Mercedes-Benz CLS 2012 Review

In a world dominated by hulking SUV family haulers, Mercedes-Benz is bucking the trend with its CLS Shooting Brake. The smooth new wagon puts style way ahead of space, almost daring luxury-class buyers to give it a try.

Some are already converts. The first 12 Brakes for Australia are on a boat that docks next month and all are pre-sold, even though their owners have no idea of the final price. It's likely to be at least $170,000, although Mercedes-Benz Australia is not even giving hints before the car's local launch at the Australian International Motor Show next month.

But we don't have to wait for Sydney to get the other details on the Shooting Brake, including a Carsguide first drive that shows - not surprisingly - that it drives the same as the CLS coupe. Mercedes-Benz is finally building the Shooting Brake after two successes with motor show teases, but one failed attempt to get the car approved as a spin-off from the first-generation CLS.

This time around, it believes it is setting a new trend that others - perhaps even Porsche with a Panamera wagon at the Paris show - will follow. "People want something different. The Shooting Brake satisfies that," says CLS design chief, Uwe Haller.

VALUE

Even without pricing - although the basic Shooting Brake costs an extra $2000 over the CLS coupe in Europe - it's clear there are people in Australia who want the car. They will probably be happy to pay an extra $10,000 to park one in their garage.

The CLS four-door starts at $164,070 and there is no shortage of buyers, so the target of 100-150 Shooting Brakes - around the same number as E-Class wagon deliveries each year in Australia - is not outrageous. That's way, way fewer than Benz's SUV deliveries in Australia, but no matter what you call a wagon - and we have everything from a Commodore Sportswagons to Audi Avants - they are nowhere as popular now as they were in the past.

The value deal for the CLS looks a little better when you know that it can (just) fit five people in the cabin, but the gorgeous wooden loading deck in the press preview cars - which looks more like it belongs on a luxury boat than in a car - is going to put an extra $4000 on the bill. The Shooting Brake lineup for Australia will be a 250 diesel, a 350 petrol and the AMG 6.3 V8 flagship.

TECHNOLOGY

The Shooting Brake is mechanically identical to the CLS coupe, from engine outputs on the three models through to the seven-speed automaic gearbox, suspension design and braking systems. It's a predictable path for any wagon, although the Brake does pick up a split-fold rear seat that's missing from the four-door model and it comes with a power-operated tailgate.

DESIGN

This is what it's all about. Style, design, flair and the look-at-me factor. "It is a car driven by design," says Uwe Haller. Benz knew it was taking a safe road after the success of its two motor show tasters - the Concept Fascination and Concept Shooting Brake - and the only real change is that it comes with four side doors and not two.

It picks up the chunky nose of the second-generation SLS, which Carsguide believes is a step back from the original, with a roof that slopes down heavily towards a relatively small rear door. The wagon actually has more rear headroom than the coupe - by 56 millimetres - and Benz says the luggage capacity is 590 litres with the back seat up and 1550 with it laid flat. For comparison, the boxier E-Class wagon's capacities are 695 and 1950.

There is only one thing that worries me about the design of the Shooting Brake. It seems to look a lot like a Hyundai i40 wagon, although that's not something I mention to Haller.

SAFETY

Five-star safety is almost a given for any new Mercedes-Benz and the Shooting Brake should hit the target, with everything from compulsory ABS and ESP to the high-tech adaptive cruise control and LED lights fitted to the test cars in Italy.

DRIVING

Sitting at the whee,l it's almost impossible to pick the Shooting Brake from the CLS sedan. The car feels the same and drives the same, so it's only when you peek in the rear-vision mirror - and cop a reminder of the pinched-in view behind - that you remember. Especially when a keen young Italian in a Ford Fiesta pulls out a camera to grab a shot of the new Benz . . .

The driving feel is good news but no real surprise, since I've driven a bunch of good wagons over the years - including the Commodore Sportwagon - that ride and handle as well as the four-door models.
The boot is not particularly deep but has good length and easily swallows a bunch of bags, looking like it could cope with at least two sets of golf clubs.

The wooden floor looks terrific, but a Benz helper pulls out a cover to prevent any scratching - would you want to damage it with the weekly groceries? - and it actually means a second oil change during servicing to keep it protected. The extra headroom in the back is surprising and welcome, but only a child will fit - unhappily? - in the middle of the rear bench, which still has outboard spots shaped for two adults.

The Brake is not easy to park, but no harder than a CLS coupe. It really comes down to design and style, so - despite my feelings about the i40 - the Shooting Brake looks like a definite winner. It is new and different, turns heads, and has a definite touch of class, although it's unlikely to wean too many Australians away from their SUVs.

Finally, about the name. Shooting Brakes were wagons developed in Britain for weekend hunting parties and, despite claims that the name should be spelled Break, Mercedes-Benz insists it has it right with Brake.

VERDICT

A classy new take on the working class wagon from the brand that's already kicked a goal with its CLS Coupe.

Mercedes-Benz CLS Shooting Brake


Price: from $170,000 (estimate only)
Models: 250 CDI, 350, 63 AMG
Warranty: 3 years/unlimited km
Service interval: 12 months/15,000km
Safety: 6 airbags, ABS, EBD, EBA, TC
Crash rating: 5 stars (estimate)
Engines:2.2-litre turbodiesel, 150kw/500Nm; 3.5-litre V6 petrol, 225/370; 5.4-litre V8 turbo petrol, 386/700
Transmission: 7-speed auto; RWD
Thirst: from 5.3L/100km, 139g/km CO2
Dimensions: 4956mm (L), 1881mm (W), 1416mm (H)
Weight: 1800-1955kg
Spare: space saver

RIVALS

Audi A6 Avant
Price: from $81,800
Engine: 2.0L 4-cyl turbo, 132kW/320Nm
Transmission: CVT (Constantly Variable Transmission)
Thirst: 6.5L /100km, CO2 152 g/km

BMW 5 Series Touring
Price: from $89,900
Engine: 2.0L 4-cyl turbo diesel, 135kW/380Nm
Transmission: 8-speed automatic; RWD
Thirst: 5.3L/100km, CO2 133g/km

Mercedes-Benz E-Class Estate
Price: from $108,150
Engine: 2.1L 4-cyl petrol, 150kW/500Nm
Transmission: 7-speed auto; RWD
Thirst: 5.6L/100km, CO2 145g/km