Used 2022 Mercedes-Benz CLS

The 2022 Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class is a luxury midsize sedan. Or a 4-door coupe, if the Mercedes-Benz marketing department has any say in the matter. Despite the C in its name, the CLS is based on the E-Class. Mercedes-Benz cars are generally superb, but the E-Class is especially so.

This variation on the E-Class theme ramps up the style while slicing the roofline. However it’s perceived, it’s still a well-executed and luxurious cruiser with many tech features and high-quality materials.

Now in its third generation, which debuted for 2019, the Mercedes-Benz CLS is giving us mixed signals. Refreshed styling for 2022 suggests that it’s going to be around for some time. But there’s only one model this year, which is the kind of thing that happens before a vehicle gets discontinued. With several companies cutting down their sedans or cutting them out completely, we’re left to speculate about the future of the CLS.

Right now, though, here’s a luxury car with all the right equipment, plus a stylistic twist.

There are no high-performance AMG variants this year, or a rear-wheel-drive version of the CLS 450. The crazy-powerful stuff has gone, but respectable performance remains.

The CLS 450 4Matic develops 362 horsepower from its inline-6 engine, enough turbocharged muscle to make long trips seems shorter and for powering past the average Joes in their average cars. A substantial 369 lb-ft of torque comes in at a low 1,600 rpm, putting plenty of thrust under the right foot any time it’s required.

Ride quality favors comfort over sportiness, but the CLS won’t go all sloppy when accelerating through long, sweeping curves. The company’s engineers have also pitched things like steering and brake feel perfectly for the kind of driver who would choose a new CLS-Class.

All-wheel drive, signified by the 4Matic name, optimizes traction in the dry and provides confidence during slippery conditions.

Changes for this year include a new steering wheel, wrapped in fine Nappa leather and fitted with touchpads to control various functions. The 2022 CLS also offers new interior color schemes and natural grain walnut wood trim.

Amid the fine leather and illuminated turbine-shaped air vents is 64-color ambient LED lighting, plus a unit consisting of twin 12.3-inch screens. One is for driver information, the other for the infotainment system.

The CLS is a five-seater, with one of those typical small middle seats in the back. Space up front is plentiful. Rear passengers aren’t so lucky.

Legroom of 35 inches is almost the same as the E-Class, although that isn’t class-leading either. The unkindest cut of all, however, is in rear headroom, where the CLS chops off a couple of inches compared with the E-Class.

For what is a midsize car, the trunk is similarly, um, truncated. Luggage volume is just 11.9 cubic feet. That’s smaller than a Toyota Corolla compact sedan, but we all know which car we’d sooner drive. The rear seats in the CLS also split and fold in a 40/20/40 manner, to make transporting longer items a little easier.

It might take an aficionado to notice, but the 2022 CLS has redesigned its nose and tail. There’s a new grille and a new front bumper with reshaped air intakes at each side.

New designs of alloy wheels are also available, with sizes going up to 20 inches in diameter. Starling Blue Metallic joins the list of exterior paint options.

MBUX
Full name: Mercedes-Benz User Experience. It’s the infotainment system, which contains an onboard digital assistant activated by saying, “Hey, Mercedes.” Follow that with something like “I’m cold” or find the nearest coffee shop,” and MBUX reacts accordingly.

ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL
As well as modifying its speed automatically to keep a safe distance between the 2022 CLS and whatever vehicle may be in front, this feature also has route-based speed adaptation. Using information from the navigation system, it factors in things like toll booths, traffic islands, and curves.

The Adaptive Highbeam Assist feature becomes standard in the 2022 CLS 450 4Matic. It’s a fancier version of automatic high beams where the LED headlights change the shape of their field to provide maximum illumination for drivers without creating undue glare for any other road users.

There’s a lot of standard equipment, such as 19-inch alloy wheels, powered sunroof, rain-sensing wipers, keyless entry/ignition, remote start, 12.3-inch driver information display, selectable driving modes, leather upholstery, heated/power-adjustable front seats with memory settings, hands-free trunk operation, and parking damage detection.

Another 12.3-inch display is the infotainment system’s touchscreen providing control for navigation, Apple CarPlay/Android Auto smartphone integration, USB-C ports, Bluetooth, plus an onboard digital assistant with learning capabilities and natural language recognition.

Standard safety features include forward-collision warning with automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, and driver attention warning.

Buyers can bolster their new CLS-Class with extras like a head-up display, augmented video for the navigation system, heated/ventilated/massaging front seats, wireless charging, gesture control for the infotainment system, heated steering wheel, self-parking function with a 360-degree camera setup, satellite radio, 13-speaker/590-watt Burmester surround-sound system, soft-closing doors, and a cabin air purifier.

We would also recommend the Driver Assistance Package, bringing things like adaptive cruise control, active blind-spot assistance, evasive steering assistance, and exit warning (see the Safety Technology section below).

A 48-volt mild-hybrid system augments a turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-6 in the 2022 CLS 450 4Matic. There are several advantages to this setup.

An inline-6 is inherently smoother than a V6. The mild-hybrid system’s electric motor enables the fuel-saving engine stop/restart function to be way less intrusive than earlier examples. It provides a “coasting” feature to save even more gasoline. An electric supercharger eradicates any hint of turbo lag.

This system also creates a momentary boost of 21 horsepower and 184 lb-ft of torque, so the engine can reach its maximum output sooner.

That output is 362 horsepower and 369 lb-ft of torque, which goes through a 9-speed automatic transmission to the standard 4Matic all-wheel-drive system.

Premium gasoline is required.

3.0-liter turbocharged inline-6 + 48-volt mild-hybrid system
362 horsepower @ 5,500-6,100 rpm
369 lb-ft of torque @ 1,600-4,000 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 22/30 mpg