Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class W257

The Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class invented the four-door coupe trend no one knows about and while the idea of a four-door coupe is downright absurd by most car enthusiasts, the sexy profile of their so-called luxury hatchback is something that shouldn't be overlooked upon and with the advent of the third-generation model, the founding father of the four-door coupe is approaching to a different kind of angle.

2019 Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class

2019 Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class

Here it is, ladies and gentlemen, your new CLS-Class and as the car that invented the four-door coupe trend, the new model promises to be even more sexier than the previous generations or so I thought because when you start looking at the design flow, you will notice that the front dons the same sad-looking face as today's Mercedes A-Class hatchback and as you may wondering that with cars like the new A-Class and the CLS-Class, could this be the new face future Mercedes cars will be donning soon? Before casting doubts about Mercedes cars are succumbing to the Russian doll effect that has been plaguing every luxury car makers since BMW, let's look at some different angles because while the side views are still attractive by coupe standards, the rear view has a clear reminiscent of the Maserati GranTurismo, making it a sporty flair in this premium saloon fit enough for your Boss Madam.

2019 Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class interior

Speaking of Boss Madam, the new interior is surprisingly high-tech and avantgarde and while the dashboard is worthy enough to get toyed around for hours, the rear seats are something that your Boss Madam wouldn't mind and since it can be folded down in a 40:20:40 ratio, you'll be getting a 520-litre luggage compartment worthy enough for some heavy luggage while taking Boss Madam for a trip to Tagaytay. Think of it as a business trip with a twist but despite twists, your Boss Madam will feel quite relaxed when you opt for the ENERGIZING comfort control which takes advantage of the climate control and the seats for a more atmospheric feel, relieving her after a long stress day at the office with her annoying workers.

2019 Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class

At launch, the new CLS is powered by a choice of in-line six-cylinder diesel and petrol units and because this is European and Europeans are unhappy with diesels, let's focus on the one used on the CLS 450 variant because while this engine produces 367hp of power, this model comes with a clever new EQ Boost feature which uses an integrated electric motor that adds 20hp of power while recharging the the battery with power by means of high-efficiency recuperation. It's a mild hybrid witchcraft and such witchcraft results to combined fuel consumption of 7.8 l/100 km and combined CO2 emissions of 178 g/km. By such powertrain and the 9G-TRONIC gearbox, it does 0-100kph in 4.8 seconds and electronically limited to 250kph.

While the performance is something to notice about, the dynamics are also worth noticing as well. Driving in a 4MATIC model, you might think that the CLS behaves like the new Audi A7 a while back but no, this is not a quattro and the CLS's 4MATIC is not like that Audi because it was recalibrated to have an all-wheel torque distribution of 45 % to the front and 55 % to the rear and as a result, it feels much as good to drive as you can get but when tension boils, it can get arm-breaking when it understeers and when that happens, better get your painkillers at bay. Going solo, the CLS can be nuts but with Boss Madam at the back seat, it works its VIP charms as a premium sedan that can take her to the office and back to her vanity-flooded mansion or a trip to the Michelin-starred restaurant.

Talking about here, the new CLS inherits most of the latest safety features from the S-Class, giving it an ability to do some semi-autonomous driving in some cases and you can even park it with your smartphone. With the Driver Assistance package, it gains more features to make it more safer to take Boss Madam home or more boring if you're going solo for a weekend drive.

Should you buy it? The new CLS starts at 60,571 Euros and when comparably priced against the new Audi A7, it's almost five grand less, making it a bargain for anyone who thinks the Audi A7 is boring and despite its faults, the new CLS really knows how to make a statement as the forefather of the four-door coupe trend. It may not be as perfect as you might think but it's definitely a great luxury car to get the most out of it, even your Boss Madam wouldn't mind it.

Photo: Daimler AG