Mercedes-Benz has long been synonymous with luxury, innovation, and groundbreaking design in the automotive world. In 2003, they redefined vehicle aesthetics with the introduction of the CLS, a model that daringly merged the sleekness of a coupe with the practicality of a sedan, birthing the four-door coupe segment. Fast forward to 2019, and the third generation Mercedes 2019 Cls emerges, not just as a successor, but as a bold evolution of this iconic lineage. This latest iteration doubles down on the CLS’s distinctive character, amplifying its inherent allure while integrating cutting-edge technology and enhanced comfort features. For those in the market for a vehicle that perfectly balances sporty dynamism with sophisticated elegance, the 2019 Mercedes CLS warrants a closer inspection.
Evolving an Icon: The Design Philosophy of the 2019 CLS
The Mercedes 2019 CLS embodies the next chapter of Mercedes-Benz’s design language, characterized by purity and emotional appeal. This model retains the soul of the original CLS with its sweeping silhouette, low-profile windows, and gracefully arched roofline, but sharpens its aesthetic with a more streamlined and assertive stance. The design philosophy, termed “Sensual Purity,” emphasizes the reduction of sharp lines and edges, favoring smoothly contoured surfaces that play with light and shadow, creating a visually captivating presence.
Exterior Design: Self-Assured Sportiness
The front fascia of the 2019 CLS Mercedes is immediately striking, dominated by the diamond grille – a signature element of Mercedes-Benz coupes. This grille, featuring a single louver, broadens towards its base, a design cue reminiscent of the high-performance Mercedes-AMG GT, lending the CLS a more aggressive and grounded appearance. The hood flows seamlessly into the body, enhancing the car’s sleek profile. Flanking the grille are exceptionally flat and wide LED headlamps, angled inward to dynamically follow the grille’s contours, contributing to the car’s focused and intent gaze. These are not just visually appealing but also highly functional, offering superior illumination.
Moving to the side profile, the high, arching waistline and the low, sporty greenhouse with frameless windows define the CLS silhouette. The forward-leaning front end, often likened to a shark’s nose, and the fully inset hood elongate the car visually, adding to its dynamic poise. The surfaces are generously curved, minimizing sharp lines and edges in line with the sensual purity design ethos.
The rear of the 2019 Mercedes-Benz CLS 450 echoes the muscular shoulder line that smoothly transitions into the flat rear end. The two-section LED taillamps are a hallmark coupe design element. Positioned low to emphasize the vehicle’s width, these taillamps, along with the reflectors integrated into the rear bumper and the license plate recess also in the bumper, contribute to a clean and wide rear aesthetic. The iconic Mercedes star is centrally placed on the trunk lid, completing the signature rear view. The LED taillamps themselves have a crystalline appearance, creating a three-dimensional depth effect that further enhances the car’s premium feel.
Interior Design: Luxurious and Technologically Advanced Cabin
Stepping inside the 2019 CLS Mercedes-Benz reveals a luxurious cabin that mirrors the sensual contours of the exterior. The interior design is characterized by clean, horizontal lines that amplify the sense of spaciousness, particularly in the width-accentuated cockpit. The choice of high-grade materials and meticulous craftsmanship is evident throughout the cabin, underscoring the vehicle’s premium positioning.
The wave-like flow of the interior design seamlessly connects the front and rear doors, visually expanding the space, especially around the B-pillars. A novel highlight is the illuminated air vents, designed to resemble jet aircraft turbines, which also function as part of the ambient lighting system. The sporty character is further emphasized by the meticulously finished seats.
The Mercedes-Benz CLS 2019 is equipped with a high-resolution 12.3-inch central display as standard. Optionally, owners can opt for dual 12.3-inch displays that merge into a widescreen cockpit, creating a visually stunning and information-rich interface under a shared glass cover. The center console, available in open-pore or high-gloss wood trim, appears to float, adding to the modern and airy feel of the interior.
The fully digital cockpit allows drivers to customize the displayed information based on their preferences and driving situation. Three distinct display styles – Classic, Sport, and Progressive – are available, allowing personalization to match mood or interior trim. The ambient lighting system, offering 64 selectable colors, extends to the air vents. A unique feature of this system is its ability to change color briefly to indicate temperature adjustments of the climate control – red for warmer and blue for cooler, providing intuitive feedback.
The seats in the 2019 CLS are newly designed, featuring high-quality piping and offering exceptional comfort and support. The rear seats are styled to resemble individual seats, contributing to a sporty, single-seat aesthetic, even though the 2019 CLS is now a five-seater for the first time, enhancing its practicality. The rear seat backrests can be folded in a 40/20/40 split, increasing cargo versatility.
Performance and Innovation: Under the Hood of the 2019 CLS 450
The 2019 Mercedes CLS 450 introduces a completely new in-line six-cylinder engine, marking a significant advancement in Mercedes-Benz powertrain technology. This engine, part of the new generation of systematically electrified engines, features EQ Boost – an integrated starter-generator – and a 48-volt onboard electrical system.
This advanced powertrain delivers 362 horsepower and 369 lb-ft of torque, supplemented by an additional 21 horsepower boost and substantial torque from the EQ Boost system, available for short bursts. The integrated electric motor not only assists the combustion engine during acceleration but also enables “sailing” – driving without the combustion engine engaged – and efficiently recuperates energy to charge the battery. This technology enhances fuel efficiency to levels previously exclusive to high-voltage hybrid systems, effectively providing the performance of an eight-cylinder engine with significantly reduced fuel consumption. The CLS 450 also comes standard with a particulate filter, reflecting Mercedes-Benz’s commitment to environmental responsibility.
| CLS450 / CLS450 4MATIC | |
|---|---|
| Number of cylinders/ arrangement | 6/in-line |
| Displacement (cc) | 2,999 |
| Rated output (hp) | 362 hp @ 5,500 – 6,100 rpm |
| Add. output from EQ Boost (hp) | 21 hp |
| Rated torque (lb-ft) | 369 lb-ft @ 1,600 – 4,000 rpm |
| Acceleration 0-60 mph (sec) | 5.1 / 4.8 |
Comfort and Technology: Enhancing the Driving Experience
Beyond sporty performance, the 2019 CLS prioritizes comfort and integrates state-of-the-art technology to enhance the overall driving and ownership experience.
AIR BODY CONTROL and ENERGIZING Comfort
The Mercedes 2019 CLS 450 offers optional AIR BODY CONTROL suspension, an enhanced air suspension system with adjustable and adaptive damping. This system allows drivers to tailor the vehicle’s ride characteristics from supremely comfortable to dynamically sporty using the driving mode selector.
ENERGIZING Comfort is another standout feature, linking various vehicle comfort systems to create a holistic wellness experience. It harmonizes the climate control system (including fragrance), seat functions (heating, ventilation, massage), surface and steering wheel heating, ambient lighting, and musical atmospheres to create specific wellness setups tailored to the driver’s mood and needs. This system aims to enhance well-being and driver performance with programs such as:
- Refresh / Freshness
- Warmth
- Vitality
- Joy
- Comfort / Well-Being
- Training (including muscle relaxation, muscle activation, and balance exercises).
Intelligent Drive: Advanced Driver Assistance Systems
The 2019 CLS Mercedes-Benz benefits from the latest advancements in driving assistance technology, sharing many features with the flagship S-Class. The Driver Assistance Package incorporates route-based speed adaptation and comprehensive driver support systems.
Standard driver assistance and safety features include Active Brake Assist, ATTENTION ASSIST, and the PRE-SAFE® occupant protection system. New standard features also include PRE-SAFE® Sound, which prepares human hearing for the anticipated noise of an accident if a collision risk is detected.
The optional Driver Assistance Package further enhances safety and convenience with features like:
- Active Distance Assist DISTRONIC
- Active Steering Assist
- Active Speed Limit Assist
- Active Brake Assist with cross-traffic function
- Evasive Steering Assist
- Active Blind Spot Assist
- Active Lane Keeping Assist
- PRE-SAFE® PLUS
- PRE-SAFE® Impulse Side
Active Distance Assist DISTRONIC and Active Steering Assist offer enhanced support for maintaining safe distances and steering, now automatically adjusting speed for bends and junctions. Active Lane Change Assist has also been significantly improved. The system utilizes enhanced camera and radar technology, along with map and navigation data, to better anticipate driving conditions and optimize assistance.
The “Assistance Graphics” menu in the instrument cluster provides a clear overview of active assistance functions and system responses. Intuitive icons are displayed both in the instrument cluster and the head-up display. All driver assistance functions are conveniently controlled via the steering wheel. In stop-and-go traffic, the system can now handle stops of up to 3 seconds, automatically resuming movement and following traffic flow.
LED Intelligent Light System with Ultra Wide Beam
The 2019 CLS offers the optional LED Intelligent Light System, featuring advanced LED headlamps and Ultra Wide Beam high beams. The Ultra Wide Beam technology significantly increases the width of the light distribution, maximizing road and surrounding area illumination. This provides a substantial improvement over the already impressive LED Intelligent Light System. Adaptive Highbeam Assist is also integrated, enabling drivers to use main beams without dazzling other road users by selectively dimming or switching off LEDs in response to oncoming or preceding vehicles, while continuing to illuminate other areas of the road with the main beam.
Edition 1: An Exclusive Launch Offering
For those seeking ultimate exclusivity, the Mercedes-Benz 2019 CLS was launched with an Edition 1 model. This special edition amplifies the CLS’s luxurious appeal with unique interior and exterior enhancements. The COPPER ART interior concept is exclusive to the Edition 1, featuring black pearl nappa leather seats with diamond-design center sections and copper-colored accents. Copper-colored contrasting topstitching adorns the center console, seats, armrests, dashboard, and door linings. A distinctive diamond grille with matte chrome pins and a copper-colored shimmer on the louver further sets it apart.
The exterior of the Edition 1 is based on the AMG Line, featuring standard LED Intelligent Light headlamps and 19-inch multi-spoke AMG light-alloy wheels in black with a high-sheen rim flange. “Edition 1” lettering on the front fenders clearly marks this special model.
Interior highlights of the Edition 1 include:
- Dashboard support lined in black nappa leather
- Center console and dashboard trim in natural grain black ash wood
- Exclusive IWC analogue clock dial
- High-gloss black vehicle key with high-sheen chrome surround
- Floor mats with “Edition 1” badge and copper-colored piping
- Chrome “Edition 1” lettering on the center console and welcome screen display.
Conclusion: The 2019 Mercedes-Benz CLS – A Synthesis of Style and Substance
The 2019 Mercedes-Benz CLS stands as a testament to Mercedes-Benz’s ongoing commitment to innovation and design leadership. It successfully evolves the iconic CLS lineage, offering a compelling blend of breathtaking aesthetics, exhilarating performance, and cutting-edge technology. From its sensual exterior design and luxurious, technologically advanced interior to its efficient and powerful in-line six-cylinder engine with EQ Boost, the 2019 CLS delivers a driving experience that is both engaging and refined. Whether you prioritize dynamic driving, unparalleled comfort, or simply making a statement with your vehicle’s design, the Mercedes 2019 CLS is engineered to exceed expectations, solidifying its position as a leader in the four-door coupe segment.
