2015 Mercedes CLS 250 CDI Test Drive Review

Mercedes CLS 250 CDI Review

Car Tested: 2015 Mercedes-Benz CLS 250 CDI

Price OTR Mumbai: Rs. 99,16,340/-

The swanky styling of the Mercedes-Benz CLS Coupe lends it an exclusive identity

The Mercedes CLS-Class is a special car in the Stuttgart based automaker’s lineup. It’s not your regular luxury sedan but a coupe, having four doors and a distinctive design, which nobody can fail to spot. The CLS is currently running in its second generation, which was launched in India in 2011. This year, Mercedes has launched the mid-life facelift of the CLS in India and this time around it comes with a diesel engine. We take the luxury coupe for a spin and delve into the changes made on the updated offering.

Motor Quest: Based on the W211 Mercedes E-Class platform, the CLS-Class made its global debut in 2004 having a unique body style. The first generation Mercedes CLS-Class was discontinued in the year 2010, when the second generation iteration was born with the latest design language of the German carmaker.

Exteriors – Fitting four doors in a coupe design is quite a risky task to do. However, the designers at Stuttgart have managed to infuse the coupe body work very well. There are many hints of the new Mercedes design language, yet the CLS has its own personality. The front profile gets a long bonnet with strong creases leading to the wide grille, where the star sits proudly in the middle on a premium strip of chrome. The MULTIBEAM LED headlamps look fantastic with the daytime running lights. The front bumper gets AMG inspired sporty styling.

The facelift gets sharper styling cues and the attention to detail on the design front is immense and worth appreciation

The side profile is where the real beauty of the CLS lies. The prominent cuts and curves along with the sloping roofline lend it a flamboyant look. The jewel shaped LED tail lamp cluster appears quite premium and completes the whole coupe design very well. Believe us or not, while we were waiting at a signal, a cabby nudged a car ahead while gazing at this beauty. This is the kind of attention you get while driving the CLS-Class.

Interiors – For ingress you have to bob down a bit as the roofline is low but once you get inside, the cabin greets you with a comfortable and luxurious layout. The dashboard gets neatly layered with black, wood and beige colours. The interiors are highly customizable, if you don’t like this particular light wood trim (which we didn’t appreciate either) then you can choose from two other options including gloss black Ashwood trim and gloss brown lime wood trim. Also, you get three other options of upholstery including black, espresso brown and saddle brown. The new three-spoke steering wheel derived from the new lineup of Mercedes cars looks great. We are quite familiar with the instrument cluster, which is very easy to read and shows all the necessary information related to the vehicle.

The tech laden interiors of the Mercedes CLS get high quality materials and is a very convenient cabin to be in

The centre console gets the typical Mercedes setup of dual-zone climate control at the bottom, chills the cabin within seconds. In the centre you get the DVD changer, parking alert control, ECO mode button and a switch for the electronically adjustable rear windscreen blind. On the top of the dashboard it gets the updated 8-inch COMAND Online system with navigation, telephone, audio, video, internet and park assist functions. The big floating screen is good to look at but it is fixed and sometimes you wish it could be foldable. The infotainment system is paired to a fantastic sounding 14-speaker Harman Kardon system. The screen doubles up as a 360 degree camera display with numerous viewing angles that makes it a breeze to park. Additionally, it gets Active Parking Assist system that senses parking space and manoeuvres on its own, you just have to accelerate and brake. The smart MULTIBEAM LED headlights are high on tech. Having Adaptive Highbeam Assist, the lights enable long range illumination without dazzling the oncoming traffic by switching off the main-beam modules partially.

As expected from a Mercedes, the quality, fit and finish is excellent and the attention to detail is massive. You get ample storage space at the front and rear. The seats are highly supportive having soft leather feel but the rear has only two individual seats. There is a big panel in the middle for storage and no space for the middle passenger. The legroom isn’t great either and there is limited headroom because of the sloping roofline. This isn’t a car for the chauffer driven but comfortable enough for short drives and kids. The rear also gets individual climate control system. Boot capacity is quite accommodating at 475-litres and you also get a space saver steel wheel underneath.

Performance – The Mercedes CLS-Class comes with a diesel heart for the first time in India. It is a 2.0-litre 4-cylinder diesel that churns out 204 horses at 3800 RPM and 500 Nm of torque at 1600-1800 RPM. A 2.0-litre oil burner might sound less on paper but this torque rich motor pulls like a charm when you throttle it down. The CLS wafts through air in a smooth and gentle manner as the torque comes early and there is minimal turbo lag. Yes, the 3.0-litre V6 diesel punch is another feeling altogether but this motor is surprisingly strong on power and extremely refined with great NVH levels. You don’t hear any diesel noise inside whatsoever. 0-100 km/hr comes up in 7.5 seconds, which is fairly quick for a 1850 kg luxury yacht of a car.

The 2.0-litre diesel is high on torque and provides very linear acceleration

The 7-speed 7G-TRONIC PLUS transmission works seamlessly for optimum power and efficiency. It has E (Eco) mode for high fuel economy that changes gears early and S (Sport) mode for providing maximum power by holding the gears longer. You can have some fun with the steering mounted paddles to shift gears manually. They shift automatically though after touching the redline of 4500 RPM. Gear ratios are suitable for both spirited driving and sedate cruising speeds on the highway. The tachometer hovers around the 1500 RPM mark at 100 km/hr in seventh gear.

Driving Dynamics – The CLS-Class comes with the AIRMATIC air suspension, which provides an excellent synergy of ride and handling. The driver has the option to choose Comfort or Sport setting for the suspension. In Comfort you don’t feel the road as the undulations and bad roads are dissolved immediately by the air suspension. The handling gets a bit soft while cornering hard due to the comfort oriented setup though. In Sport, the CLS provides excellent road holding confidence and handling is quite sharp without any body roll being felt. The ride quality still feels plush, though sharp potholes tend to judder the car around. The steering feedback is progressive with increasing speed and is surprisingly direct, which is a joy around bends. Braking performance is strong with the ADAPTIVE BRAKE system shedding speed quickly.

Safety and After Sales Service – Safety is the top priority of Mercedes-Benz and the same can be seen with the new CLS-Class. The PRE-SAFE system comes standard with the vehicle that engages occupant protection system by detecting critical driving situations in advance. The CLS gets 8 airbags, ADAPTIVE BRAKE system, ESP, acceleration skid control and a lot more equipment to keep occupants safe. Mercedes India has a large sales and service network across the country and is growing further at a rapid pace to ensure a hassle-free ownership experience.

Verdict – The Mercedes CLS-Class is an extremely well designed car that catches great attention on our roads. The new styling on this update further makes it look sharper than before. It is embellished to the brim with luxury on the inside but with limited space at the rear, it is meant for people who spend more time behind the wheel. We expected Mercedes to offer at least a 3.0-litre diesel for a car in this price range but once we got behind the wheel, our perception changed within no time. If snob value is of top priority, this is a chic car to have in your glittering garage.

The Mercedes CLS 250 CDI is an exotic car to look at with the well crafted coupe design. At the same time it is practical too having a fuel efficient yet fast diesel engine under the hood. The expensive price tag makes it a car for limited buyers who have styling as the top aspect in their checklist.

What’s Cool

* Sensational coupe styling that catches eyeballs everywhere you go
* Trendsetting and luxurious tech-loaded interiors with high quality materials
* Surprisingly fast 2.0-litre oil burner that is highly refined

What’s Not So Cool

* Limited room at the rear and strictly a four seater
* Quite an expensive four-door coupe

Alternatives: Audi A7, BMW 6-Series

Mercedes CLS 250 CDI Specifications

* Engine: 2143cc, in-line 4-cylinder
* Power: 204 BHP @ 3800 RPM
* Torque: 500 Nm @ 1600-1800 RPM
* Transmission: 7-speed automatic
* 0-100 km/hr: 7.5 seconds
* Fuel Consumption: 10-12 km/l
* Fuel Type: Diesel
* Suspension: AIRMATIC air suspension
* Tyres: 245/45/17
* Brakes: Ventilated Disc (Front), Disc (Rear), ADAPTIVE BRAKE
* Safety: ABS, EBD, ADAPTIVE BRAKE, ESP, 8 airbags, Hill-Start Assist, Acceleration Skid Control

Mercedes CLS 250 CDI Dimensions

* Overall length x width x height: 4940 mm X 1881 mm X 1416 mm
* Wheelbase: 2874 mm
* Boot Volume: 475 litres
* Fuel Tank Capacity: 80 litres
* Kerb Weight: 1850 kgs
* Turning Radius: 5.6 m

Picture Editing – Sri Manikanta Achanta