Category: Large Executive 
Price Range: £43,957 to £73,997
Svelte looks, refined diesel, comfortable ride, quiet.
Four seats only, compromised rear headroom.
Classy, comfortable and stylish, the CLS is a wonderfully refined cruiser with enough grunt to keep a smile on your face.
The entry-level 320 CDI sports a 3.0-litre V6 diesel that produces 224bhp and it's by far the most popular version, accounting for 83% of CLS sales. It'll take you from 0 to 60mph in 7 seconds before hitting a top speed of 153mph. The acceleration and top speed stats are impressive on paper, but it doesn't feel massively quick, with the getaway seeming almost relaxed. That's great if you like it smooth, but it's not for those who want drama at the traffic lights. It delivers 398lb-ft of torque, delivered from as low as 1,600rpm, which is a lot of useful grunt. It's also beautifully refined for a diesel, as well as being by far the most economical of the CLS range, returning an average of 37.2mpg.
It's gained a little more weight to go with the extra kit and refinements and, at 1,815kg, it's not exactly a light car.
Then there's the 350 CGI, which has a 3.5-litre 292bhp V6 petrol engine under the bonnet. It's perfectly capable and will whisk you from 0-60mph in 6.7 seconds and all the way to a limited 155mph. That's plenty, but if it isn't, Mercedes offers the CLS500 with a 5.5-litre 383bhp V8. That lowers the 0-62mph sprint to 5.4 seconds, and overall fuel consumption to 24.4mpg compared with the V6's 31.0mpg.
The CLS uses a seven-speed automatic transmission, which is very responsive, and has a manual mode that allows drivers to sequentially shift between gears. There is also a sport mode for the transmission, which gives sharper throttle response. Gearshift paddles are an option but standard on the AMG.
Central to the CLS's on-road manners is the optional Airmatic DC (£1295 for the 320 and 350 and standard on the 500), an air suspension system with the computing ability to respond to the way the car is being driven, so if you are going at speed the suspension automatically stiffens to reduce roll and pitch motions. This also contributes to a smooth and compliant ride quality when the driver is just cruising. It can, though, be caught out on occasion by nasty potholes, making the body judder.
The standard suspension is a conventional steel set-up. The rack-and-pinion steering also works well, feeding back information about the available levels of grip and weighting up nicely with speed. It's a speed-sensitive system, which gets lighter at low speeds to aid parking and other manoeuvres.
Overall, the CLS delivers a good compromise between ride and handling: it's a fine meeting of engine, chassis and gearbox, emphasising the car's potential for tackling bends as well as motorways, but without losing much comfort or refinement.
