Mercedes CLS: How this 4dr coupé brings its own touch of class

Published on 23 April, 2022

Overview

I don’t know if you’ve noticed, or if you remotely care, but there seems to be a car award category for nearly everything these days. I’m waiting for one that bestows honour on a car that’s best for helping you walk the dogs.

But I do think that, if someone set up a category for elegant mid-size cars, the Mercedes CLS 4dr Coupé would be a front runner.

It broke new ground when launched all those years ago and while it has changed in many ways, it remains one of the most recognisable mid-size luxury 4dr coupés around (there aren’t too many of them).

The CLS is a big, low-slung affair that clings determinedly, and symbolically, to an era where refinement of look and performance blended smoothly. There is less of that around these days of big, bold design imbued with ‘muscular’ looks and SUV leanings.

Front grilles have come in for particular attention, often outrageously in-your-face and leaving you in no doubt about the cars’ identity.

The svelte CLS, meanwhile, doesn’t go to any extremes to proclaim its genealogy but because the brand now has such a quickly identifiable set of grilles there is no fear of it being recognised as anything other than a Merc.

The latest model has got the modernising treatment that comes around more quickly for all brands with each passing year. The cabin has been enhanced, there’s a huge digital display, more technology, comfort and assistance.

However, a couple of drawbacks have not been physically erased – and they cannot be without changing the entire character of the car. I mean the mere shape of the vehicle, a 4dr coupé, necessitates a low roofline and that, in turn, imposes the need to stoop hard and low to get in or out. Well, it did for me. It’s all right for young, flexible bodies but it places demands on those of us on whom nature has bestowed older, less pliable frames.

Two adults had plenty of room at the rear (even though they were tall they had only a minor issue with headroom on entry and exit) while out front there was loads of head, leg and elbow room.

Also because of the sloping nature of the rear roof in particular, visibility out the back window is only moderate. It isn’t a major issue but worth noting.

Call it a sacrifice for the sake of ­elegant design.

As soon as you navigate the physical side of getting in, everything changes. Behind the wheel you scan the road ahead from the end of what feels like a long bonnet. A lovely cabin is at your command, as is the MBUX multi-­media system.

Under that bonnet on the test car lay a 2-litre diesel, another reminder of what once was so popular a power source. With a 9spd automatic transmission, it was the ideal companion for a longer-than-expected trip to the south east. Now, maybe I am spoilt but the engine didn’t come across as the smoothest I’ve driven in a Mercedes.

For such a classy motor it jarred a ­little on startup though, as is so often the case with diesels, it quickly settled to a quiet rhythm.

The engine develops 194hp and with a decent load of passengers on board a few times over the course of the drives, it was never anything more than copious in its delivery of power.

More significantly, however, and the second reason it might make the front-running in an Elegance Award category, would be its charitable ­treatment of diesel.

I covered nearly 850kms in this and still had one-third of a tank left. I’m talking a good mix of driving here; 350km or thereabouts around Dublin city, usually with three or four on board.

The remainder comprised long hauls with three on board and a decent array of luggage.

It’s a phenomenal return because I wasn’t just tickling along. I calculated it at 4.5-litres consumed every 100kms. That’s 60mpg. The fuel-tank capacity on the specific CLS model I tested was 66 litres.

That is an optional ‘increased capacity’ tank; the regular one is 50 litres. The reserve tank on both versions is seven litres. Anyway, a rough calculation showed the test car with that engine and tank would easily cover 1,200kms.

That’s a big number and gladdens the heart at times like now when every drop of diesel is as cherished as it is costly.

We enjoyed our drives; well, I was impatient with the sat nav system which, even in expert hands, had ideas of its own.

It’s well past time to be complaining about such matters. But it still wouldn’t stop me steering the car towards an award for elegance.

FACTFILE

Mercedes CLS 220d Coupé, diesel, AMG Line, 1,950cc, 194hp, 5.5 - 6.3 litres/100 km; tax €270, 9G-TRONIC automatic. Assists include active lane keeping, highbeam, blindspot, 19ins alloys; AMG bodystyling, braking (larger discs on front axle), interior, lower suspension; Digital radio, MBUX multimedia extended functions, steering-wheel gearshift paddles, parking package with 360-degree camera, pre-installation for car sharing, widescreen cockpit (2 x 12.3ins digital colour HD displays, wireless charging for mobiles.