2006 Mercedes-Benz CLS350 Reviews

The Mercedes-Benz CLS 350 is the entry point into the range with its list price of $136,900. Coming standard on the CLS 350 are two 12.3-inch screens, a head-up display, a 13-speaker Burmester stereo, sat nav, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, digital radio, surround view camera, leather upholstery, heated front seats,

The new-generation Mercedes-Benz CLS looks slipperier than a cake of soap on the bottom of a bath, but what's the point of it?

The boss of Mercedes says the new S-Class is the best car in the world. That sounds like something that we should try out for ourselves. Doesn't it?

How does the Audi A7 Sportback fare against the multi-door luxury coupe Porsche Panamera and the Mercedes CLS?Audi A7 Sportback 3.0 TDIPrice: from $135,750Engine: 3.0-litre V6 turbodiesel; 180kW/580NmTransmission: 8-speed auto, AWDThirst: 5.9L/100km; 156g/km CO2Porsche Panamera SPrice: from $287,100Engine: 4.8-litre V8 petrol; 294kW/500NmTransmission: 7-speed dual-clutch auto, RWDThirst: 10.5L/100km; 247g/km CO2Mercedes-Benz CLS 350 CDIPrice: from $159,200Engine: 3.0-litre V6 turbodiesel; 195kW/620NmTransmission: 7-speed auto, RWDThirst: 6.2L/100km; 163g/km CO2

The term shooting brake isn’t a common one here, but it’s a more common term in Europe for a prestige wagon.

A new era of style-driven wagons is adding class to the traditional load-lugger and the Mercedes-Benz CLS Shooting Brake leads the convoy.

Mercedes-Benz surprised the motoring world in 2003 by launching the CLS four-door coupe. People said a coupe could not have four doors and that the CLS wouldn't work.Tens of thousands of sales have proven the doubters wrong and cheekily, Mercedes has introduced what it calls a coupe-estate, a stylish five-door CLS station wagon. Or rather a CLS Shooting Brake.The name shooting brake was coined centuries back for horse-drawn wagons used to carry shooting parties to country estates. Over 100 years ago the term reached the automotive field when Rolls-Royce built what it called a shooting break. We first admired the stylish Mercedes CLS wagon at the 2010 New York Motor Show and later attended its world debut at the famed Brooklands racing oval in England. Now we have finally had the chance to drive one in Australia.Priced from $129,000 the most fascinating thing about the all-new Mercedes-Benz CLS Shooting Brake is that it exists in a field of one. Sure there are other upmarket competitors, but none of them has the style and elegance of this one.Jaguar has already shown a concept of what it calls a Sportbrake at recent European motor shows and it will be interesting to see if other topline marques try to chase Mercedes into what could become an expansive niche in the market.At the rear the roof slopes down in a similar manner to that of the CLS four-door coupe. We particularly like the way the side windows finish at their rear point and love the old-style shiny finish that surrounds them. A nice retro touch. Inside, the Shooting Brake is finished in quality materials giving a pleasant appearance and a warm ambiance. In very Mercedes’ fashion there are easy to read dials that will be familiar to all Mercedes owners.While the Shooting Brake’s shape is unashamedly sleek it doesn’t do too badly in the practicality stakes. The rear seat has good headroom and legroom and we would have no problem sitting back there for a long interstate trip. Sensibly, the rear area is set up for two individuals, however there’s also a somewhat cramped centre seat so five can be carried for short, but not particularly comfortable trips.Luggage space is surprisingly good as well, the extravagantly long tail of the Shooting Brake means substantially long objects can be transported. However, large boxy items are restricted by the slope of the roof. In a lovely touch harking back to the days of the horse drawn shooting brakes and the old motor wagons, the Mercedes-Benz CLS Shooting Brake has the option of a mahogany timber-lined floor complete with shiny cross bracing.Two versions of the CLS Shooting Brake are now on sale in Australia, the $129,000 250 CDI powered by a twin-turbo diesel engine producing up to 150 kW of power and 500 Nm of torque. Its official fuel consumption rating of just 5.5 litres per hundred kilometres means it avoids some Luxury Car Tax (LCT).Then there’s the 3.5-litre V6 petrol unit in the CLS 350 Shooting Brake comes with 225 kW and 370 Nm. Its fuel usage of 8.2 litres per hundred kilometres means it attracts the full ire of the Australian taxation people, as LCT adds a whopping $26,277 to the price, bringing it up to $173,000.On the road we only had the chance to test the four-cylinder CLS 250. It has plenty of performance, indeed we suspect the great majority of owners would never ask for more. Once minimal turbo lag has been passed the engine has strong acceleration. Overtaking speeds, typically getting as fast as possible from 80 to 120 km/h are despatched quickly to maximise safety.Road noise is well damped, though we suspect there may be slightly more intrusion into the rear of the cabin because of the wagon body. Comfort levels are high and this is the sort of car that could transport four people across vast expanses of Australian countryside, leaving them cool and relaxed at the end of a long day’s driving. Handling is neat and precise with good steering feel and the ability to get the large Shooting Brake hustled into corners with ease.

It's amazing to think a car of this size consumes less fuel than your average hatchback. It seems impossible.The heart of the matter is a new direct injection 3.0-litre V6 turbo diesel that pumps out 190kW of power and an impressive 620Nm of torque from a low 1600 revs. That's almost as much torque as the 4.7-litre V8 S500 and it shows in the effortless way the car performs.In spite of this, few of Benz's customers at the upper end of the luxury market opt for the diesel. And, why would they, when the cost of fuel is probably not a major consideration, not when you can afford the $200,000 or so for an S-Class in the first place?In terms of power and torque, the S350 BlueTEC outguns the opposition in the shape of Audi's A8 3.0 TDI and the BMW 730d.But the S350 is still heavier than both and, as such, consumes more fuel and produces slightly more C02 than its two competitors.The lighter, aluminium bodied A8 is also quicker from 0 to 100km/h, at 6.1 seconds versus the Benz's 7.1 and the BMW's 7.2 seconds.The diesel is hooked up to a seven-speed sequential auto and rides on Airmatic air- cushioned suspension.We put in a couple of hundred kilometres behind the wheel of the S350 BlueTEC, and found the 3.0-litre V6 is so quiet you wouldn't know you were driving a diesel unless someone told you.With 620Nm of torque, it gets going quickly and mid-range response is strong, making overtaking is a breeze. But, with close to two tonnes of motor car behind it, throttle response is not immediate — not like the AMG.At 7.0 litres/100km, the combined fuel consumption represents an 11 percent improvement on the previous engine. The air suspension is a bit floaty for our liking, but switching to sport mode fixes that up.All in all, we found the car much improved and a more enjoyable drive than before. While it comes with just about every conceivable luxury, it still won't park itself like some cheaper cars.It will identify if a parking space is suitable and guide the driver into the spot, but you are still required to turn the wheel. The problem is finding an electric motor that is strong enough yet small enough to do the job. Also of interest is reservoir hidden under the spare in the boot.It contains 27 litres of an additive that is injected into the exhaust process to reduce the amount of nitrogen released into the atmosphere. There's enough to cover 20,000km, so it doesn't need to be topped up between services — but it means you get a smaller, space saver spare wheel.

WE turn the spotlight on the car world's newest and brightest stars as we ask the questions to which you want the answers. But there's only one question that really needs answering would you buy one?What is it?The Mercedes-Benz sedan that looks more like a coupe. They even call it a coupe, but of course it has four doors. This one is equipped with a torquey fuel efficient 3.0-litre turbo diesel.How much?Priced from $159,200 (same price as the 3.5-litre petrol model what a choice? It's another 50 grand jump up to the V8 from there.Who are the competitors?The closest competitors in design are probably BMW's high-riding ugly GT or perhaps the attractive Audi A7. But the Benz really nails it, based on the attention it attracts.What's under the bonnet?3.0-litre six cylinder direct injection turbo diesel produces 195kW of power and 620Nm of torque, coupled with a seven-speed automatic with drive through the rear wheels.How does it go?Nice. We love the V8 but this is definitely the thinking man's car. You might be interested to learn it actually produces more torque than the 600Nm V8.Is it economical?Claimed fuel economy is 6.2 litres/100km and it produces 163g/km of CO2. We were averaging 7.8 long-term but it was bang on the money over shorter distances.Is it green?Gets a creditable 3.5 stars under the Government's Green Vehicle Guide (Prius sets the benchmark at 5). Interestingly the 3.5 petrol model scores an even better 4.5 stars.Is it safe?No worries here. Gets a full five stars for safety. More than a dozen driving assistance systems on the new CLS help to prevent traffic accidents and reduce the severity of an accident. Active Blind Spot Assist flashes a warning if there is someone hiding in the lane next to you while the Active Lane Keeping system causes the steering wheel to vibrate in your hands if you happen to stray into the next lane.Is it comfortable?Typical Benz. Quiet, luxurious and comfortable. Individial seating for four occupants, with divided rear seats. The CLS is a class act and a stylish one.What's it like to drive?Like a stealth fighter. Slides through the traffic with consumate ease. Plenty of torque gives it a real kick off the line.Is it value for money?Fitted with 18 inch wheels, satellite navigation, LED high peformance head lights, Harman Kardon Logic 7 surround sound audio system and a 10GB hard disk for music.Would we buy one?If only? Priced from $159,200 before on-road costs. We get to drive them but we certainly don't get to keep them certainly not with what they pay us.MERCEDES-BENZ CLS 350 CDICLS turns heads with its predatory look.

But as expected, the big Benz, brimming with high tech equipment, snubbed its nose and pressed on as if nothing out of the ordinary was taking place.That is the essence of this car – it's a cut above, and Benz makes no bones about the fact equipping the new model with all the clever technology at its disposal and luxury features designed to make driving almost a seminal experience.Now in its eighth generation spanning fifty years, the iconic Mercedes-Benz S-Class has slipped up a cog with a brace of new engines, a new look and more of pretty well everything that defines the model.Three engines will eventually be offered here: a 5.4-litre, 285kW/530Nm V8, followed by a 3.5-litre, 200kW/350Nm V6 and then a mighty 5.5-litre, twin turbo V12 with 380Nm/ 830Nm output. Mercedes-Benz Australia also has the 3.2-litre turbo diesel V6 under consideration.These engines are used across the Benz range.The modelsare designated S350, S500 and S600 and though prices were not available at the international press preview drive, talk of an eight per cent price rise was bandied about. That would make the starting point for the V6 around $180,000.A seven speed automatic transmission is standard throughout as is ESP (Electronic Stability Program) and air suspension.Air suspension is worthy of special mention because the suspension gives the big Benz a superb feel in terms of ride, comfort and control. It is much more "connected" than the previous model.Weighing close to two tonnes even in S350 form, the new S-Class defies its bulk giving a sporty,"solid" feel. This is accentuated by the steering and other dynamics.It's a big, agile car to drive, not be driven in.Though appearing smaller, the new model is actually larger all round offering more room inside and a bigger boot.Few if any parts carry over and the styling is more aggressive with pronounced wheel arches, high top boot lid, curving roof turret line and imposing grille. Benz designers laughingly describe the look as "discrete elegance."Interior noise levels are eerily quiet apart from some exhaust burble under hard acceler- ation.The interior itself is in a more modern idiom with graceful lines interspersed with high tech materials and equipment.A "Command Control" system looks after many in car functions and also chassis dynamics. It is relatively simple to use from one centre console mounted pivoting knob.Little is left off the standard equipment list but plenty of options are available to "tailor" the S-Class.The most interesting is Night View Assist – an infrared vision system that is said to increase safety at night. It gives a clear image on a screen in the instrument pod many metres in front of the headlights.The system is linked to the radar modulated cruise control system and other electronic systems on the S-Class.Driving the big Benz is rewarding particularly with the multi mode seven-speed auto taking car of business. The S500 has strident performance and is never lacking in response. It sounds superb and can run relatively economically when cruising.The S350 is similarly rewarding but with a little less kick in the tail.And of course it's comfortable: one car was fitted with adaptive seats that actually "hug" driver and passenger to counteract cornering forces. They could be standard on all Aust- ralian models.All ancillary equipment is first rate - the audio, climate control, seats, materials. One car even had an automatic boot closer and a glass roof option is available.The new S-Class will be here early next year.