Used 2012 Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class Consumer Reviews
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Bought Used CPO 2012 CLS63 Perf Model Jan 2016
Alan, 06/22/2016
2012 Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class CLS63 AMG 4dr Sedan (5.5L 8cyl Turbo 7A)
27 of 27 people found this review helpful
I bought a 2012 CLS63 CPO used in January 2016 with 40,000 miles. Paid less than half the cost of a new one and felt I got a good deal. The vehicle looked like new and runs great. In June 2016 I drove from Los Angeles, CA to Cary NC. No problems or issues during the trip and averaged 24.5 mpg. They say that "there is no replacement for displacement" and I found that out to be true. I extensively used the Distronics adaptive cruise control to control the speed and had no loss of speed going over the mountains or accelerating up on ramps. I am happy with my purchase of this vehicle, especially because the price of a new one would be beyond my budget and paying the depreciated price made owning an AMG affordable.
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One of the Best Latest Efforts From Benz
4maticbenz, 11/12/2011
2012 Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class CLS550 4MATIC 4dr Sedan AWD (4.7L 8cyl Turbo 7A)
26 of 27 people found this review helpful
This car has got it all: style, comfort, sportiness, oppulence, neck-snapping performance, build quality that reminds me of 1990's Mercedes, and the safety and security of AWD. I get countless compliments and stares while driving the car and the interior styling is quite impressive as well. Even with the airmatic suspension set in sport mode and the transmission engaged in its sport setting, everything is just buttery smooth. It's truely an outstanding car.
2012 Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class for sale near you
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Emotionally engaging, visually pleasing, and viscerally stunning
drbcr, 02/04/2012
2012 Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class CLS550 4MATIC 4dr Sedan AWD (4.7L 8cyl Turbo 7A)
25 of 26 people found this review helpful
The safety features of a car are an important consideration for me. I decided to look into BMW, Audi and Mercedes. Currently, BMW does not offer a car that competes in this class (perhaps the 5 series Gran Turismo?) I was able to test drive the M-B CLS 4matic and the Audi A7. Audi did seem to have a sportier feel to it. Both cars have a wide array of technology and safety features, but M-B believes in taking a more pro-active role in terms of safety (Active Blind Spot Assist/Active Lane-Keeping Assist). The sensual sheet metal, safety features, exclusivity, and twin turbo 4.6L V8 with 4matic sold me on the M-B. I had no idea that a car could be so interactive, functional, & beautiful.
Without qualification of any kind it is absolutely the best car I have ever owned.
fordicci, 12/10/2012
2012 Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class CLS550 4dr Sedan (4.7L 8cyl Turbo 7A)
14 of 14 people found this review helpful
Handles and responds like a much smaller car. Comfort of a large sedan with the power of a sports car. Everything about this car is outstanding.
Best Car I have Ever Owned
travisesq, 03/12/2012
2012 Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class CLS550 4dr Sedan (4.7L 8cyl Turbo 7A)
28 of 30 people found this review helpful
I purchased this car two days ago, in palladium silver and black interior. So the only disclaimer for this review is that I have driven the car a total of 150 miles. Having owned several different models of Mercedes (including a 2011 E350, that I traded for this car), as well as BMWs and Porsches, I can honestly say that this is the finest vehicle I have ever driven. Power is more than abundant. Steering and handling are perfection. Exterior and interior build quality and styling give me goose bumps. Buy this car if you can.
Smartly Delivers Mutually Exclusive Qualities
rhut, 08/01/2012
2012 Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class CLS550 4MATIC 4dr Sedan AWD (4.7L 8cyl Turbo 7A)
20 of 21 people found this review helpful
luxurious ride yet sharp handling, smooth and powerful yet efficient engine, efficient all wheel drive, craftmanship and styling; Incredible engineering achievement that grows on you with every mile and challenging road traveled; able to deliver traditionally mutually exclusive qualities: adaptive air suspension gives you flat cornering and sports car like reflexes with an S-class like ride quality; biturbo V8 engine pulls, revs, and hangs at the throttle like a sports car engine yet delivers routinely real world 28 mpg on spirited long distance highway/country road driving in a 4wheel drive 4200 pound car; the most impressive Mercedes in a generation !
CLS 550 4 Matic AMG
Claude O'Connor, 02/24/2016
updated 02/27/2017
2012 Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class CLS550 4dr Sedan (4.7L 8cyl Turbo 7A)
12 of 12 people found this review helpful
Styling is superb. Car does not get dated with age. Performance is fantastic for a 4 door sedan! Update after 5 years of ownership...car still turns heads but some quirky electronics issues with various programs are starting to lessen my experience with the CLS.
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New level Benzing
clsowner, 11/10/2011
2012 Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class CLS550 4dr Sedan (4.7L 8cyl Turbo 7A)
21 of 23 people found this review helpful
I came out of an E500 and got into the 2012 CLS 550 and there is no comparison from the power to the technology I'm very impressed. I temporarily flirted with leaving mercedes and going with the maserati, or porsche panamera, but am thoroughly glad I saved the money (funny saying that about a mercedes) and went with the CLS. My only drawback is I have a newborn and didn't fully consider the crampness of the backseat especially with the rear entertainment system, which makes it very difficult to put her huge car seat in and out of the car, but that's my problem. Overall in comparison to my e500 there is none, this is new level Benzing at it's finest from bumper to bumper
CLS 550s
aradeff, 12/30/2011
2012 Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class CLS550 4MATIC 4dr Sedan AWD (4.7L 8cyl Turbo 7A)
8 of 8 people found this review helpful
I have owned Jags,Cadillacs and MB's. The last three 2005 Clk 550' 2008 Cls 500'20011Cls 550 and now 2012 Cls 550 after hitting a deer. This is the best car I have ever driven.Power is incredible and it draws people wherever we go. I may never change. Averaged 22.7 on a trip to NYC.
Love this car
allan, 10/26/2018
2012 Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class CLS550 4dr Sedan (4.7L 8cyl Turbo 7A)
8 of 8 people found this review helpful
I bought this car from the original owner, it is the limited launch edition with some extras that make it stand out. Other that servicing there have been no other cost. I have had Sl's and Sclass, but this car combines both the sports car and the sedan together in one. It is super fast and nimble. I think it is the best value in the Mercedes lineup
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Fun, Spirited and Sexy with Raw Emotional Driving
CLS550 , 12/22/2019
2012 Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class CLS550 4dr Sedan (4.7L 8cyl Turbo 7A)
8 of 8 people found this review helpful
The CLS550 has great, wonderful, excellent power, and in sport mode provides excellent handling. Economy mode is for a lack of a better word "boring" to drive, with poor feedback and loose steering, for the added benefit of fuel economy. Speaking of fuel economy, it was easy to obtain high 20s low 30s on the highway in economy or sport, however I could easily see low teens or less for spirited town driving in sport mode. Like 6-9 MPG, as monitored by the cars fuel consumption, for stop and go. Happily traded the poor fuel for the fun factor. Probably getting around 14 MPG average around town driving, but I mash the peddle a lot. It is.. a twin turbo V8! Quite easy, to hit 80's 90's and 100's with a simple mash on the peddle. However it never feels quite so fast, so an unexpected ticket is very possible. 85 MPH feels like 50-55 MPH for reference. The air suspension is wonderful, and provides an excellent ride on all road surfaces. The body is beautiful, and cabin materials are excellent. Excellent sound dampening glass and other materials make the cabin a wonderful, and quiet place to be. Power and acceleration is smooth and quiet or ferocious and muscle car like if needed. Your choice at the press of a button. The acceleration comes on very controlled and increases quickly as a refined experience vs head and neck slap acceleration in other sports cars. The ceramic breaks are great for stopping, but always left the rims dirty even after a few miles. A constant battle to keep the front rims clean, from the ceramic dust. Breaking could be improved upon, with the available power and torque, and weight of the car. 4150 lbs to bring to a standstill is no easy task for any engineer, and MB does a good job here. The active bolstering in the drivers seat took a few days to get use to, however it has become one of my favorite features. I would highly recommend this feature. Excellent traction in the 2 wheel drive for the most part considering the HP, its impressive, however probably would have preferred the 4matic with all of the ponies. Have only lost traction a few times and I drive it hard most of the time, as its exhilarating. On as side note, I test drove a CLS450 and the fun factor was completely absent. DO NOT GET A CLS450 VS 550. Honestly I still get excited every time I get behind the wheel of the 550, the fun factor is always present. The sound system Harman Kardon is good for a factory system, however the base was not as strong as preferred, and a after market sub and amp was required. H.K. reproduces music with excellent high end fidelity, but the low end was missing the needed punch. The active adaptive headlamps are amazing. Bright, clean light better than any vehicle I've owned. A real treat. Seating is comfortable and supportive, and the drivers seat has the add on active bolstering, extra positioning, and massage. The massage function is weak, but will stimulate on a longer drive. Like a massage chair, not excellent, but better than nothing. Excellent heating, and average cooling for the seats with optioned add on. I wish the cooling seats function was better. Our 2012 KIA optima was better. All materials are otherwise excellent. Great leather, wood, aluminum. All balanced and fitted well with no poor craftsmanship or rattles or squeaks even after 50k and 8 years. Only complaints; on the early models the cruise control arm is above the turn signal arm position. This was addressed a few year after 2012, but it still throws me as the driver. Both arms are similar in position and location and it is easy to mistake one for the other. Also the backup camera and screen color is less than desirable for the quality of car with a 90's yellow feel that was replaced in the 2014 model infotainment upgrade. I switched mine to night mode to avoid seeing it. Cant stand the yellow hue. Its probably my biggest complaint, along with the side mirrors do not fold in. For a $85,000 car the mirrors should power fold and the display should be more realistic. I've seen better in most every other 2012 vehicle including a KIA optima. Trunk space is tight. Not quite as much room as one would think looking at the vehicle size. A few suitcases, but not much more. Overall a beautiful fun vehicle to drive. Always, fun. Sporty but classy too. Built well with excellent materials, fits and finishes. Room for improvement on the 2012 model; power folding mirrors, back up display color, more power and base with the factory stereo, and change the positioning of the turn and cruise arms. Otherwise an outstanding vehicle, with most issues addressed in future models. I would highly recommend this vehicle, and really enjoy seeing the 2015/2016 model with some body style upgrades and problem solving for original areas of improvement. Great quality and reliability after 8 years with zero repairs and only factory scheduled maintenance. I love my CLS550.
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Another flawless car
John R, 01/16/2022
2012 Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class CLS550 4MATIC 4dr Sedan AWD (4.7L 8cyl Turbo 7A)
7 of 7 people found this review helpful
Being a fan of this particular W218, I ordered new with every option available, including a Designo package. Back then, the Designo wasn’t very prominent but I wanted the very best, this class had to offer. To this day with only 45k miles, it’s never been in the shop for a single issue. It’s been serviced and had only OEM MO replacement tires. It’s never had to have aligned or brakes or any physical damage whatsoever. It’s as perfect as the day I picked it up. I find that people are always asking, did I get it? I find cars today aren’t pretty or sexy. Most people buy SUV’s because they are sheep. I buy cars that are art and inspire emotion. Most of these are just basic and most of them don’t last. I usually trade every 2-3 years but I haven’t found anything I like as well. As amazing as the new technology is on the never versions, they are not esthetically pleasing. It’s hard to find one even 9 years later, (unless you buy a 63) that cost 96k. This was an S Class with youth. I even had the engine tuned to put out almost 650hp. I couldn’t have ever asked for a mow beautifully designed of better built car. I hear people complain about build quality or cheap materials but unless you buy the upper end, you’ll get what you pay for. To me, it’s all in how you maintain and keep your cars. They are like children, you raise them properly and you’ll have a good person, you raise them poorly, (or to the “best of your ability”) and you have nothing but trouble and disappointment.
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Hold on to your ankles
J.R., 03/09/2017
2012 Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class CLS550 4dr Sedan (4.7L 8cyl Turbo 7A)
13 of 21 people found this review helpful
Everyone knows that owning a Mercedes-Benz is a costly ordeal. But my experience went even deeper into my pockets. For the first 3 to 4 years the car was solid! No real mechanical issues. Only the yearly maintenance, tires, and a fuel pump which warranty covered. Within 3 months of the warranty running out the whole air suspension went out. (1400.00 repair dealer cost) 2 months later power steering pump goes (700 repair dealer cost) Within the next visit I needed new pads/rotors. (1500 repair dealer cost) Then upon trying to sell/trade the vehicle in the resale value is less then HALF of what I bought the car for! On top of that my particular model has a recall that has no repair yet so not even Mercedes Benz dealerships will take the car for a trade in. For that kind of money the service is unacceptable. Don't mind spending good money for a quality product. I just believe they don't make one anymore.
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OMG
GDH, 01/19/2023
2012 Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class CLS550 4dr Sedan (4.7L 8cyl Turbo 7A)
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
I came late to this vehicle, but I am more than wowed by the beauty and power this car has...I recently added a RennTech HHT ECU upgrade that has dramatically awakened the motor in this car!!!...This car has a look for business and power for pure motoring pleasure...Well Done Mercedes!
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Rocket Ship with All the Luxury Features
Steve Mesh, 11/14/2019
2012 Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class CLS550 4MATIC 4dr Sedan AWD (4.7L 8cyl Turbo 7A)
1 of 2 people found this review helpful
It handle like it us on rails. Styling is classic. Still looks awesome after 7 years. Black wheels are a must. Great road car. Has 4 bucket seats. Cooled seats are a must.