Category: Large Executive 
Price Range: £59,975 to £153,050
Ride quality, understated appearance, superb engineering, very civilised
Cabin not that special, a bit too tame for some
This is a very fast car, but it doesn't always feel that way as you're so insulated from the outside world
These things are all relative in this class, but the CL shouldn't be outrageously, ridiculously, expensive to run. Residual values are relatively strong for the sector (though the losses in value are still punitive) and servicing is as indicated by the on-board computer, so if you treat it gently, it should go a long time between visits. Insurance and company car tax liability will be high, like fuel consumption: the CL 500 does 23.7 mpg and the CL 600 a horrific 19.2 mpg. Carbon dioxide figures haven't been formally ratified yet, but provisionally, they range from 317 g/km for the CL 55 AMG to 353 g/km for the CL 600. Depreciation will make the CL-Class a great used car buy, particularly after a few years. However, strong demand will mean that nearly-new and low-mileage cars will be expensive - better news for the sellers. With its general reliability, lifetime anti-perforation guarantee and good care, a CL should be easy to run to very high mileages, and is a good long-term prospect new or used. The CL-Class may be a lot of money, but it is a lot of car. Better value used, of course, but the range does hold its value relatively well and is as good a long-term investment as you'll find in this class. Bentley coupes and the like do have more of a rarity value, however.
