Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class Review

2008 Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class CLK350 Coupe Shown

Throughout most of the 1980s and '90s, Mercedes seemed to focus strictly on the business side of the luxury spectrum. With the exception of one stratospherically priced roadster, style seemed to be a secondary concern, and there was nary a two-door to be found. The Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class put an end to that. Born as a coupe first and a cabriolet (convertible) second, the CLK combined a curvy, low-slung body with four-seat practicality at a price digestible to the moderately wealthy masses. To no one's surprise, it was a hit.

Like its competitors, the Mercedes-Benz CLK traces the majority of its mechanicals to an existing sedan -- in this case, the compact C-Class. However, Mercedes has always tried to position the CLK as a higher entity than its entry-level-luxury source material. To that end, the company has offered the CLK with engines and transmissions from the more upscale E-Class, and the first-generation CLK even went so far as to crib its front-end styling from the E-Class of the time. Unfortunately, Mercedes has also felt that this higher pedigree deserves higher pricing, too.

The sum of the CLK's parts has mostly gone over well with us. Offering refined road manners, a sufficient amount of sportiness and the expected levels of Mercedes-Benz luxury, safety and prestige, the CLK is certainly a desirable two-door. If you're in the market for this sort of car, the CLK belongs on your short list.

Current Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class Models

The Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class luxury coupe and convertible is available in either CLK350 or CLK550 trim. The former is powered by a 3.5-liter V6 with 268 horsepower, while the latter gets a 5.4-liter V8 with 382 hp. A seven-speed automatic transmission drives the rear wheels of all CLKs.

Notable standard equipment on the CLK350 includes alloy wheels, leather upholstery, power seats, dual-zone climate control and a power tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel. Interior accommodations are airy in CLK coupes, thanks to their B-pillarless design, while CLK convertibles have a quick-acting power-operated cloth top. In addition to their extra power, CLK550 models add a body kit, different-colored interior pieces and paddle shifters for the automatic transmission.

In reviews, we've noted that the relaxed driving character of the current Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class makes it more of a grand touring car than a sport coupe. The steering is slower than we'd like, but overall, the CLK350 and CLK550 handle fairly nimbly while riding comfortably. They're plenty quick, too.

There are two major caveats for would-be CLK buyers. First is its high price tag, which makes the CLK thousands of dollars dearer than its closest competitor, the BMW 3 Series, yet it's also unable to match the exclusive BMW 6 Series in either performance or prestige. The second issue is that despite the CLK's formidable power, it simply isn't as engaging to drive as either of these Bimmers. Nonetheless, there's a lot to like in the Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class if you value the Benz ownership experience over the superior performance of competing models.

Used Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class Models

The current second-generation Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class debuted for the 2003 model year. First came the coupes, which at the time were a CLK320 with a 215-hp 3.2-liter V6, a CLK500 with a 302-hp 5.0-liter V8 and a CLK55 AMG with a 362-hp 5.4-liter V8. Convertible equivalents to all three joined for 2004.

In 2005, the CLK500 switched from a five-speed automatic to the current seven-speed automatic transmission. This was also the last year the CLK55 AMG was available in coupe form, and the year the navigation system switched from a CD-based to a DVD-based unit. The following year, the CLK320 became the CLK350 (and also adopted the seven-speed), while 2007 was when the CLK500 and CLK55 converted to the CLK550 and CLK63 AMG, respectively, with their more powerful V8 engines. For 2008, the AMG coupe returned, but only in limited-edition "Black Series" form with a 500-hp V8, a track-tuned suspension and a six-figure price tag. Both the CLK63 AMG and the Black Series were dropped for 2009.

The first-generation Mercedes-Benz CLK was produced for the 1998-2002 model years in coupe form, while the convertible was available from 1999-2003. Each debuted as a CLK320 powered by a 215-hp 3.2-liter V6. The CLK430 variant, motivated by a 275-hp 4.3-liter V8, arrived a year later. The high-performance CLK55 AMG coupe and its 342-hp 5.4-liter V8 joined the line in 2001. Its convertible equivalent followed in 2002, and both went away at year's end.

All models had standard leather, dual-zone automatic climate control, SmartKey keyless entry, a Bose cassette stereo, power seats with memory, front seat side airbags and antilock brakes. CLK430 models added 17-inch wheels, aero enhancements and different-colored interior items. CLK55 AMGs went further with a stiffer suspension, performance exhaust, xenon headlights, a sunroof, rain-sensing wipers, multicontour front seats, front seat heaters and a rear sunshade.

The first changes came for 1999, when stability control became standard on the CLK430 and optional on the CLK320. In 2000 this safety feature became standard across the board, as did Mercedes' new TeleAid emergency communications system. Also, the five-speed automatic transmission on all models gained a manual mode.

The original Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class didn't drive as nicely as the current one. Power wasn't the issue, as all CLKs of this generation were fine performers. In reviews at the time, we took issue with the transmission, which often second-guessed the driver's intentions and delivered badly timed shifts. In addition, the brake pedal was on the spongy side, and the CLK's old-fashioned recirculating-ball steering setup was numb and heavy. On the highway, the car always felt solid and composed, however. Actual braking distances were excellent, too. Besides that, the CLK55 AMG coupe was then the quickest production Benz in history, hitting 60 mph in 5 seconds flat.

Our gripes on the inside concerned the lack of a tilt steering wheel, limited rear-seat headroom and the complexity of many of the controls. CLK Cabriolets suffered from cramped rear legroom, mediocre rear visibility and a power top that wasn't fully automatic (all of which were improved on the second-generation CLK).

In general, we still think the BMW 3 Series coupes and convertibles of the time were more rewarding cars to drive, not to mention less expensive. Still, if we were buying a CLK, our choice would be either the CLK320 or the CLK430. The Mercedes-Benz CLK55 AMG, as fast as it was, didn't offer a big enough performance enhancement to justify its price hike.

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* Edmunds.com maintains vehicle data as far back as 1990.