Yahoo Finance The 2019 Mercedes-AMG CLS53 4Matic Is Fabulous but Flawed
The first Mercedes-Benz CLS was a segment-defining car when it debuted in 2004, stamping the "four-door coupe" term into the automotive lexicon whether people liked it or not. Unlike anything else before it, it was a modern car that changed the course of automotive design. In the years since, scores of similarly rakish four-doors have emerged, with even mainstream cars like the Honda Accord boasting "coupelike" rooflines. This latest, third-generation CLS is prettier than the previous model, but it's also less distinctive than the rest of the Mercedes lineup and lacks the styling verve that the original car had.
The only AMG-tuned version, the CLS53, turns things up a notch. (Mercedes is no stranger to model overlap, and this is partly to leave room for AMG's other two high-performance mid-size sedans, the E-class and the AMG GT 4-Door, both of which come in six-cylinder 53 and V-8–powered 63 models.) The CLS53 gets its own twin-bar grille, slightly different front air intakes, four round exhaust tips in a different rear diffuser, and a lip spoiler on the trunklid. The split five-spoke wheels have an illusion of a dished lip and set off the stance of the car, as does the subtly lowered suspension. Compared to the AMG Line bodywork available on the Benz-branded CLS450, the differences aren't major, but they're enough to make the AMG model feel that little bit more special.
Energetic Six
The CLS53 shares its mechanicals and chassis with the entry-level AMG version of the E-class, the E53. That means a turbocharged and electrically supercharged 3.0-liter inline-six engine with a 48-volt hybrid-assist system called EQ Boost, a nine-speed automatic transmission, and 4Matic all-wheel drive. (The non-AMG CLS450 uses the same powertrain sans the supercharger, and the base car is rear-wheel drive, with the 4Matic listed as a separate model.) Like the E53 models, the CLS53 makes a robust 429 horsepower and 384 lb-ft of torque, with EQ Boost adding up to 21 horsepower and 184 lb-ft. The engine is characterful and eager to rev, and the nine-speed delivers quick upshifts and satisfying downshifts. And when equipped with the $1250 AMG performance exhaust, a must-have option, the CLS53 emits superb pops and bangs that don't sound artificial.
We recorded a zero-to-60-mph time of 4.0 seconds and a quarter-mile pass of 12.5 seconds at 111 mph, each a mere 0.1 second quicker than an E53 coupe we tested previously. The CLS53's 0.94-g skidpad figure and 162-foot 70-mph-to-zero braking distance were also marginally better than those of the 130-pound-heavier E53 coupe, which wore the same Pirelli P Zero PZ4 performance run-flat tires. Impressively, the CLS53 returned 30 mpg on our 75-mph highway fuel-economy test, 3 mpg better than its EPA estimate.
Shuddery Structure
The AMG's rear-biased all-wheel-drive system provides sure-footed traction while allowing for some playfulness, especially with the stability control in its Sport mode, and the staggered Pirellis never made a peep under hard cornering. The electrically assisted steering is direct without being overly quick and passes along a surprising amount of feel and feedback. But the CLS53 also feels let down by its chassis, which can get unduly unsettled around off-camber corners or over rougher pavement. Even with the adaptive air springs in their softest Comfort setting, ride quality is brittle and choppier than we'd prefer in an otherwise luxurious sports sedan. The CLS's structure simply doesn't feel as if it has the vaultlike solidity of the E-class's chassis; even the smallest bumps are felt and heard as shudders throughout the interior.
On smoother roads, the CLS53 is an excellent cruiser, living up to AMG's reputation of creating autobahn-storming vehicles that feel almost muscle-car-like. There's nearly zero lag in the powertrain when you stomp on the accelerator-thanks to the electric supercharger for the 0.7-second difference between the CLS53's zero-to-60-mph and 5-to-60-mph times versus the 0.9-second gap in the CLS450-and the CLS feels composed and stable at speed. The interior is typical modern Mercedes with a sweeping dashboard, two large screens, and gadgets galore. The glitzy detailing and ambient lighting can look a bit tacky at night, but activate the optional seat massagers and work the inline-six, and you'll forget all about it.
What Price Exclusivity?
Our test car featured the Edition 1 package, which is only available for the CLS53's first model year. Its $21,855 price is partly justified by model-specific Graphite Grey Metallic paint, a black leather interior with copper stitching, 20-inch matte-black wheels, carbon-fiber interior trim with copper threading, and an IWC clock in the dashboard. It all looks great, but it brings little improvement over some of the CLS53's standard color and trim options. The Edition 1 also comes with a ton of features that are otherwise optional such as the Driver Assistance and Warmth & Comfort packages. Of the half-dozen remaining stand-alone options, our CLS53 only had the $1100 Acoustic Comfort package. All in, our example cost a steep $103,850, but it's possible to keep the CLS53 under $90K with some self-restraint.
When pitted against AMG's E-class offerings with the same powertrain, the CLS53 is a hard sell. The E53 sedan starts at $7350 less than the CLS53, rides notably better, and is just as exciting to drive. But then, the CLS has always been about its looks more than anything else. If it sufficiently pulls your strings more than its conventional sibling does, AMG's CLS53 is the four-door to get. But then, there's also that E53 coupe out there with only two doors, removing any doubt about its mission.
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