The Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class has long been recognized as a pioneer, blending the sleek allure of a coupe with the practicality of a sedan. The 2019 Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class continues this legacy, ushering in a new era of design language for Mercedes-Benz while enhancing performance and luxury. This in-depth review explores the key aspects that make the 2019 CLS a standout model in the luxury automotive market.
Exterior Design: Puristic and Emotionally Charged
Mercedes-Benz designers have coined the term “Sensual Purity” to describe their design philosophy, and the 2019 CLS-Class embodies this concept perfectly. Gorden Wagener, Chief Design Officer Daimler AG, aptly describes the new CLS as a “design icon” with its DNA reduced to a “puristic level” while remaining “emotionally charged.”
The front end is particularly striking, featuring a diamond grille, a signature element of Mercedes-Benz coupes, adorned with a single louver. The grille silhouette broadens as it descends, drawing a visual parallel to the Mercedes-AMG GT. The hood seamlessly integrates with the surrounding body panels, creating a smooth, sculpted appearance. The headlights, remarkably flat and wide, dynamically follow the grille’s contours, adding to the vehicle’s assertive stance.
The side profile of the 2019 CLS-Class is defined by its high, arching waistline and a sporty, low greenhouse effect accentuated by frameless side windows. The forward-slanting front, reminiscent of a shark’s nose, and the fully inset hood give the car a longer, more dynamic appearance. The design emphasizes generously arched surfaces with significantly reduced lines and edges, adhering to the Sensual Purity philosophy.
Moving to the rear, the muscular shoulder line smoothly transitions into the flat rear end, a hallmark of the CLS design. The two-section taillamps are a classic coupe feature, along with reflectors integrated into the rear bumper, the license plate positioned in the bumper, and the iconic Mercedes star centrally located on the trunk lid.
The LED taillamps, mirroring the headlamps, exhibit a crystalline aesthetic and create a three-dimensional depth. Their low positioning visually widens the vehicle, enhancing its grounded and sporty appeal.
Interior Design: Luxurious and Technologically Advanced Cabin
The interior of the 2019 Mercedes-Benz CLS Coupe mirrors the flowing lines of the exterior, creating a cohesive and luxurious environment. The cabin is characterized by clear, fundamental lines and high-grade materials, showcasing exceptional craftsmanship and attention to detail.
The sporty, width-focused cockpit, combined with carefully chosen color combinations, enhances the sense of spaciousness within the cabin. The wave-like design motif extends from the front to the rear doors, creating a seamless and enveloping feel. A novel ambient lighting highlight is the illuminated air vents, designed to resemble jet aircraft turbines, adding a touch of futuristic elegance. The seats, with their hand-finished appearance, further contribute to the sporty yet refined ambiance.
The 2019 CLS 450 comes standard with a high-resolution 12.3-inch central display. Optionally, dual 12.3-inch displays can be selected, merging under a shared glass cover to form a widescreen cockpit. This creates a fully digital instrument cluster, allowing drivers to customize information display based on their preferences and driving needs. Three display styles – Classic, Sport, and Progressive – cater to different moods and interior themes.
Ambient lighting is highly customizable with 64 colors, extending to the air vents. A practical touch is the color-changing air vents that briefly illuminate red when warming the cabin and blue when cooling, providing intuitive feedback on climate control adjustments.
The seats in the 2019 CLS-Class are newly designed, featuring high-quality piping. The rear outer seats are styled to resemble individual seats, contributing to a sporty, single-seat aesthetic, even though the CLS Coupe now accommodates five passengers for the first time. The rear seatbacks can be folded in a 40/20/40 split configuration for enhanced cargo versatility.
ENERGIZING Comfort: Wellness on the Go
The 2019 Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class offers the ENERGIZING Comfort system, a feature designed to enhance driver and passenger well-being on long journeys. This system intelligently links various comfort features, including climate control (with fragrancing), seat functions (heating, ventilation, massage), surface and steering wheel heating, lighting, and musical atmospheres.
Six pre-configured programs are available:
- Refresh / Freshness: Designed to invigorate and combat fatigue.
- Warmth: Creates a cozy and comforting environment.
- Vitality: Aims to energize and stimulate.
- Joy: Promotes a positive and uplifting mood.
- Comfort / Well-Being: Focuses on relaxation and stress reduction.
- Training: Offers three training modes (muscle relaxation, muscle activation, and balance), each with guided exercises.
These programs tailor the vehicle’s environment to the occupant’s mood and needs, enhancing overall well-being and driving performance.
Intelligent Drive: S-Class Technology for Enhanced Safety and Assistance
The 2019 CLS-Class benefits from technology derived from the Mercedes-Benz S-Class, the brand’s flagship model. It is equipped with the latest generation of driving assistance systems, offering route-based speed adaptation and comprehensive driver support through the Driver Assistance Package.
Standard safety features include Active Brake Assist, ATTENTION ASSIST, and the PRE-SAFE® occupant protection system. New standard additions include PRE-SAFE® Sound, which prepares human hearing for potential accident noise in collision risk situations.
The optional Driver Assistance Package further enhances safety and convenience with features like:
- Active Distance Assist DISTRONIC: Adaptive cruise control that maintains a safe distance from vehicles ahead.
- Active Steering Assist: Provides steering support to help keep the vehicle in its lane.
- Active Speed Limit Assist: Automatically adjusts vehicle speed to posted speed limits.
- Active Brake Assist with cross-traffic function: Enhances braking capabilities, especially in cross-traffic situations.
- Evasive Steering Assist: Helps drivers perform evasive maneuvers around obstacles.
- Active Blind Spot Assist: Warns of vehicles in blind spots and can intervene to prevent lane changes into occupied lanes.
- Active Lane Keeping Assist: Helps prevent unintentional lane departures.
- PRE-SAFE® PLUS: Extends PRE-SAFE® protection to rear-end collisions.
- PRE-SAFE® Impulse Side: Prepares occupants for lateral collisions.
Active Distance Assist DISTRONIC and Active Steering Assist offer improved comfort and support for maintaining safe distances and steering. The systems now proactively adjust speed for curves and junctions based on navigation data. Active Lane Change Assist has also been significantly refined.
Enhanced camera and radar systems provide the 2019 CLS-Class with a superior view of surrounding traffic. For the first time, map and navigation data are used to inform driving behavior, further optimizing assistance system performance.
The instrument cluster’s “Assistance Graphics” menu provides a clear overview of active assistance functions and system responses. Intuitive icons are displayed both in the instrument cluster and the head-up display. All assistance functions are conveniently controlled via the steering wheel.
In stop-and-go traffic, the system can now handle stops of up to 3 seconds, automatically resuming movement and following traffic flow.
The optional LED Intelligent Light System can be upgraded with advanced LED headlamps and Ultra Wide Beam high beams. Ultra Wide Beams significantly increase road and surrounding area illumination width, enhancing visibility. Adaptive Highbeam Assist, part of the LED Intelligent Light System, allows for continuous use of high beams without dazzling other drivers by selectively dimming LEDs based on oncoming or preceding traffic.
Suspension and Driving Dynamics
The 2019 CLS-Class features a four-link front suspension and a five-link rear suspension. A dynamically tuned steel comfort suspension is standard. The optional AIR BODY CONTROL air suspension, with improved adjustable and adaptive damping, provides a wider range of driving experiences, from comfortable cruising to sporty handling. Drivers can select their preferred vehicle characteristics via the driving mode switch.
New Engine Technology: EQ Boost and 48-Volt System
A significant advancement for the 2019 Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class is the introduction of a completely new in-line six-cylinder engine.
The CLS 450 and CLS 450 4MATIC are powered by this systematically electrified in-line six-cylinder engine featuring EQ Boost (integrated starter/generator) and a 48-volt onboard electrical system. This engine delivers 362 hp and 369 lb-ft of torque, with an additional 21 hp and substantial torque available via EQ Boost for short bursts.
The integrated electric motor, known as EQ Boost, supports the combustion engine during acceleration, enables “sailing” (driving without the combustion engine), and recharges the battery through high-efficiency recuperation. This technology delivers fuel savings previously associated with high-voltage hybrid systems. The new in-line six-cylinder engine achieves the performance of an eight-cylinder engine with significantly improved fuel efficiency. The CLS 450 includes a particulate filter as standard.
2019 Mercedes-Benz CLS 450 Specifications:
| Feature | CLS 450 / CLS 450 4MATIC |
|---|---|
| Cylinders/ Arrangement | 6/in-line |
| Displacement (cc) | 2,999 |
| Rated Output (hp) | 362 hp @ 5,500 – 6,100 rpm |
| Additional Output from EQ Boost (hp) | 21 hp |
| Rated Torque (lb-ft) | 369 lb-ft @ 1,600 – 4,000 rpm |
| Acceleration 0-60 mph (sec) | 5.1 / 4.8 |
Edition 1: Exclusive Launch Model
For those seeking even greater exclusivity, the 2019 CLS-Class was launched with an Edition 1 model. This special edition features unique luxurious appointments, including the COPPER ART interior concept. Seats are upholstered in black pearl nappa leather with diamond-design center sections and copper-colored accents. Copper-colored contrasting topstitching is found throughout the interior, including the center console, seats, armrests, dashboard, and door linings. A distinctive diamond grille with matt chrome pins and a copper-colored shimmer on the louver further sets it apart.
The exterior of the Edition 1 is based on the AMG Line and includes standard LED Intelligent Light headlamps and 19-inch multi-spoke AMG light-alloy wheels finished in black with a high-sheen rim flange. “Edition 1” lettering on the front fenders clearly identifies this special model.
Interior highlights of the Edition 1 include:
- Dashboard upper section lined in black nappa leather.
- Center console and dashboard trim in Natural grain black ash wood.
- IWC analogue clock with an exclusive dial face.
- Vehicle key in high-gloss black with a high-sheen chrome surround.
- Floor mats with “Edition 1” badging and copper-colored piping.
- Chrome “Edition 1” lettering on the center console and “Edition 1” display on the welcome screen.
Conclusion: The 2019 Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class – A Blend of Style and Innovation
The 2019 Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class successfully builds upon its heritage as a four-door coupe pioneer. It introduces a compelling new design language, incorporates advanced technologies from the S-Class, and offers enhanced performance with its innovative in-line six-cylinder engine and EQ Boost system. Whether it’s the striking exterior, the luxurious and tech-forward interior, or the refined driving dynamics, the 2019 CLS-Class delivers a compelling blend of style, comfort, and innovation, making it a highly desirable choice in the luxury coupe segment. For those seeking a vehicle that stands out from the crowd while offering cutting-edge technology and performance, the Mercedes-benz Cls-class 2019 is a compelling option.
