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Mercedes-Benz CL-Class Coupe 2011 road test report

2011

From ridiculously sublime to sublimely ridiculous, the Mercedes CL coupe offers sybarites something they will struggle to find anywhere else: a luxury two-door, four-seat coupe in the truly grand touring mould. While some other companies offer something similar, nothing quite matches the big Merc’s peerless quality, comfort and whispered opulence. Yes, it comes with a commensurate price tag, but you get what you pay for and CL customers tend to be repeat offenders, coming back for more every time they need a new car fix.

Road Test Reports Says 5 star rating
A front-facing image of the Mercedes-Benz CL-Class Coupe 2011

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ALISDAIR SUTTIE SAYS

Performance Performance - 5 stars

It’s impossible to award anything less than five stars to a car where even the slowest in the range knocks off 0-62mph in just 4.9 seconds. That model is the CL500 and is pretty much all you’d ever want or need in a large luxury coupe. The 4.7-litre V8 engine gently ripples with 429bhp, which is more than sufficient to see the CL500 surge past slower traffic, cruising elegantly at any speed right up to its 155mph limited top end, restrictions permitting, and still deliver enough of a V8 growl and punch to make the CL feel just sporty enough. Its seven-speed automatic gearbox is also a smooth performer and matches the V8’s effortless character with ideally blended gear changes. Of course, if 429bhp seems a little on the weedy side for you, there are the two AMG-tuned CL models in the shape of the 536bhp CL63 with its wonderful 5.5-litre V8 engine or the positively monstrous CL65 and its 621bhp. The CL63 offers the Mr Hyde to the CL500’s Dr Jekyll courtesy of a crackling exhaust note, rocket to the spine acceleration and sharper responses in every area. The AMG may not be quite as supple over the bumps as the 500, but its extra urgency makes it a hoot to pilot. As for the CL65, its 6.0-litre twin-turbo V12 is one of the world’s great engines and comes with a heart-stopping 737lb.ft of mid-rev shove, though it comes with a five-speed automatic gearbox as the seven-speeder is not up to assault of its power. It sees the 65 from 0-62mph in just 4.4 seconds to rival the best supercars, yet this remains a usable, practical four-seat coupe easily capable of all-day journeys in complete comfort. Never has madness seemed so sensible.

Ride & Handling Ride & Handling - 5 stars

If we were solely judging the two AMG versions of the CL here, the star rating would drop to four. The reason for this is they come with stiffer suspension and sizeable alloy wheels wrapped in very thin-walled tyres, and this has a slightly detrimental effect on comfort. Neither is by any means harsh or crashy, just they don’t quite offer the cushy comfort of the CL500. As the 500 is the biggest seller in the CL range, we reckon five stars is a fair assessment as this CL wafts when you want to bathe in its splendid ability to isolate its occupants from the rest of the world, yet it can also whisk through corners in a way such a large coupe has no real right to. Comfort is a given in the CL500, but the handling remains a surprise on every drive as this is a big car and gives the impression it’s at its happiest when cruising, which is does imperiously, yet it has good steering feel, masses of grip and poise, and that seat of the pants sensation when the driver wants to make the most of a quiet country road. In the CL500, road, wind and engine noise are expelled from the cabin with all of the gentle but insistent persuasiveness of a top hotel doorman. Only some V8 burble makes itself known when the driver presses hard on the throttle. Again, the ANG models trade some refinement for their sportier characters, so expect to hear those amazing engines more of the time, which is far from a hardship.

Build Quality & Reliability Build Quality & Reliability - 5 stars

When Mercedes was enduring an uncharacteristic dip in its quality back in the early 2000s, the CL carried on oblivious and impervious to this. With the latest generation of CL, it’s the same story, where its build quality is just better than anything else. It’s clear the men and women who make this car truly care about every one. The stitching of the leather, the fit of the dash and the precision of panel gaps all point to a car made without compromise. It also shows in the way Merc CLs last – find a used one and it’s more than likely it will look far fresher than its mileage would otherwise suggest. As for the mechanical side, it’s the same story as these engines may be powerful but are generally unstressed for the work they do. They are also proven units and the transmissions are more than up to the job asked of them. Mercedes warranty lasts three years and an unlimited mileage in that time, and there’s also Merc’s 30-year body warranty for added peace of mind.

Safety & Security Safety & Security - 5 stars

Mercedes doesn’t hold back when it comes to the CL’s safety kit and all models come with six airbags, ESP traction control and the firm’s clever Pre-Safe system for priming the car should it sense an accident is imminent. There are also a raft of other safety systems either fitted as standard or as options to make the CL one of the best places to sit in this turbulent world we live in. It’s also hugely resistant to theft thanks to an alarm, immobiliser, deadlocks and laminated side glass than means thieves will have a very hard time trying to smash the side windows.

Space & Practicality Space & Practicality - 4 stars

For the driver, he or she might as well be sat in an S-Class as all of that large saloon’s cosseting nature is present in the CL. The seats are armchairs that provide intercontinental comfort and support, along with a vast array of adjustment to find the ideal driving angles, while the steering wheel is also multi-adjustable. Throw in decent all-round vision, helped by standard front and rear parking aids, and the CL is a superb place to be for any journey. The rear seats are also commodious enough to cope with two adults, though access through the large doors is still a little tricky. For kids, though, the CL’s back seats are more than spacious enough, though smaller children might find seeing over the window line a bit of a stretch. As for the boot, it’s more than up to the job of carrying holiday luggage or a couple of sets of golf clubs, or both.

Ownership & Value Ownership & Value - 4 stars

Value is a relative term when applied to coupes costing as much as the CL range. For some, there is nothing else in the world like it and many CL customers simply replace their existing car with another CL and don’t even consider any potential competitors. For them, the CL is great value as it does the job they ask of it and much more besides. If you’re looking to buy and sell on after a few years, you will take a sizeable hit on depreciation, but this is more to do with the considerable list price meaning any percentage drop is always going to equate to a large amount of money. Even so, the CL compensates with a long and generous list of standard equipment that includes everything you could wish for, plus there’s an options list that lets your imagination run wild. As for running costs, insurance and servicing are costly, but not outrageous for a car of this price and type, while the CL500 offers surprisingly good combined fuel economy of 29.4mpg. Go for the CL65 and you’ll have to stomach 19.8mpg average economy. One point to bear in mind is the AMG models need super unleaded petrol to function properly, so this is an added cost to remember. The CL500 has carbon dioxide emissions of 227g/km, so it’s pretty clean for a super coupe and even the CL65 emits 334g/km to be easier on the environment than most other supercars.

Submitted: 11/03/2011 09:25:39

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