Road Test
Mercedes-Benz CL500
Test date Wednesday, March 21, 2007
Price as tested £81,425
For Supreme refinement, effortless performance, quality feel
AgainstPrice, misses that ‘special’ feeling, unengaging to drive
The Mercedes-Benz S-class is one of the cars we most look forward to testing at Autocar. When the latest S-class arrives, we expect new levels of quality, refinement, safety and comfort. So when the CL coupé inevitably follows a year or so afterwards, it’s easy to overlook: the S-class-based coupé’s chassis, engine, most of its structure and the front half of its interior are all derived straight from the saloon; what is there left to tell?
Well, quite a lot, as it happens. Some of our testers questioned the point of a less practical and more expensive car than the S-class, and we found plenty of people who reckon a Bentley Continental GT or Jaguar XKR are more desirable, but we defy anyone who has spent some time in this new CL not to acknowledge that all that goes to making the S-class so fabulous – and a bit more besides – is present in abundance here too.
The range only comprises three models. Above this £79,550 CL500 sit the normally aspirated CL63 AMG and the similarly powerful, similarly priced, twin-turbo CL600. Both cost within £2000 of £105,000 and both are within five horsepower of 515bhp. Not only do they rival each other but they’re also the only CLs to have an obvious direct external competitor: matching them on price, function and performance is the Continental GT.
At around £80k the CL500 sits somewhat on its own in the coupé market. The Porsche 911 and BMW M6 are rather more sporting and lack the CL’s comfort, while the Jaguar XKR and BMW 650i are cheaper. The Bentley is faster and more expensive again. Maserati’s forthcoming GranTurismo could be the CL500’s perfect foil.
Yet despite this and the fact that the CL500 has to muddle through with just its 382bhp 5.5-litre V8, somehow it is more engaging than both the CL600 and CL63 AMG. Not only is it the most sensible and affordable car in the CL range, but pound for pound it’s also the best.
Your Say