What Is It?
2005 Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class
What's Special About It?
This four-door "coupe" (Mercedes' words, not ours) is an attempt to shake up the traditionally staid world of high-end luxury sedans. It borrows the best aspects of Mercedes' E- and S-Class sedans and combines them with the sleek lines and performance pedigrees of the CL and CLK coupes. The result is a low-slung four-door that promises pulse-quickening performance without sacrificing any of the luxury you would expect in a car of its stature.
Two models will be offered: a V6-powered CLS350 and V8-powered CLS500. Both use Mercedes' new seven-speed automatic transmission that provides the best of both worlds when it comes to performance and efficiency. With 272 horsepower on tap, the CLS350 makes its way to 60 miles an hour in just seven seconds according to Mercedes-Benz. With 34 extra hp courtesy of its 5.0-liter V8, the CLS500 is expected to accomplish the same feat in just six seconds. Compared to the CLS350, the top-of-the-line V8 model also gets a standard air suspension and 18-inch wheels.
Look inside and the overall design is familiar, but subtle touches like additional wood trim and individual bucket seats in the second row set the CLS apart from its siblings. All of Mercedes' latest technology is packed inside, including voice-activated navigation, adaptive cruise control and a keyless ignition. Buyers who like a more personalized look will appreciate the fact that the CLS offers four different interior colors and three shades of leather upholstery.
What's Edmunds Take?
About the only thing we can say for sure about the CLS is that it's no coupe. That said, it is a striking sedan that will no doubt attract the attention of luxury buyers looking for something a little different than the same old land yachts that currently populate the segment. Its chances of long-term survival seem about fifty-fifty at best, but we'll give Mercedes props for taking a chance on something different. — Ed Hellwig
2005 Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class
What's Special About It?
This four-door "coupe" (Mercedes' words, not ours) is an attempt to shake up the traditionally staid world of high-end luxury sedans. It borrows the best aspects of Mercedes' E- and S-Class sedans and combines them with the sleek lines and performance pedigrees of the CL and CLK coupes. The result is a low-slung four-door that promises pulse-quickening performance without sacrificing any of the luxury you would expect in a car of its stature.
Two models will be offered: a V6-powered CLS350 and V8-powered CLS500. Both use Mercedes' new seven-speed automatic transmission that provides the best of both worlds when it comes to performance and efficiency. With 272 horsepower on tap, the CLS350 makes its way to 60 miles an hour in just seven seconds according to Mercedes-Benz. With 34 extra hp courtesy of its 5.0-liter V8, the CLS500 is expected to accomplish the same feat in just six seconds. Compared to the CLS350, the top-of-the-line V8 model also gets a standard air suspension and 18-inch wheels.
Look inside and the overall design is familiar, but subtle touches like additional wood trim and individual bucket seats in the second row set the CLS apart from its siblings. All of Mercedes' latest technology is packed inside, including voice-activated navigation, adaptive cruise control and a keyless ignition. Buyers who like a more personalized look will appreciate the fact that the CLS offers four different interior colors and three shades of leather upholstery.
What's Edmunds Take?
About the only thing we can say for sure about the CLS is that it's no coupe. That said, it is a striking sedan that will no doubt attract the attention of luxury buyers looking for something a little different than the same old land yachts that currently populate the segment. Its chances of long-term survival seem about fifty-fifty at best, but we'll give Mercedes props for taking a chance on something different. — Ed Hellwig
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