How much does the Mercedes-Benz CLS cost in today's market?

Used Mercedes-Benz CLS prices span a wide range depending on model year. Here's what the market looks like right now:

The Mercedes-Benz CLS's current nationwide average price is $28,287, and its year-round low is $23,830.12. That gives you a useful snapshot of where this model sits today across the years in the data.
Recently, prices have come down for the 2016, 2019, and 2020 models, making now a good time to shop recent model years.

Is the Mercedes-Benz CLS a good car?

Yes — the Mercedes-Benz CLS is widely praised by owners for its stylish design, powerful performance, and comfortable driving experience. The all-generations owner rating is 4.73/5 across every model year in the data. Owners consistently highlight the car’s luxury feel, strong engines, and sporty handling, while also calling out its refined ride quality and premium character. Expert reviews also point to the CLS’s striking styling, great ride quality, and standard advanced safety features. The honest trade-off is that recent expert-tested years bring a cramped back seat, intuitive-challenged technology, and pricing that lands on the high side for the segment. 26.8% of listings are priced as good or great deals.

Are Mercedes-Benz CLS models reliable?

Owners consistently praise the Mercedes-Benz CLS for its luxurious feel, strong performance, and comfortable driving experience. Expert coverage also reinforces its premium character, especially the ride quality and the way the car blends style with everyday refinement.

• Owners rate the Mercedes-Benz CLS between 3.0 and 5.0 out of 5 stars across all model years in the data.

For used buyers, long-term ownership risk is best managed by choosing a well-documented example and budgeting for premium-car upkeep.

What should I look for when buying a used Mercedes-Benz CLS?

Across all model years, at 65.1% accident-free, a meaningful share of listings has prior incidents — history verification is especially important.

Older model years carry meaningfully higher accident rates, so always verify the vehicle history report on pre-2021 models. Key things to evaluate:

• Safety package: Driver Assistance Package
• Infotainment: Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
• Fuel efficiency: 24 mpg city, 31 highway, and 26 combined

Which Mercedes-Benz CLS trim should I buy?

The 2019 Mercedes-Benz CLS offers these trims:

• CLS 450 4Matic: This is the base car in the expert-tested 2019 lineup, and it brings the turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-6 hybrid powertrain, adaptive air suspension, and a richly appointed cabin; it’s the best-value choice if you want the core CLS experience.
• AMG CLS 53: This trim adds the higher-output AMG-tuned performance setup with 429 hp and 384 lb-ft, making it the pick for shoppers who want the strongest acceleration and a more aggressive driving character.

What Mercedes-Benz CLS do most buyers choose?

The Mercedes-Benz CLS years with the most listings are 2020, 2019, and 2015.

Higher-volume years tend to draw more shoppers because they usually give you more inventory to compare, more pricing spread, and a better chance of finding the right color, mileage, and condition mix.

What is the Mercedes-Benz CLS's resale value?

The table shows broad downward movement across the model years listed, which can work in your favor if you’re shopping used. The sharpest drop is on the 2020 model, while the other years also show meaningful declines. That pattern suggests there are opportunities for buyers who want a luxury coupe-sedan with softer pricing than it had a year ago.
The 2016, 2014, and 2019 model years have held their value best, with the smallest year-over-year price changes.

Is the Mercedes-Benz CLS safe?

• 2019: 10/10

The 2019 model includes a standard advanced driver-assistance suite with pedestrian and blind-spot detection, front and rear cross-traffic alerts, forward-collision alert, auto braking, and a driver-attention monitor.
For the safest used buy, the 2019 model posts the highest confirmed score of 10/10.

Should I buy a used Mercedes-Benz CLS now or wait for the next model?

Buy now if:

• Price trend: The 2020 model is at −9.99% versus a year ago, and the 2019 model is at −6.26%.
• Deal availability: The 2020 model has 28.3% good and great deals, and the 2019 model has 29.8%.
• Sweet-spot year: The 2020 model has the most listings at a current average price of $34,630. The Mercedes-Benz CLS offers a striking, upscale design that gives it a strong presence on the road.

Consider waiting if:

• Powertrain/efficiency: The latest expert-tested CLS pairs a turbocharged 3.0-liter I6 with 362 horsepower, 369 pound-feet of torque, and up to 21 additional hp and 184 lb-ft from the electric motor.
• Tech: The latest expert-tested CLS brings Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, live traffic, and Mercedes me connect.
• Safety: The latest expert-tested CLS adds a semi-autonomous Driver Assistance Package with steering, braking, lane changes, and speed adjustments.
• Starting price: The latest expert-tested CLS 450 starts at $69,200.

If you're buying used today, the 2020 model year offers the best mix of value and availability. If you want the latest tech and features, it may be worth waiting for 2024 inventory to mature.

These recommendations are based on CarGurus' proprietary market data from August 28, 2026, CarGurus experts' opinions, and generative AI.