2021 Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class Review

Name: 2021 Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class Review
Brand: Mercedes-Benz
Price: 44284 USD

Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class AMG CLS 53 Sedan Exterior

+331

The Mercedes-Benz CLS is a well-executed sedan. Every aspect is refined, from the cabin to the infotainment system to its innovative mild hybrid engine. The only downside is that the E-Class does it all for less money.

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Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class model years

Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class for Sale

Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class types

Sedan
AMG CLS 53

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2021 Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class Review

byRyan ZumMallen^{Contributor
Ryan ZumMallen has worked in the automotive industry since 2012. He has written thousands of car-related articles and tested and reviewed hundreds of vehicles over the course of his career. Ryan has also contributed to Road & Track, Autoweek, Trucks.com and more. In 2019, Ryan published his first book, Slow Car Fast, on the millennial generation and its unique take on modern car culture.}

Pros

Powerful engines deliver decisive acceleration
Pleasing balance of handling performance and comfort
Long list of available advanced safety features
Sleek exterior and impeccable interior

Cons

Interior and trunk space are compromised by styling
More expensive than the related E-Class sedan

What's new

MBUX infotainment system and digital instrument panel now standard
Surround-view camera system and power rear sunshade standard on AMG CLS 53
Part of the third CLS generation introduced for 2019

Overview

Are traditional luxury cars too staid and dull for your taste? A good remedy is to consider a coupe-like sedan with a sporty fastback roofline. The Mercedes-Benz CLS started the trend nearly two decades ago, and it remains an excellent alternative to more conventional sedans. Based on the Mercedes E-Class, the CLS puts a trendy twist on luxury vehicles. Yes, you sacrifice some rear headspace and overall practicality, but it'll be worth it if you find the CLS' look appealing.

Cost to Drive^{Cost to drive estimates for the 2021 Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class CLS 450 4dr Sedan (3.0L 6cyl Turbo gas/electric mild hybrid 9A) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $3.89 per gallon for premium unleaded in Virginia.}

Monthly estimates based on costs in Virginia

$186/mo

$192/mo

Avg. Large Car

Calculate my fuel costs

The 2021 CLS is the last model year before a refreshed version arrives in 2022. To keep the current offering relevant, Mercedes-Benz has updated the CLS to include the company's excellent MBUX infotainment system as standard this year. It's now armed with an advantage in the tech department over competitors including the Audi A7, BMW 8 Series Gran Coupe and Porsche Panamera. What else is there to like? Read our in-depth Expert Rating below to find out more.

Edmunds Expert Rating

Our Verdict^{The Edmunds Vehicle Testing Team evaluates a fresh batch of vehicles every week, pairing objective assessments at our test track with real-world driving on city streets, freeways and winding roads. The data we gather results in our Expert Ratings. They’re based on 30-plus scores that cover every aspect of the automotive experience.}

Great

8.3

out of 10

edmunds TESTED

Rated for you by America's best test team.

Performance

8.5/10

How does the CLS-Class drive? The Mercedes-Benz CLS is a well-rounded sport luxury sedan that stands out both for its power and its extreme refinement. There are no flat spots in the power delivery. We tested the AMG 53 version and recorded a 0-60 mph time of 4.3 seconds, which is impressive.

The CLS' handling is capable and secure, and overall it's a more rewarding car to drive than the lower-trim E-Class sedans. Precise steering gives you a clear sense of the on-center position. Even if you're just cruising around town, the CLS provides a sporty and refined driving experience.

Comfort

9/10

How comfortable is the CLS-Class? The CLS is extremely comfortable on long drives thanks to minimal noise, outstanding seat comfort and an excellent climate control system. The engine is impeccably smooth too. The front seat's combination of soft leather and firm padding provides great long-distance support and comfort.

At highway speeds, the CLS provides exceptional isolation from wind noise. There's little engine noise aside from a muted growl during hard acceleration. Engine vibration is nearly nonexistent. The only minor demerit is that tire noise over seamed or ridged pavement is more noticeable than we expect for a car like this.

Interior

8/10

How’s the interior? The CLS' controls are easy to use thanks to intuitive and straightforward interfaces. The screen menus can seem overly complicated at first, but they are well organized. The many ways to interface with the infotainment screen (hard keys, knob, touchpad, steering wheel touch nubs, voice) make it easier to use.

As for interior space, the CLS provides plenty of elbow room and legroom in front. But headroom is compromised a bit compared to the related E-Class. That's especially true in the back seat because of the sloped roofline.

Technology

8.5/10

How’s the tech? The CLS' display screen is large and impressive, and the infotainment interface has a lot of capability. Sound quality from optional Burmester premium audio is exceptional. Using the knob is natural and effective, or use the nubs on the steering wheel (they take a brief period to learn).

The driver aids constitute a long list and work quite well. Our test car was equipped with the optional Driver Assistance package that includes every assist feature imaginable. All are extremely well calibrated, and false positives are rare.

Storage

7.5/10

How’s the storage? The CLS' trunk has less storage space than the E-Class sedan's as well as the trunks of most other midsize luxury sedans. Still, there's enough room here to swallow a few weekend luggage bags. The 40/20/40-split folding rear seatback helps improve utility, so practicality remains decent for a sedan whose existence is predicated on style. In the cabin there's adequate small-item storage with huge door pockets and a divided center console.

Fuel Economy

8/10

How’s the fuel economy? The AMG CLS 53 we tested gets an EPA-estimated 23 mpg combined. This is above-average fuel economy for a performance-oriented luxury sedan.

Value

8/10

Is the CLS-Class a good value? The CLS is impeccably built. It looks and feels special. This is not an inexpensive car, but owners will be satisfied that they got their money's worth every time they get in. That said, it's hard to justify buying a CLS over a regular E-Class sedan considering it costs thousands of dollars more and has less rear headroom.

Wildcard

8.5/10

Plenty of power and a delightfully refined driving experience underscore this sedan's appeal. It's quite capable even on fast drives, though it stops short of hooliganism. Stylewise, the CLS stands out.

Which CLS-Class does Edmunds recommend?

Go for the AMG CLS 53 to make the most of the stylish and powerful ethos of the CLS. This top-level version comes with a serious bump in horsepower over the base model, plus sporty upgrades and AMG interior trimmings to add an air of exclusivity. If you're already considering a luxury sedan big on personality, why not go all the way?

2021 Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class models

The CLS is a four-door luxury sedan with a fastback roofline. It comes in one of two trim levels: the CLS 450 or the AMG CLS 53. Both models use a turbocharged 3.0-liter six-cylinder engine. Rear-wheel drive is standard on the CLS 450, with optional all-wheel drive (Mercedes' 4Matic). All-wheel drive is standard on the AMG CLS 53. Highlight features include:

CLS 450
Comes standard with:

Six-cylinder engine with 362 horsepower, 369 lb-ft of torque
Nine-speed automatic transmission
LED headlights and taillights
19-inch wheels
Mercedes' MBUX infotainment system
12.3-inch digital instrument display and 12.3-inch touchscreen
Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration
Leather upholstery
Heated front seats
64-color ambient lighting

The CLS also comes standard with many driver aids such as:

Blind-spot assist (automatically steers the car back into its lane if you try to change lanes while a car is in the vehicle's blind spot)
Forward collision mitigation (warns if a front impact is imminent and applies the brakes if you don't respond in time)
Pre-Safe and Pre-Safe Sound (reduces hearing damage from an accident by emitting a specific noise that triggers an inner-ear muscle reflex to protect hearing)
Driver attention warning (issues an alert if sensors determine you are becoming fatigued)
Car-to-X communication (automatically transmits and receives safety updates to and from other appropriately equipped vehicles, then alerts drivers to hazards)

AMG CLS 53
The AMG version of the CLS sedan comes with more power and other performance upgrades:

Six-cylinder engine with 429 hp, 384 lb-ft of torque
Sport-tuned suspension and all-wheel-drive system
Upgraded brakes
AMG seat upholstery

Some optional CLS features you may want to consider include:

Warmth & Comfort package

Heated steering wheel
Faster seat heating function
Heated front armrests

Driver Assist package

Adaptive cruise control (maintains a driver-set distance between the CLS and the car in front)
Evasive steering assist (enhances the forward collision mitigation system with steering-based collision avoidance)
Lane keeping system (makes minor steering corrections to help keep the vehicle centered in its lane)

Air suspension (can raise or lower the ride height of the vehicle)
Three-zone climate control
Head-up display
Burmester surround-sound system

Reliability Ratings by RepairPal

3/5Average

#25 out of 48 among Luxury Fullsize Cars

RepairPal Reliability Ratings are based on the actual cost, frequency, and severity of unscheduled repairs and maintenance on make/model data for select 2008-2022 vehicles. The reliability of a specific vehicle may vary depending on its maintenance and driving history, model year, trim, and features.

Cost

^{The average total annual cost for unscheduled repairs and maintenance across all model years of the Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class from 2008-2022.}

$733/yr

vs. $729/yr
for Average Luxury Fullsize Car

Frequency

^{The average number of times this model is brought into the shop for unscheduled repairs and maintenance in a single year. RepairPal calculates this metric by tracking millions of unique vehicles over multiple years to determine an average number of visits per year (omitting small routine visits, e.g., oil changes).}

1.83x/yr

vs. 1.74x/yr
for Average Luxury Fullsize Car

Severity

^{The probability that a repair will be a major issue, meaning the repair costs 3x the average annual repair cost for all models. This threshold will be higher for vehicles that have higher labor rates and parts costs (such as a premium brand).}

16.3%

vs. 14.7%
for Average Luxury Fullsize Car

powered by RepairPal ^{Based on RepairPal reliability data as of 8/23/2023. Ratings are provided by RepairPal and Edmunds is not responsible for their accuracy.}

Consumer reviews

Read what other owners think about the Used 2021 Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class.

5 (70%)

4 (10%)

3 (0%)

2 (20%)

1 (0%)

4.3

10 reviews

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Most helpful consumer reviews

Fast, Stylish, the happy marriage of sport/sedan

AKALOVE, 03/07/2020

2020 Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class AMG CLS 53 4dr Sedan AWD (3.0L 6cyl Twincharger gas/electric mild hybrid 9A)

I went from a 2016 cla 45 to a 2020 cls 53 amg and couldn’t be happier. I weighed all of my options before upgrading between many amg models 53, 63, the GT etc. I needed a daily driver but like my cla one that was still quick, fun to be in, all wheel drive/4 matic (I live in New York, winter can be tuff lol), stylish with coupe like features and just an overall joy to own and be in. The …

Classy car

Papi, 02/20/2020

2020 Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class CLS 450 4dr Sedan (3.0L 6cyl Turbo gas/electric mild hybrid 9A)

If you are looking for a car that brings a bit of excitement to you every time you approach it, this is your type of vehicle. Aside from great lines and looks, it is smooth, quiet, luxurious and sporty at the same time! A pleasure to drive!

Rolling Technology Display

Jim Collum, 09/12/2019

2019 Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class CLS 450 4MATIC 4dr Sedan AWD (3.0L 6cyl Turbo gas/electric hybrid 9A)

Just leased this car after previously leasing a 2016 CLS400. Huge leap ahead. Other than seats that are too aggressively bolstered for a everyday sedan, I love this vehicle. Best parts are an amazing powertrain with effortless and endless power, beautiful interior, great stereo and safety features and a 5th seat. Technology isn’t always intuitive but learning curve isn’t steep. Truck …

Love my 2019 CLS 53

Bob Friedman, 04/26/2020

2019 Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class AMG CLS 53 4dr Sedan AWD (3.0L 6cyl Twincharger gas/electric hybrid 9A)

I love love this car and I traded a 2016 Bentley V8s convertible for it. My car is matte selenite grey and one report said it is difficult to care for. I generally wash it my self and it is the easiest car I’ve ever had to keep clean. If the wheels are clean the car alwa6s looks clean no matter how dirty I might be

We have a limited number of reviews for the 2021 Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class, so we've included reviews for other years of the CLS-Class since its last redesign.

See all 10 reviews of the Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class

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2021 CLS-Class Highlights

Type:

Sedan

Trim:

CLS 450

Base MSRP Excludes Destination Fee	$70,300
Engine Type	Mild hybrid
Combined MPG	26 MPG
Cost to Drive	$186/month
Seating	5 seats
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place	11.9 cu.ft.
Drivetrain	rear wheel drive
Warranty	4 years / 50,000 miles

See all features & specs

Safety

Our experts like the CLS-Class models:

Active Brake Assist: Warns if a front collision is imminent and applies the brakes if the driver doesn't react in time.
Active Blind Spot Assist: Alerts you if a vehicle is in your blind spot and beeps if you signal in that direction. It also steers you away if you drift toward it.
Car-to-X communication: Automatically transmits and receives safety updates to and from other appropriately equipped vehicles, then alerts drivers about hazards they can't yet see.

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2021 Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class Review

2021 Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class Review

Pros

Cons

What's new

Overview

Edmunds Expert Rating

Performance

Comfort

Interior

Technology

Storage

Fuel Economy

Value

Wildcard

Which CLS-Class does Edmunds recommend?

2021 Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class models

Reliability Ratings by RepairPal

Cost

Frequency

Severity

Most helpful consumer reviews

Fast, Stylish, the happy marriage of sport/sedan

Classy car

Rolling Technology Display

Love my 2019 CLS 53

2021 CLS-Class Highlights

Safety

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