No, this isn’t the refreshed CLS. For
now, we get the MY2014 edition that gets more features at a reduced price
The CLS is among the most beautiful
contemporary Mercedes-Benzes. It was thought up well over a decade ago, at a
time when the term ‘four-door coupe’ was something we never imagined would take
birth. At that time, both the A-class as well as the CLA were yet to be
conceived. Yet, today, if you park the CLS next to them, you can see how both
these cars have taken inspiration from Mercedes’ first shot at building a coupe
that could ferry four people in reasonable comfort. This is the W218, the car
that replaced the original W219, but even this one holds its own against
current Mercedes stars.
The
Mercedes CLS 350 is a visual standout from every angle, inside and out
Mercedes launched the extensively refreshed
CLS in Europe a few weeks ago, and, when we heard about it coming to India, we
were excited. The new car, with its diamond grille, sharp creases and squat
stance, is a looker. But, sadly, that’s not what India is getting. At least,
not yet.
The ‘new’ CLS for India gets a few upgrades
on the inside and the outside vis-a-vis the model that has been on sale since
2011. There’s a new a shade of silver, new 18-inch 15-spoke alloys and, er,
that’s about it. Inside the cabin, besides a new shade of leather and a few
minor changes in the dashboard design, there’s also a new instrument cluster, a
park assist system and an improved reverse camera. The interior fit and finish
and quality of materials used is excellent, but the cabin does look slightly
dated.
New
instrument cluster and a rejigged dash are the only changes inside
The lack of a diesel option under the hood
severely impacted sales of the CLS, and it will continue to be a worry for
Mercedes. The engine that powers the car is still the familiar 3.5-litre V6
petrol that’s good for 305bhp and 370Nm. The motor has made appearances in
various Mercs over the last five years. Although it doesn’t get the new tech
that other engines in the line-up are equipped with, it manages to get the job
done.
The CLS delivers a supple ride, and
undulations on the road will rarely bother you. The adaptive dampers let you
choose between two options for the ride: comfort and Sport. The latter offers a
stiffer ride, but it’s still pretty decent. In comfort, however, things do get
slightly wallowy at times.
Shaped
LED lights at the rear are meant to link them to the sides of the car
The CLS is a strict four-seater, though the
rear seats are comfortable and a good place to be in. But very tall people will
have limited headroom.
This MY2014 CLS competes directly with the
Audi A7 and the BMW 6 series Gran coupe, both of which offer diesel engine
options. The Merc might not have a diesel mill, but it’s got timeless styling,
and Merc has just dropped the price by a good $16,430. And, that’s bound to get
some buyers very curious.
