In-depth Reviews

Mercedes CLS owner reviews

Name: Mercedes CLS saloon
Brand: Mercedes

"The Mercedes CLS is an attractive, fast and luxurious cruiser but its coupe styling makes it less practical than more traditional saloons"

by Carbuyer team

17 Dec 2019

Carbuyer Rating

3.8 out of 5

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Owners Rating

5.0 out of 5

100%of people would recommend this car to a friend.

Owner Rating

2reviews

Common Problems

I would recommend this car to a friend

Version

250CDI Shooting Brake

Year of registration

2014

Average annual mileage

10,000 – 14,999

Owned

2 - 3 years

Bought Car

New

Typical MPG

40

Review

I bought the shooting brake estate version, as I love the styling and it's a very practical roomy 5-seater and the boot is absolutely huge. The car has now done 122k miles, and reliability has been excellent, with only the rear camera failing (replaced under used warranty). A few times the gear selector has not worked after start up, but it always does on a restart. It's well specified, but I would recommend finding one with memory seats (not standard) as with so much adjustment it can be difficult to get your position back when its moved. The AMG Sport pack gives you sporty styling and the outstanding LED lights which make such a difference on long night time journeys. On the negative side, the ride is very firm and noisy over imperfections, feeling harsh at times. The wheels and tyres are prone to damage on our potholed roads, and the diamond-turned wheels corrode easily, so look after them. Build quality is excellent, with lustrous smooth paint, and hard-wearing leather. The standard fit stereo sounds great, but the bluetooth connection functionality is very basic and the 'infotainment' interface generally leaves a lot to be desired if you are used to modern systems, although the '14 model year cars look much improved. The digital radio is hopeless though.

Reliability

5 out of 5

No significant issues at all in 122k miles.

Performance

The four-cylinder diesel is a bit noisy on start up, but soon fades away above 20mph. Fast enough with lots of torque. Can 'labour' in too high a gear at lower speeds, but easily resolved by pressing the gearbox 'sport' button.

Running Cost

5 out of 5

Generally returns over 40mpg, with up to 50mpg on a long run. Tyres last a long time, but wear on the inside. Servicing is annual and the regime includes gearbox oil, which bodes well for long-term reliability.

I would recommend this car to a friend

Version

350 CDI

Year of registration

2011

Average annual mileage

0 – 4,999

Owned

Less than a year

Bought Car

New

Typical MPG

45

Review

I've avoided owning Mercedes in the past, as they've become more commonplace, but the CLS 350 is really something special. Nor am I a fan of automatics, but this car could convert me. Frankly I'm astounded by the old school luxury of it, like Mercs were 50 years ago in terms of the wood and leather, the luxury of the cabin and the smoothness of the ride. It's also among the most beautiful cars I've ever seen, especially from the rear with the coupe/fastback lines. Amazing power available when you want to overtake, together with great economy and sticks to the road like a limpet on the tightest bends.