2020 Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class

Starting at a price of $69,200, the CLS is powered by 3.0L inline-6 mated to a 9-speed automatic transmission that drives by the rear wheels of the coupe. In conjunction to the powertrain, it has an EQ Boost hybrid motor that produces a further 21 horses and combine that with the 184 horsepower of the combustion engine, the total output by the engine gets to 362 horsepower and 369 pound feet of torque. The CLS comes standard with impressive features like Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, and 12.3 COMAND infotainment system that works with a touchpad controller.

Amongst its competitors, the coupe sees the likes of the Mercedes Benz E-Class, and its German counterpart, the Audi A7. Where does the CLS stand? Read on the review to find out.

Trims and Variants

Offered in a single trim, the 2020 Mercedes Benz CLS 450 starts at $69,200 and comes with a 3.0L 6-cylinder engine in an inline-layout that works with an EQ boost, a hybrid system that adds 21 horses and 189 pulling forces further and the output of the powertrain totals to 362 hp and 369 lb.-ft. of torque. Mated to a 9-speed automatic transmission, the CLS is propelled by the rear wheels and brings about a host of advanced tech and safety equipments alongside an opulent interior setting with top quality materials.

Trim	2020 Mercedes Benz CLS 450
MSRP	$69,200
Key Features	LED Daytime Running Lamps
	LED headlamps and taillamps
	12.3 COMAND system with touchpad controller
	19-inch twin-multispoke wheels
	Android Auto and Apple CarPlay
	Leather-trimmed steering wheel
	ECO Start/Stop system
	DYNAMIC SELECT
	Dual-zone automatic climate control

We Recommend

There is only a single variant offered by Mercedes for its CLS 450 and we recommend getting the Driver Assistance Package that offers features like adaptive cruise control, front and rear automatic braking and collision mitigation amongst its bundle. If you want a more powerful CLS, invest in the $79,900 AMG CLS 53 that comes with an extensive list of opulent features and a burly powertrain underneath its hood.

It's not just a pretty face. The 2020 Mercedes CLS-Class is a responsive and comfortable cruiser -thecarconnection

Engine and Transmission

Propelling this marvelous looking coupe is a 3.0L inline-6 cylinder engine, replacing the V6 that roared down the 2017 CLS down the road. Mated to a 9-speed automatic transmission that churns out 362 horses and 369 pulling forces, the powertrain fires in conjunction with a mild hybrid motor that Mercedes calls EQ Boost that gives out extra 21 hp and 184 lb.-ft. of torque.

With seamless, effortless and smooth gearshifts, the engine supplements the transmission by being similarly linear and powerful enough for the coupe. Rev up or down, the throttle obeys to your command, allowing commuting to your nearest grocery store, or cruising on the highway, an experience you would love to take.

Coming to the list of rivalry in its competition, the mix of the 450 coupe amidst the rest of the sedans shows a blend of similar powerful cars within a difference of $50,000. The most powerful is the Maserati Quattroporte, which also is the most expensive sedan in the field, followed by the Jaguar and the duo of the CLS and Mercedes E Class.

Models	Mercedes CLS 450 coupe	BMW 640i xDrive Gran Coupe	Audi A7 3.0 TFSI Prestige Quattro sedan	Jaguar XF S sedan	Mercedes Benz E 450 Sport 4matic sedan	Porsche Panamera sedan	Maserati Quattroporte S sedan
MSRP	$69,200	$71,295	$77,295	$68,620	$60,945	$86,300	$107,680
Engine	3.0L i6 Intercooled Turbo Gas/Electric	3.0L i6 Intercooled Turbo Premium Unleaded	3.0L V6 Intercooled Turbo Gas/Electric	3.0L V6 Intercooled Supercharger Premium Unleaded	3.0L V6 Twin Turbo Premium Unleaded	3.0L V6 Twin Turbo Premium Unleaded	3.0L V6 Twin Turbo Premium Unleaded
Transmission	9 Speed Automatic	8 Speed Automatic	7 Speed manual	8 Speed automatic	9 Speed automatic	8 Speed automatic	8 Speed automatic
Horsepower	362 hp@ 5500rpm	315 hp@ 5500pm	335 hp@ 5000rpm	380 hp@ 6500rpm	362 hp@ 5500rpm	330 hp@ 5400rpm	424 hp@ 5750rpm
Torque	369 ft-lbs@ 1600rpm	330 ft-lbs@ 1380rpm	369 ft-lbs@ 1370rpm	332 ft-lbs@ 4500rpm	369 ft-lbs@ 1800rpm	331 ft-lbs	406 ft-lbs@ 1750rpm

Acceleration

The engine under the CLS 450 transmits all that power from 0-60 mph within 5.1s while completing the quarter mile in 13.6s. How about the rest of the field? With the rest of the mix powering their wheels with similar output, the rivalry take similar times in their respective tests. All the V6s propel their cars with a decent time in accordance to their powertrain.

Models	Mercedes CLS 450 coupe	BMW 640i xDriveGran Coupe	Audi A7 3.0 TFSI Prestige Quattro sedan	Jaguar XF S sedan	Mercedes Benz E 450 Sport 4matic sedan	Porsche Panamera sedan	Maserati Quattroporte S sedan
0-60 MPH	5.1 sec	5.1 sec	5.2 sec	5.2 sec	5.1 sec	5.4 sec	5.0 sec
Quarter mile	13.6 sec	13.4 sec	13.3 sec	13.6 sec	N/A	N/A	N/A
Engine	3.0L i6 Intercooled Turbo Gas/Electric	3.0L i6 Intercooled Turbo Premium Unleaded	3.0L V6 Intercooled Turbo Gas/Electric	3.0L V6 Intercooled Supercharger Premium Unleaded	3.0L V6 Twin Turbo Premium Unleaded	3.0L V6 Twin Turbo Premium Unleaded	3.0L V6 Twin Turbo Premium Unleaded
Emission (Tons/yr of CO2 Emissions @ 15K mi/year)	8.4	7.7	7.1	7.6	N/A	N/A	9.8

Handling and Braking

A comfortable ride with a stellar smoothness, the CLS 450 is anything but athletic. With a meaty powertrain, that does not translate to a performance handler on track. With the capacity to make a great cruising coupe, the Silver Arrow gets its corners right and rarely gives any hiccups with its handling performance. The dampers easily tackle the ride's discomfort when taken over bumps or undulated tarmac.

Coming to its braking performance, the 14.2 rotors in the front and back stop the over-4000 lbs. coupe from 60 0 mph in 117 feet that for a heavy coupe is quite decent. The pedals have a feel-good factor and sensitive. Its competition take similarly decent timings, where the BMW 6 series Gran Coupe leads the pack at a quicker 106 feet from 60 0 mph.

Model	Mercedes CLS 450 coupe	BMW 640i xDrive Gran Coupe	Audi A7 3.0 TFSI Prestige Quattro sedan	Jaguar XF S sedan	Mercedes Benz E 450 Sport 4matic sedan	Porsche Panamera sedan	Maserati Quattroporte S sedan
Brake Front (in.)	14.2	13.7	13.3	13.8	14.2	N/A	14.2
Brake Rear (in.)	14.2	13.6	13	12.8	12.6	N/A	13.8
Curb Weight (lbs.)	4134	4464	4332	3870	4134	4001	4101
70-0 MPH (ft.)	117 (60-0)	106 (60-0)	163	181	N/A	N/A	N/A

The powertrain underneath the CLS 450 is anything but frugal; it delivers 18 mpg in the city, 26 mpg on the highway, and a combined 21 mpg. Its competition have better numbers with similar powertrain except of the Maserati which is the worst of the lot.

Model	Mercedes CLS 450 coupe	BMW 640i xDrive Gran Coupe	Audi A7 3.0 TFSI Prestige Quattro sedan	Jaguar XF S sedan	Mercedes Benz E 450 Sport 4matic sedan	Porsche Panamera sedan	Maserati Quattroporte S sedan
MPG (city)	18	20	22	20	20	N/A	16
MPG (highway)	26	28	29	28	28	N/A	23
MPG (combined)	21	23	25	23	23	29	18
Range (miles) (city/highway)	N/A	360/504	N/A	390/546	422/591	N/A	N/A
Tank Capacity (gal)	21.1	18.0	19.3	19.5	21.1	23.7	21.1

The car's interior feels like a significant update. Gone is the devotion to stodgy, conservative styling of eras past. The CLS adopts the interior treatment pioneered bythe 2017 E-Class, which embraced the latest technology. The new CLS's interior finally feels just as sexy and charismatic as the focused exterior."autoblog

Step inside the Mercedes Benz CLS 450 and notice the luxurious cruiser that it is, engulfed with opulence all around the cabin. With plush and high quality materials sculpted across the dash, the Mercedes coupe provides comfortable and lavish interior with leather upholstery seats and steering wheel.

While the front offers decent legroom and headspace, the sloping roofline in the back ceases such a luxury especially for tall passengers. The four-door Silver Arrow is advertised by the manufacturer as a coupe and manages to seat five passengers. However, any one sat in the middle row will inevitably feel the tight squeeze.

Interior Features

Some interior features aboard the Mercedes are as follows

• Power front seats with memory
• 3-passenger rear seat
• Dual-zone automatic climate control
• 3 years of Mercedes me connect services
• Mercedes me connect Assist Services
• Remote Start via Mercedes me Mobile App
• 64-color LED ambient lighting with illuminated vents
• Heated front seats
• 40/20/40-split folding rear seats

Model	Mercedes CLS 450 coupe	BMW 640i xDrive Gran Coupe	Audi A7 3.0 TFSI Prestige Quattro sedan	Jaguar XF S sedan	Mercedes Benz E 450 Sport 4matic sedan	Porsche Panamera sedan	Maserati Quattroporte S sedan
Passenger capacity	5	5	5	5	5	4	5
Front (Head/Shoulder/Leg) (In.)	36.9/57.8/41.9	39.4/60.0/41.1	37.0/57.2/41.3	37.5/56.9/41.5	41.4/57.8/41.4	N/A	N/A
Second (Head/Shoulder/Leg) (In.)	35.9/56.5/35	38.5/57.1/40.4	37.1/55.9/37.0	38.2/56.4/36.6	38.2/57.1/36.2	N/A	N/A

Infotainment System

The infotainment purposes of the Mercedes CLS 450 is carried out by a 12.3 COMAND system with a central display with the ability to connect with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. Its system is user friendly and intuitive. Disappointingly, the system does not incorporate a touch system and instead is controlled via the touchpad controller. Some of the features include

• 12.3 high resolution central display
• Analog gauges with high-resolution multifunction display
• COMAND system with touchpad controller
• Steering-wheel Touch Control Buttons
• COMAND navigation
• No-charge online navigation map updates for 3 years
• FrontBass system

Cargo Volume

The Mercedes CLS can hold merely 11.9 cubic feet of luggage capacity a mediocre result for a coupe this size. Although you get split-folding rear seats, the utility inside the CLS is the lowest of the class.

Model	Mercedes CLS 450 coupe	BMW 640i xDrive Gran Coupe	Audi A7 3.0 TFSI Prestige Quattro sedan	Jaguar XF S sedan	Mercedes Benz E 450 Sport 4matic sedan	Porsche Panamera sedan	Maserati Quattroporte S sedan
Cargo Volume (ft.3)	11.9	31.0	24.9	17.8	13.1	17.6	18.7

The 2020 CLS opts for fewer lines and flourishes, but still presents as sexy outside and beautiful inside. -thecarconnection

Design and Dimensions

A redesigned and reinvigorated Silver Arrow, the 2020 Mercedes Benz CLS 450 looks gorgeous. Period. Its long-hooded front fascia incorporates the large Mercedes chrome-accented insignia atop diamond-block grille with dual-slit front air intakes on either sides of the front bumper. The sleek ever-sloping roofline falling gracefully still charms with the new design while the side profile shows how abruptly the front get cut short, maintaining a long hood.

Driving on 19 wheels and clearing merely 3.7 from the ground, the arched roofline showcase how the rear passengers may have issues with the headroom, especially when considering the tall adults. A 196 long and handsome design abound, the rear houses attractive taillamps and two mono-exhaust pipes on either sides.

Model	Mercedes CLS 450 coupe	BMW 640i xDrive Gran Coupe	Audi A7 3.0 TFSI Prestige Quattro sedan	Jaguar XF S sedan	Mercedes Benz E 450 Sport 4matic sedan	Porsche Panamera sedan	Maserati Quattroporte S sedan
Curb weight (lbs.)	4134	4464	4332	3870	4134	4001	4101
Length(in)	196.7	200.9	195.6	195.0	193.8	198.8	207.2
Width(in)	74.4	74.9	75.1	78.2	72.9	76.3	76.7
Height(in)	56.3	60.6	56.0	57.4	57.8	56.0	58.3
Ground clearance (in)	3.7	5.4	4.2	4.1	4.3	N/A	N/A
Wheelbase (in)	115.7	120.9	115.2	116.5	115.7	116.1	124.8
Track width (in) F/R	63.8/64.1	63.7/65	65/64.4	61.4/61.8	62.8/63	65.8/65	64.3/64.8

Exterior Features

• 19 twin-multispoke wheels
• Four-door coupe design
• Chrome diamond-block grille
• ALL-LED exterior lighting

 

Safety Features

The 2020 Mercedes CLS 450 comes loaded with the latest and advanced safety features. However the coupe has not been crash tested by the NHTSA or IIHS yet. Some of the safety features are -

• Car-to-X Communication
• Active Brake Assist
• Mercedes-Benz Emergency Call
• ATTENTION ASSIST
• LED Daytime Running Lamps
• LED headlamps and taillamps
• Crosswind Assist
• Blind Spot Assist
• Rearview camera
• PRE-SAFE
• PRE-SAFE Sound
• 7 air bags
• Adaptive braking technology
• Antilock Braking System (ABS)
• Brake Assist (BAS)
• Electronic Stability Program (ESP)
• Aluminum and high-strength steel body structure
• Advanced Tire Pressure Monitoring System
• SmartKey with KEYLESS-START
• Antitheft alarm system with remote panic feature
• Rain-sensing windshield wipers
• In-vehicle, one-touch calling features

Mercedes Benz CLS 450 vs Mercedes Benz E-Class

With merely $10,000 difference between both the Silver Arrows, the E-Class has better legroom and headspace in the back while the CLS features gorgeous looks, luxury and a sleek design. Under performance, both these cars are similar and the E-Class also comes in the form of a two-door coupe. Depending on what your purpose is, the E-Class sedan has better seating comfort but if you want opulence and a classic mix of two body styles in one, opt for the CLS.

Mercedes Benz CLS 450 vs Audi A7

These German rivals have a lot going on between them. Both the rivals are quite similar to eachother, and the difference mostly comes in the form of tech and rear seating comfort where both the rounds are won by the superior Audi A7 with roomier back seats and a more advanced infotainment system. Otherwise, it depends on which brand you would prefer under your control Audi or Mercedes.

The newly redesigned CLS 450 offers a four door setting with five-passenger seating capacity and comes loaded with opulent equipments and top-knotch materials. With gorgeous and sleek exterior styling, the Silver Arrow however is anything but frugal and incorporates a powerful engine underneath it. Calling it frugal is anything but true, but the powertrain is quite decent in terms of fuel efficiency. Utility is the lowest of the class however the tech front has a plethora of features to use. At almost $70,000, the CLS 450 is an expensive coupe but leaving that obvious fact aside, the gorgeous car is a tempting one to own.