2023 Mercedes-Benz CLS Reviews, Pricing & Specs
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Mercedes-Benz mildly updated the shapely CLS-Class for 2022, giving the car a sharper, more athletic shape. The car’s interior also got a major update with better tech and revised materials. Mercedes gave the CLS a few new paint color options for 2023, but left the rest of the car alone.
Only one configuration is available for 2023. The CLS450 4Matic gets a turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-six making 362 horsepower and 369 pound-feet of torque. It’s paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel drive (AWD). Though it’s capable of propelling the CLS450 to 60 mph in just 4.6 seconds, the powertrain offers an exceedingly smooth and refined driving experience. The car comes with five driving modes: Eco, Comfort, Sport, Sport Plus, and Individual.
Mercedes offers its unique Manufaktur services for the CLS, which it says can transform the car “into a very personal bespoke creation if desired.” The package includes a handful of exclusive color options and two-tone interior finishes. The car is available with several leather and color options otherwise, and Mercedes offers six wood interior trim options. Other available features include the $1,050 cold weather package with rapid seat heaters, a heated steering wheel, and heated front armrests.
Though the CLS has four doors, Mercedes calls it a “coupe.” What that means in the real world is a sweeping roofline that adds drama outside but reduces headroom inside. As a result, taller adults can be quite uncomfortable in the back seat, and parents may have a hard time fitting larger car seats.
A 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster and a 12.3-inch touchscreen come standard. They form a near-continuous display panel in the dash and offer excellent visibility from the driver’s seat. The displays run on the latest MBUX (Mercedes-Benz User Experience) interface, which offers over-the-air (OTA) updates, navigation, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, voice recognition, and more. Buyers can upgrade with a Wi-Fi hotspot, wireless device charging, a head-up display, and more. A $2,300 Premium Package is available that brings a Burmester surround-sound system and SiriusXM radio.
The CLS does not have full crash test scores available, but it comes with a generous list of standard features. They include blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert, active braking assist, automatic emergency braking, adaptive high beams, driver-attention monitoring, crosswind assist, automatic windshield wipers, LED exterior lighting, and a parking damage detection system.
Buyers may also consider the Audi A7, the Porsche Taycan or Panamera, the BMW 8 Series Gran Coupe, or the Mercedes-Benz E-Class. The E-Class has a more traditional sedan shape, but the other models are unconventional like the CLS. The 2023 CLS450 4Matic starts at $74,000, which includes a $1,050 destination charge.
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2023 Mercedes-Benz CLS Pricing
Trims & specs
Air Conditioning
Active charcoal air filtration · Automatic climate control front air conditioning · Dual front air conditioning zones
Airbags
Dual front airbags · Driver knee airbags · Passenger airbag deactivation: occupant sensing deactivation · Front side airbags · Rear side curtain airbags
Audio System
Antenna Type: element · Voice recognition audio system · USB auxiliary audio input · HD radio · 2 subwoofers · Surround audio: 5.1 · Total Number of Speakers: 11 · 590 watts
Brakes
ABS: 4-wheel · Braking assist: hill start assist · Electronic parking brake: auto off · Front brake diameter: 14.2 · Front brake width: 1.42 · Front brakes: ventilated disc · Rear brake diameter: 14.2 · Rear brake width: 1.02 · Rear brakes: ventilated disc
Comfort Features
Armrests: rear center folding with storage · Center console trim: wood · Dash Trim: Leatherette · Dash trim: wood · Door trim: wood · Floor Mat Material: carpet · Floor Material: carpet · Floor Mats: front · Steering wheel trim: leather
Convenience Features
Ambient lighting: color-adjustable · Assist handle: front · Center console: front console with armrest and storage · Cupholders: front · Dimming rearview mirror: auto-dimming · Easy entry: power steering wheel · Footwell lights: color-adjustable · Memorized settings: side mirrors · Multi-function remote: trunk release · One-touch windows: 4 · Power outlet(s): 12V front · Power steering: speed-proportional · Power windows: lockout button · Reading lights: front · Rear view camera: multi-view · Steering wheel: power tilt and telescopic · Steering wheel mounted controls: audio · Storage: door pockets · Universal garage door opener: Homelink · Vanity mirrors: dual illuminating
Driver Seat
Adjustable lumbar support: 4-way power · Power adjustments: 14
Drivetrain
4WD Type: full time · Axle ratio: 2.82
Engine
Battery: maintenance-free · Exhaust: performance · Hybrid Gas Engine HP: 362 · Hybrid Gas Engine HP@RPM: 5500 · Hybrid Gas Engine Torque: 369 · Hybrid gas Engine Torque@RPM: 1600
Exterior Features
Door handle color: body-color · Exhaust: integrated exhaust · Exhaust tip color: chrome · Front bumper color: body-color · Grille color: black with chrome accents · Mirror color: body-color · Rear bumper color: body-color · Rear spoiler: lip · Rear spoiler color: body-color · Rear trunk/liftgate: sensor-activated · Window trim: chrome
Headrests
Front headrests: adjustable · Number of front headrests: 2 · Number of rear headrests: 3
Hybrid
Starter Type: motor/generator
In Car Entertainment
Connected in-car apps: Google POIs · Infotainment: MBUX · Infotainment screen size: 12.3 in.
Instrumentation
Fuel economy display: range · Instrument cluster screen size: 12.3 in. · Warnings and reminders: low fuel level
Lights
Daytime running lights: LED · Exterior entry lights: security approach lamps · Headlights: auto delay off · Tail and brake lights: LED
Mirrors
Exterior mirrors: power
Passenger Seat
Power adjustments: 14
Rear Seats
Type: 40-20-40 split bench
Roof
Moonroof: tilt/slide
Safety
Automatic emergency braking: front · Child seat anchors: LATCH system · Crumple zones: front · Impact sensor: battery disconnect · Pre-Collision Warning System: visual warning · Pre-collision warning system: pedestrian detection · Rearview monitor: in dash
Seatbelts
Emergency locking retractors: front · Front seatbelts: 3-point · Seatbelt force limiters: front · Seatbelt pretensioners: front · Seatbelt warning sensor: driver and passenger · Second row seatbelts: 3-point
Seats
Driver seat power adjustments: reclining · Front seat type: bucket · Passenger seat power adjustments: 4-way power lumbar · Rear headrests: adjustable · Rear seat folding: split · Upholstery: leather
Steering
Steering ratio: 15.2
Suspension
Driver Adjustable Suspension: ride control · Front Shock Type: gas shock absorbers · Front Spring Type: coil springs · Front Suspension Classification: independent · Front Suspension Type: strut · Rear Shock Type: gas shock absorbers · Rear Spring Type: coil springs · Rear Suspension Classification: independent · Rear Suspension Type: multi-link · Stabilizer bar(s): rear · Suspension control: electronic
Telematics
Driver assistance app: roadside assistance · Electronic messaging assistance: with voice recognition · Navigation system: hard drive navigation system · Phone: voice activated · Phone wireless data link: Bluetooth · Smart device app compatibility: Mercedes me · Smart device app function: security event/collision alert · Wifi: hotspot compatible
Tires
Type: all season
Tires and Rims
Wheel type: aluminum alloy
Wheels
Wheel spokes: multi-spoke
Windows
Front wipers: rain sensing · Power windows: remote operation