Mercedes-Benz CL-Class (2007 – 2014) Review

Mercedes-Benz CL-Class (2007 – 2014) At A Glance

3/5

+High performance in comfort. Top quality feel inside. A rare sight on the roads. AMG version is amazingly fast. More aggressive looking following 2010 facelift.

-Expensive to buy and run. Depreciates rapidly. Very big for a two-door car. Pulsation dampers can fail leading to a hard ride.

Insurance Group 50
On average it achieves 82% of the official MPG figure

Mercedes-Benz CL-Class (2007 – 2014) models and specs

Dimensions
Length 4993–5106 mm
Width 1857–2139 mm
Height 1398–1426 mm
Wheelbase 2885–2955 mm
Miscellaneous
Kerb Weight 1995–2245 kg
Boot Space 450–490 L
Warranty 3 years
Servicing 12500–15500 miles
Spare Wheel
Standard Space-saving spare wheel
Costs
List Price £88,325–£164,870
Insurance Groups 50
Road Tax Bands L–M
Official MPG 19.5–29.4 mpg
Euro NCAP Safety Ratings
Adult -
Child -
Pedestrian -
Overall -

On sale until August 2021

Coupe
Version List Price MPG 0-62
CL500 4.7 BlueEFFICIENCY 7G-Tronic Plus 7speed 2dr £95,570 29.4 mpg 4.9 s
CL63 5.5 AMG Mct 7speed Auto 2dr £118,910 26.9 mpg 4.5 s
CL65 6.0 AMG 5speed Auto 2dr £164,870 19.5 mpg 4.4 s

On sale until September 2014

Coupe
Version List Price MPG 0-62
500 435 2dr Auto £95,545 29.4 mpg 4.9 s
63 AMG 544 2dr Auto £118,885 26.9 mpg 4.5 s
65 AMG 630 2dr Auto £164,840 19.8 mpg 4.4 s

On sale until April 2010

Coupe
Version List Price MPG 0-62
500 Auto £88,325 23.0 mpg 5.5 s
63 AMG Auto £108,185 19.5 mpg 4.6 s
65 AMG Auto £154,930 19.5 mpg 4.4 s

On sale until May 2009

Coupe
Version List Price MPG 0-62
600 Auto £108,365 - -

On sale until April 2006

Coupe
Version List Price MPG 0-62
55 AMG Auto £98,795 - -

Model History

February 2007

New CL, 5,065mm x 1,871mm x 1,418mm. Initially CL500 and CL600. CL500 5,461cc V8, 388PS AT 6000rpm, 530Nm at 2800-4800 rpm. 7 speed auto. 235/55 R 17 tyres. 490 litre boot, kerb weight 1,995kg. 0-60 5.1 secs. Top speed 155 limited. 23,3mpg combined.

CL600 5,513 V12, 517PS at 5000 rpm, 830Nm at 1900-3500 rpm. 5 speed auto. Tyres front: 255/45 R 18; rear: 275/45 R 18. 490 litre boot, kerb weight 2,185kg, 0-60 4.4 secs. Top speed 200mph (limited to 155). 19.8mpg combined.

June 2008

New CL 500 4MATIC with permanent all-wheel drive joins line-up from summer 2008. This two-door model is equipped with a 285 kW/388 hp V8 engine, and in addition to 4MATIC it features innovations such as the Intelligent Light System and the preventive occupant protection system PRE-SAFE® as standard.

Mercedes-Benz has further refined all aspects of its all-wheel drive system, and uses the latest-generation system in the CL 500 4MATIC – the same one that has already proved so successful in the S-Class. 4MATIC is permanently active and therefore requires no response time to come to the driver\'s aid in unfavourable weather and driving conditions. As a result, critical situations can be mastered with greater ease.

With a weight of just 70 kilograms, the newly-developed 4MATIC is the lightest drive system of its kind. The combined NEDC fuel consumption of the CL 500 4MATIC is 23.4 mpg, which puts it on a par with the rear-wheel drive CL 500 – a further bonus of the new, highly efficient Mercedes all-wheel drive system. The CL 500 4MATIC requires just 5.4 seconds to accelerate from zero to 62 mph, and reaches an electronically limited top speed of 155 mph.

July 2010

Revised. more fuel efficient CL Class announced. Styling changes include new, more strongly pointed radiator grille, new front bumper with integrated LED strip daytime running lamps and standard bi-xenon headlamps. Active Body Control (ABC) with crosswind stabilisation. Safety systems include ATTENTION ASSIST weariness recognition system, active Blind Spot Assist, active Lane Keeping assist, Adaptive Highbeam Assist and automatic PRE-SAFE full brake application.

Re-developed 4.6 litre V8 biturbo, 435 hp output, 700Nm and spray-guided direct petrol injection in the CL 500 BlueEFFICIENCY offers 29.73 mpg on the combined cycle. CO2emissions drop to 224 grams per kilometre. Output up by 47PS over old 5.5-litre naturally aspirated engine.

Special order CL 600 offers 517 hp V12 5.5-litre biturbo engine with 830 Nm.

In addition to the model-specific radiator grille with two twin louvres, these include the V12 emblem on the flanks, model-specific, five-spoke 18-inch light-alloy wheels in a bi-colour look and a large range of standard option packages. Standard ex-factory specifications include:

  • Navigation package
  • Front Seat Entertainment package
  • Reversing camera
  • KEYLESS-GO
  • Convenience telephony
  • Anti-Theft Protection package

The front active multicontour seats and the rear seats are upholstered with supple "PASSION" leather, decorated with a special V12 fluting pattern, as is the Alcantara roof liner. Among other things, the upper and lower sections of the dashboard, the door centre panels, rear shelf and ruffled pockets on driver and front passenger backrest are covered in this high-quality leather. Apart from the roof liner, the interior trim of the A, B and C pillars is also clothed in Alcantara leather.

Luxury head restraints at front and rear bearing the V12 emblem also enhance travelling enjoyment. The V12 symbol on the backrests makes reference to the exclusive character of the vehicle. On entry, the V12 emblem lights up in the instrument cluster. Trim elements in fine high-gloss brown poplar wood, chrome-plated door sills and boot sill, together with the standard ambient lighting, round off the serene character of the Mercedes-Benz CL 600.

July 2010

The Mercedes-Benz CL 63 AMG is to feature a new cutting-edge look as well as state-of-the-art technology. The stylish visual modifications will be accompanied by a completely newly developed powertrain. The AMG 5.5-litre V8 biturbo engine with a peak output of up to 571 hp and a torque of up to 900 Nm, is combined with the unique AMG SPEEDSHIFT MCT 7-speed sports transmission, which contributes towards a considerable increase in driving dynamics, while at the same time guaranteeing an improvement in fuel consumption and a reduction in emissions. With a fuel consumption of 26.9mpg, the new high-performance coupé is also 38 per ent more economical in terms of its fuel consumption than the previous model with naturally aspirated V8 engine.

What to watch out for

01-01-0001:

Same electrical and electronic problems as S-Class.

27-08-2011:

Problem of premature wear of timing chain sprocket for balancer shaft of M272 and M273 petrol engines. Mercedes Star bulletin about this. Big job. Can cost £4,000.

20-03-2015:

Mercedes Benz CL Class shown to be 4th least reliable European car more than 3 years old and out of manufacturer warranty in data survey of Warranty Direct policy warranty claims. (Excludes KIAs, Hyundais, Toyotas and others with 7, 5 and 4 year warranties.) Most common faults were axles and suspension.

03-12-2015:

Pulsation damper of 43,000 mile 2010 Mercedes CL500 failed and was replaced by Mercedes dealer. Since then suspension has been significantly firmer in both comfort and sport settings, and even in comfort setting the car crashes and bangs over road imperfections where it previously glided. MB dealer has bled and reset the ABC system having agreed that it was too firm. Completed a drain, pressure wash and refill of the ABC system but this has not made any difference. Have said that the ABC pump is leaking slightly but is not ready to replace. No answer.

10-09-2016:

Another report of the same problem as 3-12-2015: A fter having accumulators and pulsation damper changed, car now rides very stiff and crashes over even the smallest road imperfections. There are no error codes and the dealership is puzzled as to what to do. Very frustrating.

10-01-2017:

Report of ABS pump of 2010 CL500 failing at 38,000 miles. Cost £2,200 to replace.