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2009 Mercedes-Benz CLS550 Road Test Review

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2009 Mercedes-Benz CLS550 Image 1
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Most observers of the automotive scene credit the Mercedes-Benz CLS with being the first in a new generation of “four-door coupes” - sedans with four doors, but boasting a low, coupe-like roofline and sleek profile.

The argument as to whether any coupe can have four doors could go on forever, but the fact is the concept works very well. It works so well in the case of the CLS that it’s widely regarded as one of the best looking cars in the world, regardless of configuration.

Like so many automotive terms (phaeton, spider, cabriolet, limousine etc.), the word “coupe” has its origins in the field of horse-drawn carriages. Before the existence of motor vehicles, a coupe was a closed carriage for two people with the driver sitting outside in the rain. But those days are long gone and the CLS is about as removed from such ancient transportation concepts as could possibly be imagined.

The CLS sits almost at the top of the Mercedes-Benz four-door model range, just behind the roomy S-Class sedan and ahead of the E-Class series. The bodywork is truly beautiful and even after seeing them around for a couple of years they still turn my head every time one passes by. Mercedes’ efforts to create a four-door saloon that really DID look like a coupe worked wonderfully, the only penalty being that rear headroom doesn’t match that of conventional large sedans.  Of course, Mercedes-Benz will happily sell you an S-Class if you need to carry three adults in the back on a regular basis. Let’s just call the CLS a rather large 2+2.

The 2009 CLS is the second generation of this model, originally launched in 2004, although some automotive analysts might call it a “mid-cycle refresh.” In fact, there are quite a few upgrades and enhancements for the new model as we’ll see, though thankfully, the svelte basic lines remain.

The grille has been restyled, as has the air intake below the front bumper. This emphasizes the car’s width and gives it something of ground-hugging stance when viewed from the front. Other changes include the exterior mirrors, lighting and rear bumper apron - modest upgrades that nonetheless set this car apart from its predecessor as far as looks go. The taillights now use LEDs and the rear indicators look like arrows when they light up. The exterior styling updates are completed with some new cast alloy wheel choices.

In Canada, there are two engines available, including a 5.5-liter V8 for the CLS550 with 382-horsepower and a modified 6.2-liter V8 with 518-horsepower for the CLS63 AMG, the high-performance variant of the car. The AMG will take you to 60 mph in a scant 4.4 seconds and all the way to an electronically-limited 155 mph. Without the limiter, 185 mph would be no problem at all with the AMG. In Europe, there are V6 gasoline and V6 diesel versions of the CLS available, but there’s no sign they’ll ever make it here.

Most of my testing was carried out with the CLS550, which provides amazing flexibility and out-and-out performance. At autobahn speeds, the car feels supremely stable and safe and wind noise is surprisingly low - possibly due to its sleek profile. These cars have the usual roster of electronic stability aids and the brakes are just amazing. So effective is the Brake Assist system, the driver’s worry in an emergency would mainly center around how close the car behind is. When you put the anchors on with a CLS, you stop quicker than you can possibly believe. The computer senses an emergency and does the job for you, and does it outstandingly well. The CLS550 might get you to 60 mph in just 5.3 seconds, but it’ll bring you right back down again with comparable poise.

As with other Mercedes-Benz high-end cars, the CLS can be specified with a variety of interior treatments - all wonderful, but some more appealing than others. At the international media launch, I managed to snare a CLS in my favorite combination of interior trim tones - light beige leather and pale-colored chestnut wood accenting. For some reason or other, trim shades like this always make a car look even more opulent than it actually is. Of course, each to their tastes and beauty is, as ever, in the eye of the beholder, but I always find the alternative black leather and dark wood combinations dreary. Whichever trim option you choose, it will be executed in industry-benchmark style by Mercedes-Benz with flawless quality.

In common with so many upscale cars, the navigation/heating and air conditioning/entertainment controls in the CLS are a little on the complex side, though driver familiarity should take care of most systems fairly quickly. On the plus side, cabin stowage is excellent and there are bins and pockets seemingly everywhere. Incidentally, very few cars have quite the array of safety systems featured on Mercedes products like the CLS. Perhaps the best safety feature of all, though, is the CLS’ dynamic qualities for handling, steering and braking.

This is a car that would be very easy to buy on looks alone, but there’s a lot more under the skin. The CLS offers all the technology that can possibly be packed in and goes and handles like a sports car, but for eye appeal, it would be a daily delight even to an architect or industrial designer who owned one. It’s just that good looking.

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