Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class vs Mercedes-Benz EQS

What's the difference?

Comfortable when it needs to be and sporty when you want it to be, the CLS 53 is a bit like Mercedes’ Doctor Jekyll and Mr Hyde – or maybe Bruce Banner and the Hulk is a better frame of reference for some.

While it doesn’t excel in any one particular area, its breadth of useability is commendable, but ultimately it might be its all-too-familiar aesthetics that is the biggest letdown.

From the inside, it looks and feels like any other large Mercedes model (not necessarily a criticism), while the exterior – in my opinion – doesn’t go far enough to differentiate it from the CLA.

After all, if you wanted a stylish and sporty sedan, shouldn’t feel special too?

Does electrification enhance the seven-seat SUV experience? In the case of the EQS450, the answer is yes. Smoother, quieter and with plenty of easy-flowing power, the brand's family-focused luxury electric SUV behaves exactly as you might expect.

Note: CarsGuide attended this event as a guest of the manufacturer, with meals provided.

Mercedes’ homogenised design is a bit of a double-edged sword, and while the CLS does wear its styling confidently, it probably looks a little too much like the cheaper and much smaller CLA for our tastes.

Both are swoopy four-door coupes from Mercedes-Benz, so of course there will be some similarities, but keen-eyed car spotters will notice some differences.

While the proportions are similar, the longer wheelbase and bonnet line gives the CLS a more mature look, and the extra details found in the head- and tail-lights, and front bumper stand it apart.

The changes to the 2022 version also brings in AMG’s 'Panamericana' front grille, which adds a bit of welcome aggression to the front end.

From the side, the steeply raked roof flows seamlessly into the rear, while the 20-inch wheels fill out the arches well.

All four doors are also frameless, which is always cool to see.

From the rear, quad-exhaust tips hint at the CLS’s sporty intentions, while a prominent rear diffuser and subtle boot lid spoiler also feature.

Inside, the biggest change to the CLS is now the inclusion of the MBUX multimedia system, which keeps it in line with the E-Class, C-Class and other Mercedes models.

AMG sports seats are also fitted, wrapped in Nappa leather and 'Dinamica' fabric upholstery for all pews.

Our test car also came fitted with red contrast stitching and seat belts, adding a racy streak to the CLS cabin.

Have to point out the new steering wheel that comes with the 2022 CLS, though, which mirrors the tiller offered in the new E-Class, and is a step back in terms of functionality.

It looks premium enough thanks to its chunky leather-wrapped rim and gloss black dual-spoke design, but using the buttons, especially when on the move, is difficult and unergonomic.

This design is definitely function over form, and might need a few more revisions to get it right.

Overall, we’d say the CLS is a good-looking car, but does play it a bit too safe with its styling?

It’s a handsome SUV, and one that’s not immediately recognisable as electric — especially given there are little exhaust-pipe-mirroring design flourishes at the rear which make you look twice.

Aussie-spec cars get the AMG exterior treatment, which includes AMG alloys, aluminium-look side steps and the power-domed bonnet, but there's still nothing overly 'shouty' about the design, with the sleek, smooth body panels (accentuated by the hidden handles) making the EQS450 look smaller than it actually is.

Inside, it’s a super-comfy space to spend time, and the little fluffy pillows attached to the headrests should be standard in every car. The tech on offer is ample, too.

But it does all feel a little gigantic, with great swathes of wood panelling and massive screens, all of which make you feel bit like you’ve been shrunken down and are now living amongst the giants.

Measuring 4994mm long, 1896mm wide, 1425mm tall and with a 2939mm wheelbase, the CLS slots neatly between the E-Class and S-Class in size and positioning.

Up front, occupants are afforded ample room for head, legs and shoulders, while the electronically adjustable seats make it easy to find a comfortable position.

The steering wheel also features a telescoping function – an always appreciated feature – and the expansive glasshouse makes things feel open and airy.

Storage options include a deep door pocket, a cubby found under the armrest, two cupholders and a smartphone tray with wireless charging capabilities.

It’s a different story in the second row, though, as the sloping roofline does noticeably eat away at headroom.

Don’t get me wrong, a six-foot-tall (183cm) adult can still slide in there fine, but the roof is dangerously close to the touching the top of the head.

Leg- and shoulder-room is pretty good in the outboard seats though, while the middle position is compromised by the intrusive transmission tunnel.

In the second row, passengers have access to a bottle holder in the door, a fold-down armrest with cupholders, backseat map pockets and two air vents.

Opening the boot reveals a cavity offering 490 litres of volume, with an aperture wide enough to fit golf clubs or luggage for a weekend getaway for four adults.

The rear seats also fold in a 40/20/40 split fashion, but Mercedes-Benz is yet to detail how much volume is on offer with the rear seats down. And as a traditional sedan, the CLS is less practical than the liftback Audi S7.

The EQS450 stretches 5136mm in length, 1965mm in width and 1718mm in height. That's about the size of a Nissan Patrol and long enough to make it a proper seven-seater.

The middle row can be adjusted forwards or backwards, and with the front seat set to my 175cm driving position, I found I had ample head and knee room to get comfortable.

USB-A charge points abound, and there's wireless device charging, and because of the sheer size of the cabin, the storage options are plentiful. The central bin between the front seats, for example, seems styled on the Grand Canyon.

In the third row, though, things get a little tighter, but it’s perfectly good for kids. My knees were touching the seat in front, however, and it still requires some acrobatics to climb into.

At the rear, with all three seats in place, you'll find 245L of room (measured to the ceiling), growing to a maximum 1030L with the third row flat. Stow the second row, and you'll find a maximum 2020L of storage space – which, and take my word for it – is plenty.

One small quirk, though. While the second row is electric, stowing away at the touch of a button, the third row isn't. That means, when it's flat, you have to climb into the boot to pull it back up, or attack it from the rear door. Either way, it's more awkward than it needs to be.

Arguably the biggest hurdle the EQS450 has to clear is its asking price, which is a considerable $194,900, before on-road costs.

Inside, you'll find leather seats and trim, a big 12.8-inch central display (and a head-up display), a 12.3-inch digital instrument display, a Burmester sound system with 15 speakers, a panoramic sunroof and cooling and heating in the front seats.

Outside, there are 21-inch alloys, flush-fitting door handles, illuminated running boards and LED lighting, which Benz calls 'Digital Lighting', and offers 1.3m pixels of light per headlight.

Powering the Mercedes-AMG CLS 53 is a 3.0-litre turbocharged inline six-cylinder engine, punching out 320kW/520Nm to all four wheels via a nine-speed automatic transmission and Merc's '4Matic+' AWD system.

A 48-volt mild-hybrid system, known as 'EQ Boost', is also fitted that serves up to 16kW/250Nm from take-off.

The result is a 0-100km/h acceleration time of 4.5 seconds, keeping it on pace with the likes of the 331kW/600Nm Audi S7 (4.6s) and 390kW/750Nm 250kW/500Nm BMW 840i Gran Coupe (5.2s).

While not as brutish as AMG’s eight-cylinder engine, the straight six strikes a great balance between pace and poise that perfectly suits a model like the CLS 53.

There are two electric motors delivering the driving power, one at the front axle and one at the rear, which will deliver a combined 265kW and 800Nm, fed through a single-speed transmission and with all four wheels being powered.

That's enough for a sprint to 100km/h of 6.0 seconds.

Official fuel consumption numbers for the CLS 53 are pegged at 9.2 litres per 100km, while we managed an average of 12.0L/100km in our launch drive.

All of our driving was relegated to country back roads and high-trafficked urban areas however, with no consistent freeway driving.

We’ll reserve judgement on how accurate the fuel economy figures are until after we’ve had the car for longer, but the EQ Boost system is designed to help keep consumption down by being able to coast the engine in particular situations.

There's a huge 107.8kWh on board here, but the EQS450's driving range is a less impressive 483km. Maybe something to do with the 2918kg weight of this big SUV.

Don't get me wrong, 483km is plenty to cover almost anyone's weekly commute (and then some), but early promises had pointed to a range of more like 600km.

When it comes time to plug in, you'll find the EQS450 is set up for 200kW DC fast charging, which should see you go from 10 to 80 percent charged in just 31 minutes.

Home charging is, of course, a slower proposition. A three-phase 11kW supply should take 10 hours, while a 7.0kW wallbox will be slower again, and more like 15 hours.

There are certain expectations on a vehicle when it wears a Mercedes badge, namely it should be comfortable to drive while also dripping with the latest tech. And here the large four-door coupe delivers in spades.

Driving the car is smooth, easy and comfortable when in its default drive setting, you can really sink into the CLS and just eat up the miles in comfort.

There are small niggles, like the 20-inch wheels and low-profile tyres (245/35 front and 275/30 rear) throw up a bit too much road noise into the cabin, but for the most part, around town, the CLS is serene, supple and supremely soothing.

However, switch it over to Sport or Sport+ and the steering gets a bit heavier, the throttle response a bit sharper, and the suspension a bit stiffer.

Does it transform the CLS into a sports car? Not quite, but it certainly dials up driving engagement to a level where you can really have some fun.

Though this isn’t a full-fat AMG in the same vein as an E63 S and doesn’t feature the ubiquitous 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8, the CLS 53’s 3.0-litre six-cylinder engine is still plenty potent.

Coming away off the line feels particularly brisk, likely due to the EQ Boost system adding a bit of poke, and even flat-footing it mid-corner delivers a noticeable surge of urgency from the creamy straight six.

However, the best of the CLS 53 experience, in my opinion, is actually the sound, with the exhaust letting off the right sort of pops and crackles in Sport+ mode on overrun.

It’s rude and obnoxious, but also completely surprising coming from the motoring equivalent of a three-piece dress suit – and I love it!

The brakes are also up to task for scrubbing speed, but our relatively brief time with the car was in extremely wet conditions, so the 4Matic+ AWD system was hugely appreciated.

The drive experience is, well, unremarkable. But I don’t want that to sound negative, because that's not how it's intended.

The EQS450 SUV does exactly what you expect a circa-three-tonne, premium electric SUV to do, and it does it all well.

It's powerful enough without being exhilarating, comfortable enough, and laden with enough tech to satisfy almost anyone.

It's just that it also doesn't exactly ignite the senses. But the question must be asked, what seven-seat family-focused SUV does? Few, if any.

So, surely the real test is if electrification has improved the formula here, and I'd argue that it definitely has.

For one, the EQS450 is properly whisper-quiet in the cabin, with Benz employing multiple sound-deadening techniques at once to lock out road noise. And with no pesky engine to interfere, the cabin is about as serene as they come.

The power delivery is predictably smooth and easy, too. There is no headline-stealing acceleration figure here, but the power is potent and plentiful, and more than enough for any real-world situation you might encounter.

The ride, too, is commendable. Aided by Mercedes' air suspension, it glides over all but the most broken road surfaces. And it is fitted with rear-axle steering, which really does cut down a turning circle that would otherwise surely resemble that of a cruise ship.

It feels heavy at times, though, and even the most high-tech suspension can't eliminate body roll entirely through tighter corners (physics and all that).

But unless you're really pushing – and why would you be – the cabin is calm, comfortable and cosseting.

So, exciting? Not really. But comfortable and calming, which are probably the traits its owners will value much higher.

The EQS450 SUV is yet to be ANCAP crash tested, but you can expect an extensive suite of active safety equipment, including AEB with pedestrian and cyclist detection and junction assist, adaptive cruise control, active lane keep assist, lane change assist and steering assist, traffic sign recognition and eight airbags.

Like all new Mercedes-Benz models sold in 2021, the CLS 53 comes with a five-year/unlimited kilometre warranty with roadside assist over that period.

This outclasses the assurance period offered by BMW, Porsche and Audi (three-year/unlimited kilometre), and matches that available from Jaguar, Genesis and Lexus, who recently upgraded their offering.

Scheduled service intervals are every 12 months or 25,000km, whichever occurs first.

The first three planned services will set buyers back $3150, broken down as $700, $1100 and $1350 apiece.

The Mercedes EQS450 is covered by Mercedes-Benz's five-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty, with servicing required every 12 months or 25,000km.

You can prepay your service costs, coming in at $2350 for three years, $3695 for four years or $4280 for five years.

The battery its covered for eight years or 160,000km.