even a short drive in the 500 is enough to convince you that 383bhp is all you'll ever need. Plant your foot hard in the 600, though, and you'll be very pleased that you've got even more. With a massive 612lb-ft available from 1,900 to 3,500rpm, and stupendous grip the CL600's get-up-and-go borders on the ridiculous. Without its 155mph limit, the CL600 would certainly top 200mph with ease - one reason why the 600 features higher-spec brakes than the 500.
The 518bhp 63 and the 596bhp 65 are both more CL than they are AMG cars. That is to say, they have the enormous performance you expect from the in-house Mercedes tuning specialists, but it's never at the expense of refinement. On paper it may seem that there's at least one CL too many: the quickest, the 65, is only 1.1 second quicker to 62mph than the slowest. But on the road they feel different enough to make sense. The 63 feels more lively and characterful, where the 65 is a velvety anvil.
