Mercedes-Benz CLS 250 CDI Coupe First Review

When talking about luxury sedans, there are a lot of cars in the market right from the entry-level luxury sedans to full blown  premium limousines. And then there are cars like the Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class that not only set new standards with regards to design but also have oodles of class. But with Mercedes-Benz’s new generation of cars already here, the 2014 CLS-Class is now starting to look dated, which is exactly why the Stuttgart-based car maker has decided to give it an update. What’s more, it gets a new heart too.

Looks:

Although Mercedes-Benz introduced the CLS-Class in India only last year, it didn’t sport the brand’s new design language. But now the 2015 CLS-Class stands along with the rest of the Mercedes-Benz line-up. Up front the long bonnet leads into the black diamond radiator grille with a single matte louvre in the centre. On either side of the grille the CLS-Class now gets MULTIBEAM LED Daytime Running Lights. The beautifully sculpted coupe roofline with the well crafted wheel arches gives the 2015 CLS-Class a stunning silhouette. At the back the CLS’ taillights look similar to the ones on the smaller CLA-Class.

Engine:

The 2014 Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class that we drove last year was only introduced with the 3.5-litre V6 petrol unit. But keeping in mind the demand for diesel luxury cars, Mercedes has now decided to bring in a diesel variant too. The CLS-Class then will now sport the same engine that also works force in the ML-Class, a 2.2-litre 4-cylinder mill that makes 206PS. The 500Nm of torque comes as low as 1,600rpm. Like the E-Class Cabriolet, this one too comes mated to a 7-speed automatic transmission with variable shift characteristics. To make the CLS 250 CDI more efficient, Mercedes-Benz has also installed the Eco start/stop function into its drive system.

Features:

From a 8-inch screen on the centre console with the COMAND Online control to a 14 speaker Harmon Kardon system the 2015 CLS-Class comes with a long list of features. To make parking a piece of cake, Mercedes has installed a 360 degree camera with Active parking Assist. In regards to safety, it gets pretty much everything that the E-Class Cabriolet does including nine airbags, Adaptive High Beam Assist, tyre pressure monitor, ABS, ESP, Hill Start Assist and more.

Price:

Considering the fact that the CLS-Class directly competes against the Audi A7, we can expect Mercedes-Benz to price it competitively. That said, it might just demand a marginal premium over its rival in discussion keeping in mind the features on offer. We expect Mercedes-Benz to introduce the 2015 CLS 250 CDI at around Rs 75 lakh.