Ever since the launch of the third generation of the Mercedes-Benz CLS back in 2018, it has been considered one of the best-looking luxury four-door coupes out there that also manages to put a smile on the driver's face. Being part of the same C257 generation, the 2022 Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class retains these qualities while being more modern and future-proof due to the inclusion of many advanced and much-needed features.
This 2022 iteration has been launched for a base MSRP of $74,000 and comes in only a single trim configuration, due to the removal of the rear-wheel-drive CLS450 variant from the list. The 429 hp CLS 53 AMG has been dropped as well. Other changes include a slightly restyled front fascia, a standard AMG Line appearance package, and subtle updates to the interior accents. Competing with the Audi A7 and Porsche Panamera, here are 10 things you need to know before buying the 2022 Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class.
10 Classy Cabin Design And Quality
The opulence and luxury of the cabin is something that many prospective buyers would expect from a car from this segment, and the 2022 Mercedes-Benz CLS is not going to disappoint anyone in this regard. The cabin is filled with the most premium materials everywhere, and the comfort provided is second to none.
The beautifully crafted dashboard with leather, aluminum, and wooden accents coupled with the circular AC vents, aluminum speaker grilles, and the well-integrated infotainment and digital gauge cluster gives it a posh feeling when compared to the Audi A7. We also loved the fit and finish and the tightness offered by this cabin. There are multiple optional interior design elements and trims to choose from as well, helping the owners to customize the ride.
9 Inline-6 Motor Offers Decent Acceleration
The 2022 Mercedes-Benz CLS comes with the same 3.0-liter turbocharged inline-6 motor coupled with the 48-volt mild hybrid system, producing a combined output of 362 hp and 369 lb-ft of torque. The power is routed to all the wheels with the 4MATIC AWD drivetrain and the transmission duties are handled by the 9G-Tronic 9-speed automatic.
Put your foot down from a standstill and the car rewards you with a 0-60 MPH time of 4.5 seconds, making it faster than the Audi A7 and Porsche Panamera. We liked the punchy low-end and mid-range, and the turbo-lag is very minimal. The 9-speed automatic offers fast gearshifts, and the sport mode makes the throttle response even sharper.
8 A Comfortable Daily Driver
The Mercedes-Benz CLS has an almost equal mix of fun factor and luxury, and that is what makes it a capable offering for those who want an all-rounder for the segment. We found the CLS to be a very comfortable daily driver, almost similar to the much more expensive S-Class.
Even though it comes with a coil spring suspension setup, the adaptive dampers make sure that the ride quality is top-notch when the car is set to the comfort mode. It absorbs everything thrown in by the roads with ease, and the highway ride quality feels very flat and planted. The body roll is minimal, and the suspension doesn't make any noises.
7 Superb Refinement
Being a premium Mercedes sedan, the refinement level is easily better than the many of the rivals that come at a similar point. The cabin is isolated from the external noises due to the excellent sound deadening, acoustic glasses, and active noise cancellation.
The 19" or 20" wheels on the CLS don't contribute any major tire noise, and we like the reasonably meaty sidewalls on the all-season tires. The wind noise is on the lower side, and the same is also the case with the road noise. There are no rattles or squeaks from the cabin.
6 Not The Most Spacious In The Segment
Like what the coupe design suggests from the outside, the interior space is not going to excite many family buyers out there. However, we found the front seat of the CLS to be acceptable for the segment due to the decent headroom and legroom and the accommodating leather seats with heating, ventilation, and powered support.
The sunroof, premium materials all-around, and the multiple storage spaces are some of the other plus points of this cabin. It has no ergonomic flaws as well. However, the rear seat headroom is mediocre, and the taller folks will brush their heads with the headliner. The cargo capacity of 11.9 cu ft is the worst of the segment too.
5 Feature-Packed Infotainment System
The first thing that you'll notice when in the driver's seat is the classy 12.3" digital gauge cluster display and the MBUX infotainment system that comes in a single shared glass panel. Both the displays are bright and vivid, and the user interface is as good as you expect from a Mercedes. The fluid animations and the smooth touchpad controller are onboard too.
In terms of features, this MBUX infotainment comes with Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, SiriusXM radio, navigation, voice recognition, head-up display, and wireless mobile charging. However, some of these features can only be had if you opt for the optional packages. The 13-speaker Burmester audio system gave out punchy bass and clear high-frequency audio output.
4 Impressive Gas Mileage
The 48-bolt mild hybrid system coupled with the well-calibrated 9-speed automatic transmission and a reasonably low curb weight of 4,255 lbs helps the 2022 Mercedes-Benz CLS to come out with the best in class gas mileage for the segment. It could do 22 MPG in the city and 30 MPG on the highway, equating to 25 MPG combined.
The fuel tank capacity of 21.1-gallon is bigger than that of the Audi A7 and the highway range of 633 miles is superior to many of the rivals too. In comparison, the 2022 Porsche Panamera offered a mediocre combined gas mileage of 19 MPG. However, it has a bigger fuel tank capacity of 23.7 gallons.
3 Superb Build Quality
The 2022 CLS is constructed on the same platform as the Mercedes-Benz E-Class, and that helps the CLS to get all the qualities of the E-Class when it comes to the overall build. Being constructed from high-tensile steel and aluminum, the car is solid inside and out, making it feel more safe and secure than some of the segment rivals.
There is no flexing or creaking when pressing hard against the exterior panels and doors. Even the fiber bits feel very premium. The same is also the case when it comes to the inside of the CLS. The lack of any hard-touch plastics coupled with top-notch fit and finish and even panel gaps makes it as good as what the price tag suggests.
2 Many Standard Driver-Assistance Features
Even though the 2022 CLS comes packed with all the basic safety features like ABS, airbags, traction control, stability control, rearview camera, tire pressure monitoring system, and side-impact beams, the same cannot be said about the advanced driver-assistance tech. This luxury sedan comes with only forward collision monitoring, automated emergency braking, and blindspot monitoring as standard.
However, if you need all the bells and whistles, you would need to opt for the premium package and driver-assistance package, both of which offer features like active distance assist, active steering assist, evasive steering, active brake assist with cross-traffic function, lane change assist, lane-keep assist, and adaptive cruise control.
1 Precise Braking Performance
The 2022 Mercedes-Benz CLS retains the same braking hardware as the outgoing 2021 model, with a 4-wheel disc brake setup with 14.2" ventilated front and rear rotors. The other braking features include regenerative braking, ABS with EBD, brake assist, and hill hold control.
The 70-0 mph braking can be done in 167 feet, and the brake pedal felt quite firm and precise, both of which we liked. The front-end dive is minimal, and the car doesn't lose composure under hard braking conditions. ABS isn't very intrusive in functionality, either.