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10 Things You Need to Know About the 2019 Mercedes-Benz CLS 450

Jeff Zurschmeide
by Jeff Zurschmeide
July 23, 2018
5 min. Reading Time
2019 Mercedes Benz CLS 450 Red Front Quarter Parked ・  Photo by Mercedes-Benz

2019 Mercedes Benz CLS 450 Red Front Quarter Parked ・ Photo by Mercedes-Benz

Mercedes-Benz launched the CLS back in 2004 as the company’s first four-door coupe design. The idea was to offer the sweeping lines and sporty look of a personal luxury coupe, but with four doors and a usable rear seat. The CLS line has been a popular choice over the last 15 years, selling over 375,000 units worldwide.

With the launch of the redesigned 2019 CLS 450, the concept has been brought up to date with new styling, a new engine, and a host of luxury features befitting a current-generation personal luxury car. The 2019 Mercedes-Benz CLS 450 and CLS 450 4Matic will be available in dealerships towards the end of 2018.

1. It has advanced engine technology.

The 2019 CLS 450 will arrive with a brand-new engine under the hood. The turbocharged 3.0-liter unit marks the first time Mercedes-Benz has offered an inline six-cylinder in 20 years. It's had plenty of V6 engines, but the inherently smooth-running inline design has been absent for decades. Mercedes also added a twin-scroll turbocharger to pump up performance to 362 horsepower and 369 pound-feet of torque.

A turbocharged engine is the just the beginning, however. The CLS also boasts a 48-Volt EQ Boost mild hybrid system that adds 21 horsepower to help with acceleration and smooth actuation of the fuel-saving engine start-stop system. The rear-wheel drive CLS 450 will accelerate from 0-60 in just 5.1 seconds, or in 4.8 seconds when equipped with Mercedes' 4Matic all-wheel system.

 Photo by Mercedes-Benz

Photo by Mercedes-Benz

2. The nine-speed transmission is ultra-smooth.

Part of the appeal of the CLS 450 is the standard 9G-TRONIC nine-speed automatic transmission. You’ll never notice this unit shifting gears unless you’ve got the gas pedal to the floor, and it always seems to be in the right gear to accelerate as quickly as you want.

The same transmission is included with the optional 4Matic all-wheel drive system. The 4Matic system actually makes the CLS 450 a little bit faster, and it is capable of directing all torque to the front or rear wheels as needed for maximum traction. One more thing to note is that the transmission has a fuel-saving freewheel mode that allows the CLS 450 to stop the engine entirely when the driver releases the accelerator pedal.

 Photo by Mercedes-Benz

Photo by Mercedes-Benz

3. The infotainment is great, but not the newest.

The new CLS will feature an ultra-wide 12.3-inch infotainment screen for access to the integrated COMAND navigation and control system. The system responds to voice commands, and to the multi-function joystick dial on the console. Audio support includes Sirius/XM satellite radio as well as Bluetooth and USB connections for streaming. There are two optional Burmester surround-sound systems for excellent acoustic quality. The CLS 450's infotainment system also supports both Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, allowing you to integrate your smartphone into the vehicle.

However, if you’re looking for the all-new MBUX system that has been announced for some 2019 Mercedes-Benz models, you’ll have to wait a little longer. The CLS 450 is not yet scheduled to receive that tech.

 Photo by Mercedes-Benz

Photo by Mercedes-Benz

4. It includes an advanced digital dashboard and head-up display.

The CLS 450 is available with two of those 12.3-inch screens. The infotainment screen is standard with the car, but you can order a second screen that can sit behind the steering wheel in place of analog gauges. This allows you to configure and cycle through all available information in a truly advanced cockpit display.

There’s also an available head-up display that is one of the best we’ve ever seen. The display is clear, sharp, and bright, even when the driver is wearing polarized sunglasses. Information on the screen includes the status of the lane-keeping system, overall speed, upcoming navigation instructions, and more.

 Photo by Mercedes-Benz

Photo by Mercedes-Benz

5. The trim is real wood.

One more feature to mention is the natural woodgrain dash trim. Mercedes is not the only automaker to offer open-grain wood, but it is yet another touch of exceptional quality in the CLS 450.

The wood trim is also present on the center console, hiding the cup holders when not in use, and trim accent pieces on the doors also use the same wood. All wood trim is color-matched to the rest of the interior in gray or brown, and it's formed around the climate control vents across the full width of the car.

 Photo by Mercedes-Benz

Photo by Mercedes-Benz

6. The front seats have a "Spa Mode."

The CLS 450 is extremely comfortable. The front doors are large for a four-door car, and the seats are designed to accommodate full-size American adults. Typical Mercedes seating amenities include Nappa leather upholstery, position memory for both the driver and passenger sides, thigh support bolsters, lumbar support, optional massage functions, and optional seat heating and ventilation.

Optional personal luxury features in the CLS line include a Spa Mode, which integrates the sound system, seat heat and ventilation, massage, and the optional onboard fragrance system. You can choose among several spa therapy programs through the infotainment system, and the CLS will play appropriate music and scent the air while massaging you and alternately applying heat and ventilation. One other great feature: The heat and ventilation can be used at the same time to keep you both warm and dry.

 Photo by Mercedes-Benz

Photo by Mercedes-Benz

7. It's still a coupe in the rear seats.

The 2019 CLS 450 is the first CLS to provide seating for five passengers, with three seatbelts in the rear. The outboard rear seats may also include heat, and there’s a rear sunshade to help keep cool.

Knee room is more than adequate for adults in the outboard rear-seat positions, but this is where you’ll know you’re in a coupe rather than a sedan. Taller passengers will have to duck to get into the back, and anyone taller than 6 feet will find limited headroom back there. However, the CLS 450 is still a great choice for families — at least until the kids are teenagers.

 Photo by Mercedes-Benz

Photo by Mercedes-Benz

8. The bodywork is new and sleek.

Part of the unique look of the CLS 450 is the smooth new bodywork, reflecting a new design language for Mercedes-Benz passenger cars. The styling is smoothed over, with almost no creases anywhere except the hood. One Mercedes executive framed the design philosophy like this: “Take away a line, and if you still like the look, take away another.”

The result of all this design work is a car that makes an unambiguous statement. The CLS 450 is designed around a basic curve that is reflected in the body and the roof, resulting in a rakish and powerful look. By removing the sharp edges, the CLS 450 takes on a sinuous and athletic appearance that stands apart from other luxury cars.

 Photo by Mercedes-Benz

Photo by Mercedes-Benz

9. It's superbly quiet on the road.

On the road, you’ll notice that the CLS 450 offers a smooth and quiet ride over all kinds of surfaces. With 19-inch wheels and low-profile performance tires, that’s quite an achievement, but the CLS is whisper-quiet inside, making a great reason to invest in the upgraded audio system.

Most of the credit goes to Mercedes’ long history of designing luxury cars, but the optional air suspension is also part of the solution. The CLS 450 rides 15 mm lower than an E-Class, which doesn’t sound like much, but the air suspension allows you to raise the car by the same measurement and gain a silky-smooth ride in the process.

 Photo by Mercedes-Benz

Photo by Mercedes-Benz

10. There will be an AMG version.

No Mercedes-Benz model lineup is complete without a hot rod developed by AMG. The new CLS 450 will be joined by the AMG CLS 53 by the time the model goes on sale in the fourth quarter of 2018. The AMG version of the CLS will use the same 3.0-liter twin-scroll turbocharged inline six-cylinder engine, but the AMG engine is boosted to 429 horsepower and 384 pound-feet of torque. The 48-volt hybrid system can add 21 additional horsepower to those numbers when needed. The AMG will offer 4Matic AWD and a nine-speed twin-clutch transmission. Mercedes-Benz estimates that the AMG CLS 53 will be capable of zero-to-60 times right around 4.4 seconds.

The company hasn't yet finalized pricing on the CLS 450 or the AMG CLS 53. It will announce final retail costs closer to the release date. The existing 2018 Mercedes-Benz CLS 550 model starts at $75,150.

 Photo by Mercedes-Benz

Photo by Mercedes-Benz


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