Yeah, it's kind of a big, heavy beast, but damned if the 2014
Mercedes-Benz CLS63 AMG S-Model 4Matic doesn't do pretty much anything
you could ask really, really well. Considering the car's equipment
level, appearance, power output and overall opulence, I'll even go so
far as to say $118K almost seems like a bargain. If that statement is
too difficult to stomach, the CLS63 at least doesn't make one feel as
though they've been reamed at the altar of German car options lists.
Mercedes' optional (and oddly named) Designo interior package lavishes the CLS63 with buttery perforated leather; Alcantara and matte wood seem to grace every surface that doesn't get cowhide. The layout is strictly last-gen Benz -- none of the floating-iPad center stack that's in the new C-class and CLA, if that's your thing -- but it all works well, it's familiar, and it's still great looking.
If there's a better muscle-car powertrain than that crafted by AMG, I'm unfamiliar with it. Yes -- muscle car: There's a big, high-horse engine stuffed into a midsize coupe/sedan here; that equals muscle car, and one stab of the throttle is all you'll need to convince you. The bellow this thing makes when it's prodded is the stuff car-guy dreams are made of. Almost 600 lb-ft of torque at 2,000 rpm also means it just flat-out goes when you need it to, yet the car is perfectly content puttering around in rush hour traffic with the moonroof open and the satellite radio cranked. Huge brakes and good transmission programming (plenty of engine braking dialed in) make the CLS even more tractable; there's just a sense of supreme confidence that the car will handle any possible road situation with aplomb -- the exception perhaps being potholes thanks to the 19-inch AMG wheels and rubber-band sidewall Pirelli rubber.
So what if the CLS63 is a bit of a septuagenarian's steed. The car is a blast; if you're gonna blow $118K, this AMG at least gives you everything you could want in a single, tidy package.
EDITOR WES RAYNAL: It's a sexy-looking hot rod for sure. Fire
it up and the twin-turbo V8 settles into a beautiful burble. It sounds
ready to pounce. And this car leaps away from a stop with all-wheel
drive grip clawing madly at the pavement. With the combination of great
seats, terrific brakes and that above-mentioned grip, you find yourself
hanging on for dear life sometimes.
Conversely set everything into comfort mode and push the Eco button and it cruises around town as nicely as you please with a terrific around-town ride in the soft setting (the start/stop is a slight annoyance in that it is a wee bit abrupt). Bypass that in sport or sport + mode. I argue the biggest thrill this car provides is in the rolling acceleration -- say, 50-100 mph, or 50 to whatever. Floor it at nearly any highway speed and hang on! Smooth, instantaneous downshifts and jet-on-a-runway thrust.
Here's a six-figure-stickered car I feel is worth the money.
The 2014 Mercedes-Benz CLS63 AMG S-Model 4Matic is equipped with a 5.5-liter twin-turbocharged V8.
SENIOR MOTORSPORTS EDITOR MAC MORRISON: Many speed-freak
automotive enthusiasts can never have enough power, but in reality this
CLS63 AMG S-Model 4Matic -- and you should note that “S” designation,
because it delivers even more power and torque from the twin-turbo V8 --
is creeping up on as much of a JATO rocket-strapped-to-your-back
experience as you “need” in a four-door, executive-style road car.
Torque, of course, is your best friend here, and the accompanying exhaust gurgle makes each drive in this CLS a smile-inducing one from the instant you press the dash-located start button. On full boost and sailing fast toward redline, with an aggressive roar bellowing out the back, you tend to forget this car's hefty curb weight, and its large brakes bleed-off speed well to set you up for any approaching corner. A meaty flat-bottomed, Alcantara-trimmed steering wheel and nice driving position add to the fun of turning into a nice sweeper; you once again become acutely aware of the CLS' heft once the car takes a set in the corner, but not to a degree that your enjoyment decreases much, if at all. AMG has done a nice job of making this chassis handle and respond to inputs well, and when you consider the body's sharp lines, the interior's premium materials, fit and finish? The package makes a lot of sense in the realm of non-sports car, premium performance-car luxury.
Personally, I'd swap out these five-spoke factory wheels, as the odd little “nibs” extending from the base of each spoke makes me feel like I'm looking at a bunch of redundant tire-valve stems. Interior-wise, at the moment think I prefer this older generation of Mercedes-Benz interiors to the most recent; Andy mentioned the tablet-like display screen featured on the C- and CLA-class offerings, which to me looks like somewhat of an aftermarket afterthought rather than the well-integrated screen found in the CLS et. al.
The seven-speed multiclutch transmission will never convince you it's anywhere near the quickest-responding gearbox on the market, but it performs well most of the time, at least for 99 percent of street driving instances. As Andy also mentioned, certainly in sport+ mode it down changes nicely under braking, providing a sporty experience even when you are not using the shift-paddles to call the shots yourself. Frankly, operating this transmission manually is a mixed bag and frustrates me at times because it often hangs up between upshifts and chooses to ignore downshift commands, especially if you attempt to snap the paddle too quickly. These little foibles ultimately see me leaving the gearbox in Sport+ auto mode as a result.
Perhaps my only other gripe: Can the U.S. get its hands on the CLS63 “Shooting Brake” station wagon?
The 2014 Mercedes-Benz CLS63 AMG S-Model 4Matic is capable of producing 577 hp and 590 lb-ft of torque.
EXECUTIVE EDITOR RORY CARROLL: When the CLS first made
landfall in the U.S., I thought Mercedes was brave for building a car
that looked like an overturned boat. Today, it's a good deal more
purposeful with deep flanks and monster haunches out back.
And even if we miss the sound of that old 6.2-liter, the 5.5-liter turbo does a fine job of erasing thoughts of the sedans nautical forbearer; it's definitely more rocket-like than boat-like these days. It's a heavy car, but all that power coupled with AWD and fat tires make hard launches exciting if not dramatic.
The Designo (hate that name) interior in our tester is really special. I hate to say it, but I expected the option to be more expensive. At $2,000, it's not cheap, but I'd have a hard time saying it's not worth it.
If you're shopping expensive executive sedans, you'd be well-served to give this one a look. I still prefer the Audi RS7 for the price, but I'm a sucker for the utility you get from the hatch. If that's not a selling point for you, the Merc makes a compelling case.
The 2014 Mercedes-Benz CLS63 AMG S-Model 4Matic receives an EPA-estimated 22 mpg highway fuel economy.
ASSOCIATE EDITOR GRAHAM KOZAK: This is the first time I've
ever overestimated the price tag on a Mercedes-Benz AMG product. I
mentally pegged this CLS63 S-Model as a $140,000 car, and was surprised
to see that it stickers for a well-equipped Ford Focus less. A bargain
buy, then?
It's all relative. Though you can have a lot of fun for less than six figures, this sedan still seems to offer a lot of value per luxury dollar.
And a lot of horsepower per dollar. Muscle car comparisons are apt; fancy dual-clutches and all-wheel drive systems aside, this car has 577 hp and 590 lb-ft of torque and knows how to use it. Power delivery is excellent. It's a forced-induction powerplant, but it's got grunt from so low in the rev range that you tend to forget it.
Thanks to the all-wheel drive, all that power doesn't seem to have a problem making it to the ground, either; you won't get sideways in a launch (for better or for worse), but you will get going in a hurry. And you'll keep going, and going, and going…
The exhaust is another carryover from Detroit's pre-Oil Crisis days. A neighbor flagged me down as I pulled out of my driveway early in the morning. “That thing's got quite a bark,” he said, grinning. OK, so it's loud -- but not that loud. And are snooping neighbors really going to suspect the fancy-looking Benz?
Looks-wise, you're getting that “four-door coupe” language that the Germans so enjoy. Conceptually, it's like a high-end Volkswagen CC, but with muscular haunches. It's an unabashedly stylish alternative for someone looking for something a little sexier than the E-class, I guess. So if your upscale subdivision is crawling with E63 AMG sedans, here you go.
As-Tested Price: $117,780
Drivetrain: 5.5-liter twin-turbocharged V8; AWD, seven-speed multi-clutch sequential manual
Output: 577 hp @ 5,500 rpm, 590 lb-ft @ 2,000-4,500 rpm
Curb Weight: 4,227 lb
Fuel Economy (EPA City/Highway/Combined): 16/22/18 mpg
AW Observed Fuel Economy: 18.5 mpg
Options: P01 package including rearview camera, heated and ventilated front seats, active multicontour driver seat, adaptive high beam assist, full LED headlamps, electronic trunk closer, keyless go ($3,690); 977 driver assistance package including Distronic Plus, active blind-spot assist, active lane keeping assist ($2,950); 181 designo sand leather package including napa leather ($1,920); 793 19-inch AMG twin five-spoke forged wheels ($1,000); diamond white exterior paint ($795)
Mercedes' optional (and oddly named) Designo interior package lavishes the CLS63 with buttery perforated leather; Alcantara and matte wood seem to grace every surface that doesn't get cowhide. The layout is strictly last-gen Benz -- none of the floating-iPad center stack that's in the new C-class and CLA, if that's your thing -- but it all works well, it's familiar, and it's still great looking.
If there's a better muscle-car powertrain than that crafted by AMG, I'm unfamiliar with it. Yes -- muscle car: There's a big, high-horse engine stuffed into a midsize coupe/sedan here; that equals muscle car, and one stab of the throttle is all you'll need to convince you. The bellow this thing makes when it's prodded is the stuff car-guy dreams are made of. Almost 600 lb-ft of torque at 2,000 rpm also means it just flat-out goes when you need it to, yet the car is perfectly content puttering around in rush hour traffic with the moonroof open and the satellite radio cranked. Huge brakes and good transmission programming (plenty of engine braking dialed in) make the CLS even more tractable; there's just a sense of supreme confidence that the car will handle any possible road situation with aplomb -- the exception perhaps being potholes thanks to the 19-inch AMG wheels and rubber-band sidewall Pirelli rubber.
So what if the CLS63 is a bit of a septuagenarian's steed. The car is a blast; if you're gonna blow $118K, this AMG at least gives you everything you could want in a single, tidy package.
Conversely set everything into comfort mode and push the Eco button and it cruises around town as nicely as you please with a terrific around-town ride in the soft setting (the start/stop is a slight annoyance in that it is a wee bit abrupt). Bypass that in sport or sport + mode. I argue the biggest thrill this car provides is in the rolling acceleration -- say, 50-100 mph, or 50 to whatever. Floor it at nearly any highway speed and hang on! Smooth, instantaneous downshifts and jet-on-a-runway thrust.
Here's a six-figure-stickered car I feel is worth the money.
The 2014 Mercedes-Benz CLS63 AMG S-Model 4Matic is equipped with a 5.5-liter twin-turbocharged V8.
Torque, of course, is your best friend here, and the accompanying exhaust gurgle makes each drive in this CLS a smile-inducing one from the instant you press the dash-located start button. On full boost and sailing fast toward redline, with an aggressive roar bellowing out the back, you tend to forget this car's hefty curb weight, and its large brakes bleed-off speed well to set you up for any approaching corner. A meaty flat-bottomed, Alcantara-trimmed steering wheel and nice driving position add to the fun of turning into a nice sweeper; you once again become acutely aware of the CLS' heft once the car takes a set in the corner, but not to a degree that your enjoyment decreases much, if at all. AMG has done a nice job of making this chassis handle and respond to inputs well, and when you consider the body's sharp lines, the interior's premium materials, fit and finish? The package makes a lot of sense in the realm of non-sports car, premium performance-car luxury.
Personally, I'd swap out these five-spoke factory wheels, as the odd little “nibs” extending from the base of each spoke makes me feel like I'm looking at a bunch of redundant tire-valve stems. Interior-wise, at the moment think I prefer this older generation of Mercedes-Benz interiors to the most recent; Andy mentioned the tablet-like display screen featured on the C- and CLA-class offerings, which to me looks like somewhat of an aftermarket afterthought rather than the well-integrated screen found in the CLS et. al.
The seven-speed multiclutch transmission will never convince you it's anywhere near the quickest-responding gearbox on the market, but it performs well most of the time, at least for 99 percent of street driving instances. As Andy also mentioned, certainly in sport+ mode it down changes nicely under braking, providing a sporty experience even when you are not using the shift-paddles to call the shots yourself. Frankly, operating this transmission manually is a mixed bag and frustrates me at times because it often hangs up between upshifts and chooses to ignore downshift commands, especially if you attempt to snap the paddle too quickly. These little foibles ultimately see me leaving the gearbox in Sport+ auto mode as a result.
Perhaps my only other gripe: Can the U.S. get its hands on the CLS63 “Shooting Brake” station wagon?
The 2014 Mercedes-Benz CLS63 AMG S-Model 4Matic is capable of producing 577 hp and 590 lb-ft of torque.
And even if we miss the sound of that old 6.2-liter, the 5.5-liter turbo does a fine job of erasing thoughts of the sedans nautical forbearer; it's definitely more rocket-like than boat-like these days. It's a heavy car, but all that power coupled with AWD and fat tires make hard launches exciting if not dramatic.
The Designo (hate that name) interior in our tester is really special. I hate to say it, but I expected the option to be more expensive. At $2,000, it's not cheap, but I'd have a hard time saying it's not worth it.
If you're shopping expensive executive sedans, you'd be well-served to give this one a look. I still prefer the Audi RS7 for the price, but I'm a sucker for the utility you get from the hatch. If that's not a selling point for you, the Merc makes a compelling case.
The 2014 Mercedes-Benz CLS63 AMG S-Model 4Matic receives an EPA-estimated 22 mpg highway fuel economy.
It's all relative. Though you can have a lot of fun for less than six figures, this sedan still seems to offer a lot of value per luxury dollar.
And a lot of horsepower per dollar. Muscle car comparisons are apt; fancy dual-clutches and all-wheel drive systems aside, this car has 577 hp and 590 lb-ft of torque and knows how to use it. Power delivery is excellent. It's a forced-induction powerplant, but it's got grunt from so low in the rev range that you tend to forget it.
Thanks to the all-wheel drive, all that power doesn't seem to have a problem making it to the ground, either; you won't get sideways in a launch (for better or for worse), but you will get going in a hurry. And you'll keep going, and going, and going…
The exhaust is another carryover from Detroit's pre-Oil Crisis days. A neighbor flagged me down as I pulled out of my driveway early in the morning. “That thing's got quite a bark,” he said, grinning. OK, so it's loud -- but not that loud. And are snooping neighbors really going to suspect the fancy-looking Benz?
Looks-wise, you're getting that “four-door coupe” language that the Germans so enjoy. Conceptually, it's like a high-end Volkswagen CC, but with muscular haunches. It's an unabashedly stylish alternative for someone looking for something a little sexier than the E-class, I guess. So if your upscale subdivision is crawling with E63 AMG sedans, here you go.
2014 Mercedes-Benz CLS63 AMG S-Model 4Matic
Base Price: $107,425As-Tested Price: $117,780
Drivetrain: 5.5-liter twin-turbocharged V8; AWD, seven-speed multi-clutch sequential manual
Output: 577 hp @ 5,500 rpm, 590 lb-ft @ 2,000-4,500 rpm
Curb Weight: 4,227 lb
Fuel Economy (EPA City/Highway/Combined): 16/22/18 mpg
AW Observed Fuel Economy: 18.5 mpg
Options: P01 package including rearview camera, heated and ventilated front seats, active multicontour driver seat, adaptive high beam assist, full LED headlamps, electronic trunk closer, keyless go ($3,690); 977 driver assistance package including Distronic Plus, active blind-spot assist, active lane keeping assist ($2,950); 181 designo sand leather package including napa leather ($1,920); 793 19-inch AMG twin five-spoke forged wheels ($1,000); diamond white exterior paint ($795)
