2006 Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class Luxury Car Reviews & Ratings

Climbing into the cockpit might have been an letdown after the visual pleasure of the exterior, but there's just more goodness inside. The CLS has probably the most inviting interior yet from Mercedes-Benz, looking like it was fashioned in the bespoke halls of its Maybach luxury line.

All four seats are covered in leather. The front seats are 10-way power adjustable with three-position memory. The view forward is dominated by an expanse of burr walnut that stretches almost from pillar to pillar. Finished in a silk matt to differentiate it from the high-gloss finish of the usual Mercedes interior trim, its surface is broken by recessed center air vents, the control panel for the standard Thermotronic automatic four-zone climate control and the main instrument cluster, which, along with each dial, was given a chrome surround. The gauges themselves were covered by a special mineral glass for optimum readability.

The fit and finish is impeccable and looks custom-tailored down to the arrangement of the breaklines indicating the modular assembly of the dashboard. Note how the front passenger airbag door's lines blend perfectly into the upward sweep of the walnut panel. Neat and elegant. Note how the center console carries the chrome and walnut design themes through to the rear compartment in the chrome rings surrounding the transmission shift lever and rear Thermotronic control/air vents and the walnut trim covering the rear console storage compartments. And note how the curve of the center rear console is reflected in the reverse curve of the outboard armrest.

If there's one quibble, it must be with the rear seats, which become unfriendly to those who are much more than six feet tall because of the slope of the roof. As part of our familiarization with the CLS, we were chaffeured across Rome so that we might see how the rich and famous do it. Our six-foot frame felt no discomfort on the winding city streets and would have tolerated a long run to the Amalfi Coast if the opportunity arose. Outward sightlines were, of course, compromised by the shallow quarter windows, but if you're pretending, as we did, that we were glitterati escaping a horde of paparazzi, this was a good thing.

It would be easy to sum up the new Mercedes-Benz CLS as an excellent handler, quiet around town, its air suspension scoffing at whatever the road has in mind. We haven't a problem summing up the driving experience in a few rosy cliches: works in the canyons as well as at the opera, or blends beauty and brawn like Angelina Jolie. That sort of stuff. But that would miss the point about owning a Mercedes. It would be blind to one of the many reasons they cost more than most other cars. And that is, the true beauty is in the details.

For instance, it wouldn't do for unpleasant noises to disturb the high speeds at which the CLS is so comfortable. So you'll find such touches as plastic elements in front of the front wheel arches to improve airflow across the front axle links, aerodynamic cladding on the rear axle spring links, and mini-spoilers in front of each wheel to reduce dynamic pressures at the tires and improve airflow around the wheels. Even the windshield wiper system received a dose of new technology. The dual-wiper arms were refined in the wind tunnel, are thus known as "aero wipers," and feature a new mounting system and integrated spoiler for better wiping and less noise.

The ultimate in comfort, however, is knowing you're likely to survive an accident in a new Mercedes-Benz. The technology offered in both passive and active safety systems is astounding in its complexity as well as in its application. The list goes on and on, but here goes: dual front airbags with multi-stage deployment; head protection curtains; roll-over sensor; front and rear side airbags; front seatbelts with pre-tensioners and seatbelt force limiters; electrohydraulic brake system with Brake Assist; Tele Aid emergency calling and communication system; low tire pressure warning system; Electronic Stability Program.

There are, arguably, two areas of driver/machine interface that could be sources of debate: brake feel and throttle sensitivity. Two systems that once relied on cables and levers and tubes of boiling fluid are now electronic agreements between sensors and servos, "optimizing" the driver's flex of ankle and stomp of foot. Pedal feel, for both brakes and throttle, is now tempered by computer, and the "feedback" from these pedals is governed by algorithm, permitting this, forbidding that. This wonderful technology leads to such good things as better fuel mileage and shorter stopping distances, but it also takes some getting used to in order to drive the CLS as smoothly as it looks.

We tried to expose the seven-speed automatic as maybe having one too many gears just to show up the guys down the autobahn, but it behaved more than acceptably, even in full automatic mode. Being empowered to explore the envelope, we got cozy with the manual shift program and the steering wheel-mounted shift buttons. In this mode, the gear is held from the lowest acceptable rpm all the way to redline or during kickdown, and this is the most irresponsible and fun way to reach the car's self-imposed limit of 250 km/h (just over 155 mph).

The CLS500 ($64,900) is powered by Mercedes' familiar 306-horsepower 5-liter V8, but torque is sent to the rear wheels through a new seven-speed automatic transmission.

For those who want more muscle, extrovert styling and a tauter suspension, the high-performance CLS55 AMG ($86,600) is definitely worth the extra money. Its 5.5-liter supercharged V8 boasts an output of 469 horsepower and 516 pound-feet of torque. It's mated to a five-speed automatic gearbox.

Options include the Lighting package with bi-xenon headlamps, active curve lighting and headlamp washers ($1,220); AMG Sport with steering wheel shift buttons, AMG body cladding, AMG-style 18-inch wheels with larger 255/40 radials up front and 285/35s in back ($4,950); and Premium, with active ventilated and multicontour seats with heating, DVD Nav system, 6-disc CD changer, harman/kardon audio, power rear-window sunshade ($3,650). Naturally, we prefer all of these options.

We've now reached, with destination charge ($720) and gas guzzler tax ($1,300), just over $76,000 and have started to wonder if that curvaceous bodywork and bespoke-level interior is worth the financial reach. We suggest that the decision not be made with a calculator but with your guts, not with rational gray matter but with red-blooded emotion. If the CLS doesn't cause the aesthetic bone in your body to quiver, then there are plenty of other Mercedes-Benzes to satisfy your more mundane expectations.