Mercedes-Benz CL-Class Coupe 500 & 600 Road Test Report
Performance 
The CL doesn’t pretend to be a hard-core sports car, but its completely effortless performance, whether the 5.5-litre V8 500 or 5.5-litre V12 600, places it firmly in the genuine GT category. The 388hp CL500 can shoot to 62mph in 5.4 secs, while the 517hp CL600 manages the same in a fleeting 4.6 secs. A speed limiter butts in on both at 155mph, but these figures don’t begin to convey the enthusiasm (500) or the sheer brutalism (600) of the CL’s straight line speed. Strangely, both models emit a similar throaty burble from their twin oval tailpipes, but a even a short drive in the 500 is enough to convince you that it’s more than you’ll ever need. Plant your foot hard in the 600 and your language will turn blue.
Ride & Handling
The CL is a big, wide car, but with a basic understanding of its many electronic systems and functions, driving doesn’t get any easier or simpler. On the move the steering is well weighted and accurate, and throttle response is quick and precise. The CL also aides and abets with a Pandora’s box of technical cleverness, but perhaps most notable is the Active Body Control suspension. This further reduces pitch and roll in corners, and lowers the body at over 37mph to reduce drag and improve handling stability. That’s the bones of it, but the reality of an impeccable, magic carpet ride coupled with imperceptible body roll, even when hammering through a tight S bend, is mightily impressive.
Build Quality & Reliability
I wouldn’t pretend that Mercedes-Benz cars never go wrong, or that all Mercedes dealers are selfless beacons of charitable generosity, but nothing on the two cars I drove suggested that the CL was anything other than faultless. I peered under the bonnet, peeled away layers of carpet and trays from the bottom of the boot, peeked beneath the ashtray, and inspected paint, wood, leather, rubber, plastics and polished metal, but found no rough edges, nothing that didn’t quite fit and nothing unfinished or imperfect. The CL exudes excellence and engineering integrity from every nook and cranny.
Safety & Security
The CL is a five-star Euro NCAP car, but doubling those stars wouldn’t do it justice There’s barely room on the web to explain how all its safety systems work, so here’s an incomplete alphabetic list (some items are standard, some optional, depending on model): active light function, ‘Adaptive Brake’ with adaptive brake lights, belt force limiters, belt tensioners, bi-xenon headlamps, child seat recognition, cornering light function, country road mode, ‘Distronic Plus’, dynamic multi-contour seat, electric parking brake, ESP, extended fog lamps, headlamp assist, integral seat belt system, intelligent light system, motorway mode and night view assist. Please consult your Mercedes dealer for further detail.
Space & Practicality 
Accommodation for front seat occupants is both spacious and sumptuous, and unlike many coupes the CL can also comfortably accommodate adults in the rear. With a six-footer and the wheel and another six foot passenger seated directly behind, a two-hour drive should be comfortable for both with reasonable legroom and adequate headroom. Boot space is a capacious 490 litres, – ample for two, adequate for four – but an S-Class saloon would be better suited to transcontinental jaunts with three or more aboard.
Ownership & Value
Without wishing to seem glib, running costs won’t be too much of an issue for CL owners, but for the record, the combined fuel consumption figures are 23.3mpg for the CL500 and 19.8mpg for the CL600. Insurance is group 20 for both, and expect substantial depreciation from new. Whole life running costs work out at around £1.10 to £1.50 pence per mile, but off-setting much or all of that is the CL-Class’s sheer class. Being a seventh generation ‘big Merc coupe’, it’s no Johnny-come-lately rushed to the market to exploit dotcom tycoons and Premiership footballers. Yes, it’s big, bold and obviously expensive, but it isn’t remotely brash. Those who own a Mercedes CL are lucky indeed.