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Mercedes-Benz CL

The Essentials

  • Price from £94,545
  • What Car? says: 4 star rating
  • Fuel economy: up to 29.4mpg
  • What is it? Huge, high-tech coupe showcases the best Mercedes can do; it's huge, fast and comfortable.

Great

  • A real pleasure to drive
  • Stylish looks, and beautifully crafted
  • Superbly comfortable, no matter how many lunches you've put on expenses

Gripes

  • Buying one will dent your bonus
  • Fueling the CL will drain the rest of it
  • But if you can afford it, there's little else to complain about
  • Drive

    Lightning pace, magnificent handling, and all done silently

  • Inside

    Perfect position no matter how many corporate lunches you've enjoyed

  • Safety

    Every high-tech gizmo we can think of, and more besides

  • Reliability

    Well made using quality materials and Mercedes' reputation should ensure reliability

  • Space

    Plenty of room for four and their golf clubs

  • Standard and extras

    Leather, climate control and sat-nav as standard

  • What's it like to drive?

    Choose from lightning (the 500), forked lightning (the 63AMG), or greased lightning (the 65 AMG). As well as offering the kind of pace that can throw you back in your seat, it's incredibly comfortable and handles beautifully. It's a masterpiece of engineering, with a silky smooth gearchange and such a quiet cabin you'll hear a fifty pound note drop.

  • What's it like inside?

    There's enough seat and steering wheel adjustment to suit all figures. The 'Comand' knob which controls all the major functions is easy to use, but then we imagine you're used to having your every command obeyed. The Mercedes CL is a big car, with heaps of room particularly in the front, and a boot that will carry several golf bags or the very latest in baby buggies. Everything is beautifully crafted from the finest materials.

  • How reliable is it?

    As you'd expect from a flagship model for Mercedes, safety features are top-notch. As well as all-round airbags, and stability control it also features adaptive headlights and a warning if it detects you dropping off or wandering across lanes.

  • Should I buy one?

    Since you'll probably own, or run, the bank if you're buying one of these, we guess not. However running costs are staggering, particularly for fuel. Our favourite, the 500, manages just under 30mpg on average, but the range-topper won't average even 20mpg. Most equipment you'll need is included, from leather seats to sat-nav and parking sensors, and resale values should remain strong.