Used 2008 Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class Consumer Reviews
Used CLS-Class for sale
See Edmunds pricing data
Has Your Car's Value Changed?
Used car values are constantly changing. Edmunds lets you track your vehicle's value over time so you can decide when to sell or trade in.
We have a limited number of reviews for the 2008 CLS-Class, so we've included reviews for other years of the CLS-Class since its last redesign.
Best car we ever owned
mk, 12/08/2008
2008 Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class CLS550 4dr Sedan (5.5L 8cyl 7A)
4 of 4 people found this review helpful
Always been Audi fan but when CLS got out could not resist - and have no regrets despite rather high price tag. Starts a bit slow but then jumps like its power has no limit; holds road very well, unsurpassed comfort and attention to details, and last but not least - real head turner
Outstanding Craftsmanship, a Gem, Instant classic
JR Cross, 08/23/2016
2008 Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class CLS550 4dr Sedan (5.5L 8cyl 7A)
6 of 7 people found this review helpful
I was looking for a V8 E-class when I found this car. I happened to come across it at the right price, so I took it for a test drive. I've seen this car for years and never thought I could afford one but after a couple of minutes it was a done deal. I previously owned a Volvo s60R and was all about turbo charging, but this 5.5 liter V8 has power on tap at any given moment. My vehicle has the optional AMG exhaust which has the meatiest sound on the market. It scares other drivers at full chap which is awesome. A 4.6sec 0-60 is spectacular for a vehicle of this size, at this price point. The hydraulic steering is also meaty, very well assisted but not lite. I recently drove a 2016 C300 and was surprised how woeful the electric steering was, very inconsistent assist at varying speed in slow turns. In Sport mode the chassis stiffen and you can get the car to predictably slide all 4 tires around a corner, inspiring confidence. The transmission is a little slow, but the more you drive it aggressively in manual mode, the quicker it becomes. It's just a little aggressive to get to overdrive, and downshifting can feel like turbo-lag if you haven't been driving the car hard. Still shifts are very smooth. It's also very awesome that downshift can skip gears, basically it can downshift from 5th-3rd without having to sequentially go through 4th. Make sure the transmission is in Standard mode and not Comfort mode if you want performance. Comfort mode always starts the car in 2nd. I found that out and had to get pain-killers for my neck pain. :) Parking assistance is a must if you live in the city, like I do, and have a smaller garage. The visibility can be an issue with the low roof. People talk about the entertainment center being dated, which it is, but it's very clear and I can operate it easily while driving. There is no comparison when it comes to the quality of material, but the lighter interior colors will require maintenance. I have the Cashmere interior and the steering wheel color started to wear off. I order leather color from Leather World and fixed it perfectly. The air suspension is simply wonderful and makes this car drive different from any Mercedes that has a conventional coil-over spring setup (my back started hurting when driving a CLA, and the C-class felt a little unrefined). As far as maintenance, I do a lot of my own work and the car is remarkably simple to work on, I can do an oil change in 15 minutes. When I had to take the car to the dealer for front brakes because the caliber pins were frozen and I couldn't do it myself, they only charged me $686 for pads, rotors, and new sensors. To put that into perspective, my brother-in-law has a 2015 Taurus that his dealership charged $800 for rear brakes. The car is really just a solid brick down the road. I love it to death and although I'm very much a car guy, I just can't find anything to replace it with. All hale the 5.5 naturally aspirated engine. Here is a review of my car - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6QfJhAVyuOQ
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Value
2008 Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class for sale near you
3 of 22 listings
- CLS63 AMG SedanMSRP: $21,99932 mi away
- CLS63 AMG SedanMSRP: $13,995277 mi away
- CLS550 SedanMSRP: $6,999384 mi away
See all 22 listings
CLS 63 AMG
David, 01/01/2007
2007 Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class CLS63 AMG 4dr Sedan (6.2L 8cyl 7A)
15 of 21 people found this review helpful
It is difficult for me to describe just how brilliant the CLS 63 AMG is. It really is a dream car. It simply does everything! When you are stressed, tired or off to lets say the ball, it will simply drive like a very comfortable and expensive saloon. However, should you need to get somewhere quickly, its speed will leave you breathless and with a big smile on you face! It will get you from 0-60mph in 4.1 seconds if you use the paddle shifts or 4.3 if you leave it in sport mode. Only very serious supercars like a Lambo are faster. I spent about 8 months researching the CLS range and decided there was nothing out there with this combination of beauty, style, performance, and practicality.
Concens with engine
Slo Mo, 03/04/2010
2007 Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class CLS550 4dr Sedan (5.5L 8cyl 7A)
5 of 6 people found this review helpful
I purchased this car 2 weeks ago and I've already had to return to the dealership for a oil leak. The car only has 30,890 miles and for it to have a leak is really concerning. I love the car but the oil leak really bothers me. I'm disappointed so far because the car runs great but my confidence is a little shaken at the moment.
One of the most gorgeous cars ever!
Woo, 03/29/2008
2008 Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class CLS550 4dr Sedan (5.5L 8cyl 7A)
3 of 3 people found this review helpful
Now, I'm a very proud owner of a real beauty, the Mercedes Benz CLS-Class. I traded in my 5-series for a new '08 CLS this week. My 5-series had very good driving dynamics, but was simply no match for this Mercedes in terms of beauty, luxury and prestige. The CLS puts an high emphasis on syle, but it also nicely blends in great performance and an acceptable level of sedan-utility. Pound-for-pound, the CLS may be more expensive than any other mass-production cars today (including its younger brother, E-Class), but for that extra that you pay, you get a chance to own one of the most beautiful cars made today.