2019 Mercedes-AMG CLS53 essentials: Style and substance

What is it: The CLS was the first of a long line of swoopy sedans marketed as "coupes" due to their truncated fastback shape. The car is based on the E-Class sedan but wears some of the styling cues of the larger, more prestigious S-Class. That makes the CLS kind of a tweener, appealing to a customer who likes the unique styling.

Key Competitors: Audi S7, BMW 640i Gran Coupe

Base Price: $80,895 As-Tested Price: $87,205

Full review: 2019 Mercedes-Benz CLS first drive

Highlights: Though the CLS-Class has traditionally been all about its coupe-like styling, the CLS53 really stands out thanks to its inline-6 engine and 48-volt motor/generator system. Also available in some other Mercedes offerings, the new six is a world-class engine; coupled with the latest high-tech E-Class inspired interior, it makes the CLS a thoroughly modern Mercedes.
 










Our Opinion: I spent way too much time trying to get my head around the 2019 Mercedes-Benz CLS — what it is, why it exists, that sort of thing. Yes, I know the car has been around a while (this is the third generation) and is largely responsible for all the coupes-that-aren't-coupes filling up the showroom at any given German car dealership. But its current iteration doesn't really differ all that much from the closely related E-Class coupe (which, it's worth noting, is an actual two door coupe). It serves as a sort of stopgap model for buyers who want a roughly E-sized Mercedes, like the swoopy bodystyle of the E-Class coupe but need four doors on occasion. Seems like a pretty thin slice of market (68 units in February 2019, to be exact) but here we are.

If you want to know how the CLS drives, read our E-Class review. It's fundamentally the same, and the reason to choose a CLS lies solely in appearance — if you like the way this car looks and the dealer has one you want in stock, you've just bought a CLS. The noteworthy advance — again shared with the E-Class — is underhood. We've had some internal arguments about Mercedes' new straight-six, but damned if it isn't the smoothest gasoline engine since the Wankel, and anyone who says otherwise should be committed. At 429 hp, and with its 48-volt electric booster, it's a sublime luxury car powerplant, delivering quiet motive force akin to that of a sailboat thrust along by a heady breeze.
 

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