2022 Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class

The 2022 Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class is the latest version of the 3rd-generation CLS first unveiled in the USA at the 2018 Detroit Auto Show. Mercedes classifies it as a coupe, but it's a four-door E-Class in a svelte coupe-style body with frameless doors, similar to other midsize four-door coupes such as the BMW 8 Series Gran Coupe and Audi A7. This Mercedes CLS-Class review covers the CLS 450 and CLS 450 4Matic Coupe all-wheel-drive model, with the AMG variant covered in a more performance-focused format. These two share a punchy and refined turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-6 gas engine with EQ Boost, developing 362 horsepower and 369 lb-ft of torque. Is the panache of the Mercedes badge and the CLS's film-star appearance sufficient to forgive its small trunk, tight rear seat, and unresolved chassis tuning? It's not perfect, but it does present a compelling package in a class ruled by style.

The Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class sedan model looks completely different from the E-class on which it's based. The swoopy styling, frameless door glass, and coupe roofline set it apart from its more demure (and roomy) sibling. The standard AMG twin five-spoke alloy wheels come courtesy of the standard AMG Line package this year and measure 19 inches. They can be upgraded to four different extra-cost 19-inch designs or three 20s. Some of the wheels require the AMG Night Package to be selected. A powered sliding/tilting sunroof is standard, as well as a programmable illuminated entry system, all-around LED lighting, and dual exhaust tips. The bumpers and grille have been restyled for 2022 as well, with more aggressive air intakes and a slimmer horizontal bar in the grille.

The CLS sits on the same chassis and 115.7-inch wheelbase as the E-Class, but is 2.1 inches longer at 196.4 inches long, and stands 73.8 inches wide without the mirrors and 56.3 inches high. In terms of exterior dimensions, it is virtually identical in size to the Audi A7, give or take an inch, but smaller than the BMW 8 Series Gran Coupe. The CLS 450 4Matic weighs in at 4,255 lbs. Comparing the latter to its all-wheel-drive competitors, the BMW is heavier at 4,381 lbs and the same goes for the 4,332-pound Audi.

The standard, no-cost, non-metallic paint colors available to buyers in the US are Black and Polar White. Metallics add $720 and comprise Obsidian Black, Graphite Grey, Mojave Silver, Cirrus Silver, and Selenite Grey. Last year's Lunar Blue has been replaced with Starling Blue. Three Manufaktur metallic hues are offered: Cardinal Red, Diamond White (both $1,750), and the matte-finish Selenite Grey Magno ($3,250). There is an additional palette of five Manufaktur colors costing $6,500 each: Arabian Grey, Midnight Blue, Teide Light Grey, Graphite, and Cote d'Azur Light Blue. Cashmere White Magno and Deep Green are dropped for the 2022 model year. We wouldn't splurge on the expensive paint finishes, but we think Cardinal Red is worth paying for and suits the extroverted styling of the CLS perfectly.

The CLS is offered as standard with a 3.0L inline-six gas engine developing 362 horsepower. The power is transmitted to the road via the Mercedes 9G-Tronic automatic transmission, allowing the CLS 450 4Matic Coupe to complete the 0-60 mph sprint in 4.8 seconds. The top speed is limited to 130 mph. Unlike the E-Class, there isn't a slower, four-cylinder '350' model available on the CLS.

Despite offering 'only' 335 hp, the lighter 840i and 840i xDrive from BMW beat the CLS 450's accelerative efforts with figures of 4.9 and 4.6 seconds, respectively. The A7 Quattro matches the BMW's 335 hp and trails the field with its 5.2-second figure.

The CLS 450 Coupe uses the turbocharged M256 inline-six that replaced the M276 V6 of yesteryear. It's powerful and refined and develops 362 hp and 369 lb-ft, the latter available from only 1,600 rpm. With the EQ Boost system, any trace of turbo lag is eliminated and engine response is velvety smooth, yet forceful and instantaneous. It gels perfectly with the nine-speed torque-converter automatic transmission, which shuffles through the gears unobtrusively. EQ Boost can add 21 hp and 184 lb-ft of torque, but only for short periods.

The 4Matic system adds immeasurably to the CLS's surefootedness on wet or slippery roads and is ideal if you live in an area that experiences snow in winter. Sprinting performance is superior thanks to the added traction and there is no scrabbling for grip.

The CLS might look like a sports car, but it is a weighty sedan in the E-Class vein and doesn't handle much differently. The CLS 450 is not the last word in agility and doesn't match the sporty feel of the 8 Series Gran Coupe. That said, few owners are likely to extend their mid-range CLS in such a way. For most purposes, the CLS 450 Coupe is more than adequate, and has a smoother ride than the sometimes jittery AMG CLS 53 used to offer. Think of it as an E-Class in a tuxedo, not a track machine.

Still, transmission, engine, and stability-control response can be tweaked via the standard Dynamic Select, which offers five driving modes: Eco, Comfort, Sport, Sport+, and Individual, the latter being customizable with the driver's preferred combination of settings. It's not quite AMG Drive Control but nevertheless gives the driver more options to tune their driving experience. The ride is serene most of the time and bump absorption is good on 19-inch wheels, but noise levels can be a trifle high, especially on coarse-chip roads.

Efficiency is a highlight of the new inline-six and EQ Boost system and the CLS's EPA fuel economy estimates are 22 mpg in the city, 30 mpg on the highway, and 25 mpg combined. It matches the RWD 8 Series Gran Coupe in gas mileage, which returns 22/29/25 mpg in 840i guise, and beats the AWD 8 Series, which returns 20/27/23 mpg in 840i xDrive form. The CLS's 21.1-gallon tank offers a range of about 527 miles on average.

The CLS's interior is a great place to spend time. The design is futuristic and elegant at the same time, with premium materials and plush surfaces abounding. The four round, aircraft-style center vents add a striking touch to the interior and the latest rendition of Mercedes' MBUX infotainment system means the interior is bang up to date with the best models on the market in all respects. The seats are extremely comfortable and there is lots of space up front. The back is where the compromises happen, with the CLS offering noticeably less space than the smaller E-Class on which it is based, as well as its rivals. The sculpted rear seat is extremely comfortable for two people of smaller proportions, though.

The previous-generation CLS was a strict four-seater, but the current car has a rear seat molded for three passengers, although the center passenger will be cramped in all directions. Even used as a four-seater, rear-seat space lags behind its rivals and people of above-average height will quickly run out of headroom. No such worries for shorter people, who will be very comfortable. The rear door openings are not overly big, nor is the rear seat as spacious as an E-Class, but most average-sized people will fit just fine, ensconced in the luxurious rear quarters. Up front, there are no such qualms, with plenty of space in all directions.

Leather upholstery is standard and available in four no-cost color combinations: Black, Sienna Brown/Black (replacing Marsala Brown/Espresso Brown this year), Macchiato Beige/Magma Grey, and Neva Grey/Magma (replacing Magma Grey/Espresso Brown). For $1,370 extra, any one of these color combinations can also be had in Nappa leather instead, plus one additional combination - Magma Grey/Macchiato Beige. The Manufaktur Nappa leather combinations cost $4,900 and there are six: Macchiato Beige/Titian Red, Titian Red/Macchiato Beige, Totufo Brown/Black (replacing Armagnac Brown/Black this year), Deep White/Black, Yacht Blue/Black, and Classic Red/Black. Black/Titanium Grey Pearl has been discontinued. Five standard, no-cost wood trims are offered, namely Light Brown Sen, Natural Grain Grey Ash, Natural Grain Black Ash, Grey Wood, and Natural Grain Walnut - the last two both new finishes. Brown Ash and Natural Grain Light Brown Elm are no longer available. The Manufaktur Black Piano Lacquer 'Flowing Lines' wood costs $1,300. The dashtop and upper door trims are covered in stitched MB-Tex and the steering wheel is leather-covered.

This is the CLS's greatest downfall compared to its rivals, assuming that it bothers you much. Buyers of coupe-style sedans accept a measure of compromise on this score. However, an 11.9-cubic-feet trunk is even smaller than that of the outgoing C-Class, which was rather poor, even in the compact class. It is also less than half the size of the Audi A7's spacious 24.9 cu-ft figure. At least the 40/20/40-split rear seats can be folded flat if you are willing to sacrifice passengers for cargo space. Adequate oddment space inside is provided in the center console, cubby, and door pockets, along with the usual cupholders.

Standard luxury features in all 2022 CLS models include powered and heated front seats with memory, dual-zone climate control, 64-color ambient lighting, 40/20/40-split rear seats, leather seat upholstery, hands-free access and keyless go, a HomeLink garage door remote, and an electric trunk opener/closer. Dynamic Select is standard with five driving modes, of which one can be customized. Standard safety features include Car-to-X communication, Mercedes Pre-Safe, Active Brake Assist, seven airbags, adaptive braking, a backup camera, blind-spot and cross-wind assist, rain-sensing wipers, automatic high beams, tire-pressure monitoring, and one-touch emergency calling features. Various luxury and safety packages are offered at extra cost.

The feature-rich MBUX multimedia and infotainment system is comprehensive, if a bit intimidating at first. The 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster is complemented by a 12.3-inch touchscreen interface. MBUX brings features such as 'Hey, Mercedes' voice activation and voice control, a touchpad controller, standard navigation (with free map updates for three years), Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, multiple USB-C ports, Bluetooth audio streaming, a FrontBass sound system, and steering-wheel-mounted Touch Control Buttons. Features such as in-car Wi-Fi, a head-up display, a Burmester Surround Sound System with up to 13 speakers, and wireless phone charging are available at extra cost.

In common with many other Mercedes models, there have been recalls on 2020 and 2021 CLSs for the eCall system transmitting an inaccurate location to emergency responders or failing completely, preventing passengers from contacting emergency services. The 2021 model was also recalled for loose side-impact crash sensors, an inoperative backup-camera display, and a faulty seat-position switch. The 2022 model has been recalled once so far - for a malfunctioning seat-belt locking retractor. J.D. Power has not rated any CLS in recent years, but the E-Class's rating should give a good indication, seeing that the two share their underpinnings. The 2021 E-Class is rated a middling 78 out of 100 overall by J.D. Power, with a 78 for quality and reliability, too. For comparison's sake, the last time the BMW 8 Series was rated in 2020, it scored 81 overall. The standard warranty on the CLS is for four years or 50,000 miles. Extensions can be bought at extra cost for up to 100,000 miles.

The IIHS has not reviewed a Mercedes CLS, but in the last review of the E-Class sedan, on which the CLS is based, it performed brilliantly. In all six 'Crashworthiness' categories, the E-class scored 'Good' - the highest rating - and bagged a 2021 Top Safety Pick+ award. The CLS is also not rated by the NHTSA, but both the 2022 E-Class RWD and 4Matic received the maximum five-star rating.

Standard safety equipment on the 2022 CLS includes a backup camera, electronic stability control, attention assist, crosswind assist, Mercedes' Pre-Safe system, blind-spot assist, seven airbags, adaptive braking with Active Brake Assist, rain-sensing wipers, automatic high beams, Car-to-X communication, and SmartKey with keyless go. Adding the optional Driver Assistance Package for $1,950 adds, among others, radar cruise control, both active and evasive steering assist, active emergency stop, active speed-limit assist, active blind-spot assist, active lane-keeping assist, and active lane-change assist. The CLS can also be had with an extended restart feature for stop-and-go traffic, route-based speed control, and the full Pre-Safe suite.

The Mercedes CLS's strikingly elegant coupe styling devoid of strakes and creases may just be enough to sway you to ignore its flaws. As things stand, those flaws are mainly a lack of space, some road noise on certain surfaces, and not being as sporty as a BMW. Seeing as it's a comfortable four-door, that last complaint might mean little to you, because comfort and style are more important in this class than go-kart handling. This brings us to the potential deal-breaker. Comfort for a maximum of two average or smaller people is fine in the rear, but for touring four-up with luggage, the paltry trunk is a big drawback, especially seeing that an Audi A7 has vastly more space in the trunk and costs less.

It's a shame, because the CLS 450 4Matic has a potent, refined, and efficient drivetrain that beats rivals in terms of mileage. The model has properly up-to-date interior tech, too, although too many of the features that should be standard at this price are listed as expensive extras or bundled in optional packages. For four people traveling light and in style, the CLS is a vehicle with as much or more style and substance as anything in this class. Just take a long look at the trunk before you buy.

The base CLS-Class price of the CLS 450 4Matic is $72,950. This excludes the $1,050 destination charge and any other fees, taxes, or charges that might be added to the price. Carefully tick the boxes for those extras and packages because you will easily pass $80,000.

With the discontinuation of the rear-wheel-drive model and the AMG CLS 53, there is a single CLS trim left for the 2022 model year - the CLS 450 4Matic. It makes use of a 3.0-liter turbocharged inline-six gas engine with mild-hybrid assistance to produce 362 hp and 369 lb-ft of torque, transmitting the power to a 4Matic all-wheel-drive system via a nine-speed automatic transmission.

The CLS 450 4Matic has restyled front and rear fascias this year and comes standard with the AMG Line package with 19-inch AMG twin five-spoke alloy wheels, AMG body styling, LED headlights and tail lights, and electric trunk opener/close, and a power tilting/sliding sunroof. Standard features on the inside include leather upholstery, 14-way electrically adjustable and heated front seats, 40/20/40-split rear seats, dual-zone climate control, hands-free access and go, 64-color ambient lighting, Dynamic Select with five driving modes, and a HomeLink remote. Safety features include seven airbags, Mercedes Pre-Safe, adaptive braking, a backup camera, crosswind assist, blind-spot assist, automatic high beams, rain-sensing wipers, brake assist, and tire-pressure monitoring. The MBUX infotainment system has twin 12.3-inch screens - one a digital driver-information display and the other the infotainment touchscreen. The system includes a FrontBass audio system, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Bluetooth streaming, voice commands, and multiple USB ports, but a 13-speaker Burmester audio system and wireless charging cost extra.

As with basically all German cars, the optional extras and packages can cost you dearly, so you must choose carefully and not be blinded by features that add little value. We would skip the cosmetic Night Package. The LED Intelligent Light System with curve illumination is far more valuable as a safety feature for $750. Packages we think are worth a look include the Premium Package ($2,300) that adds a 13-speaker Burmester sound system, a surround-view camera system, rear cross-traffic alert, PDC and park assist, and a six-month all-access SiriusXM trial. For $1,950, the Driver Assistance Package is a must-have and contains a slew of driver-assistance features, such as the full Pre-Safe suite, adaptive cruise control, Congestion Emergency Braking, and route-based speed adaptation, as well as speed-limit, blind spot, lane keeping, lane change, and emergency-stop assist.

There is only one trim to choose from this year, so the CLS 450 4Matic is you only choice. It matters little, because in practice, the extra grip afforded by the 4Matic AWD will come in handy in winter and as for fuel consumption, it remains surprisingly good regardless. In terms of extra packages, we would take the LED Intelligent Light System, Premium Package, and Driver Assistance Package for an all-in price of $80,300, including the destination charge of $1,050.

Is the Mercedes CLS worth $10,000 more than the E-Class on which it is based? The short answer is no. An E-Class with the same drivetrain as the CLS is significantly roomier inside and has a 10% larger trunk. In terms of performance, there's no difference. Poor trunk space seems to be a side effect of modern Mercedes cars' shapely rear ends, so the E-Class' paltry 13.1-cu-ft effort should not be enough to sway buyers away from the far more beautiful and elegant CLS. However, the superior rear-seat space might, as well as the not-insignificant matter of the $10,000 price difference. You buy the CLS with your heart and the E-Class with your head.

The 8 Series Gran Coupe is a more upmarket product than the CLS, but you wouldn't believe it looking at the interior, where the latest MBUX-equipped CLS holds its own. However, you will notice it in the plushness of the finishes, the creak-resistant trim, and the denser, more solid plastics. The BMW is also a bigger car with more space inside and a larger trunk - by almost a third. It certainly solves the four-up touring problem. And it's simply amazing at applying its motive force - despite being less powerful, it outsprints the Mercedes. The thing is, despite the size and finish, is the 8 Series Gran Coupe worth $15,000 more than the equivalent CLS? Probably not. Unless you are besotted with the styling or you absolutely need pin-sharp BMW handling or bigger trunk, the CLS offers better value.

The Audi A7 in Premium 55 TFSI guise competes with the CLS 450 4Matic and costs just $1,400 more. It's slower than the Mercedes, heavier on fuel, and arguably not as elegant, although the Audi has its own loyal band of followers who dislike the CLS's 'jello mold' styling. The A7's trump card is, of course, practicality; it's not only bigger inside than the Mercedes, but its trunk is double the size. Furthermore, it has a hatchback tailgate for loading large items more easily. In addition, it has standard features the Mercedes doesn't have, such as adaptive cruise control, rear side airbags, three-zone climate control, and a 16-speaker B&O premium audio system. There is simply no contest that the A7 is best for moving people and their luggage in style. If you want your large coupe-style four-door with five doors and tons of practicality, the high-value Audi is in a class of its own.