Mercedes Benz CLS 500 Review

Mercedes Benz CLS Class

Safety and Security

The Mercedes-Benz CLS is protected by Mercedes-Benz’s Alarm System with immobiliser and interior protection.

Electronic Stability with Traction Control is thoughtfully standard across the CLS range. There are six airbags, front, side and window bags, optionally (£320) you can have rear side airbags but we feel that these should be standard.

We were surprised to see that Mercedes-Benz wanted to charge an extra £40 for ISOfix child seat mountings for the rear seats.

Comfort and Refinement

The CLS 500 is fitted with four-zone luxury climate control system as standard. A microprocessor individually calculates and controls the temperature for the driver, front passenger and occupants in the rear. Each of the occupants can select a personally preferred temperature. In addition the system registers the position of the sun and uses an automatic temperature and air volume control system to ensure that the desired values are kept constant for every seat. The cabin is protected by a compound filter which retains dust particles, pollen and odours.

We liked how the optional 6-Disc CD Autochanger glided out of the lower section of the dashboard at the touch of a button, that is rather clever and operationally addictive.

Our car had the optional (£880) multi-contour dynamic seats which inflate/deflate the side cushions as you corner, helping to keep you upright through the most acute of bends. They also offer a back massage facility, and again as an option (£820) they have ventilation, cooling you on the stickiest of days or heating you should the weather turn a little cooler.

There are the usual refinements found on executive cars such as automatic dimming internal and exterior mirrors to prevent glare and reduce driver fatigue. The mirrors have a powered folding mechanism, to prevent damage. There are courtesy lights in all of the doors which light the outside floor and footwell's, aiding entry and exit at night. The interior has an ambient lighting system which illuminates the car at night; fortunately it is dimmable as at first we found it too bright.

There are a number of storage areas within the cabin including a central console which has two sliding compartments, plus in the rear there is a fold down central armrest and door pockets.  In the front there are door pockets, a glove compartment, a storage net in the passenger footwell and accommodation for a telephone in the central console.