The Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class is given a sleeker profile than your average luxury sedan. For this reason, the company actually calls it a coupe, even though it’s basically just a dressed-up E-Class sedan. Its V8 engines is given an infusion of power, and it gains safety and luxury amenities for 2007. Like most midsize sedans it seats only four passengers, instead of five.
The base model’s name has been changed from CLS500 to CLS550, thanks to a new 382-hp 5.5-liter V8 it shares with the more mundane E-Class. It’s 25 percent more powerful than the engine it replaces and enables the car to hit 60 mph in well under six seconds. Unfortunately, premium fuel is required.
A sophisticated seven-speed automatic transmission is standard and includes manual gear-selection capability, though most will likely leave it in “drive” and be done with it. The EPA rates the CLS550’s fuel economy at an estimated 15 mpg city/22 mpg highway, which subjects it to the federal gas-guzzler tax.
At the top of the line is the CLS63 AMG, formerly called the CLS55 AMG, which is likewise renamed to reflect its larger 6.3-liter V8 engine. It remains one of the fastest cars on the road, now with 507 horses under the hood. It’s capable of zero-to-60-mph acceleration times of slightly more than four seconds, but you’ll pay dearly to be able to go that fast it costs about $25,000 more than the CLS500.
The CLS63 AMG comes with performance tires, assorted cosmetic add-ons (which are also offered on the base version as part of the AMG Sport Package) and an adjustable air suspension with soft and sporty settings. This model is rated at 13 mpg city/20 mpg highway, which means buyers have to dig into their wallets to pay the gas-guzzler tax and keep it running on premium fuel.
Noteworthy options include heated and ventilated multicontour seats, a power trunk closer, adaptive cruise control that can maintain a set speed and space from vehicles ahead as well as an interface that links Apple’s iPod MP3 player to the car’s audio system.
You must be aware that many Mercedes models are consistently rated as having “much worse than average” reliability by Consumer Reports. Although reliability for the recently launched CLS-Class isn’t yet available, the E-Class sedan with which it shares many components has an abysmal track record for reliability.
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