FLORENCE – Mercedes-Benz has just launched its CLS Shooting Brake on the international market. There was a wide range of vehicles available to us on the launch, but South Africa will only get the CLS 350, CLS 500 and the CLS 63 AMG when it arrives in local showrooms in November this year.
Styling – inside and out
The front half of the CLS Shooting brake is very much like the four-door CLS. It features the familial Mercedes grille with the large three-pointed star on the nose and swept-back headlamps. A long side window that features blacked-out B-pillars and is pinched towards the rear of the car dominates the side view. I found the CLS Shooting Brake looked a bit awkward in profile with the long nose contrasting quite starkly with the relatively bluff hatch rear-end. Speaking of which, the rear features a narrow hatchaperture, courtesy of the rear styling having to accomodate those pretty CLS brakelamps and a small rear window. Desite the high waistline and the aforementioned small rear window, visibility out of the car isn’t bad at all.
Inside, the cabin and its features are all that you would expect of a CLS. Details such as chrome finishes, leather seats and wood-look details help create a feeling of luxury. For the Shooting Brake, Mercedes has opted to go for a full rear bench rather than individual rear pews so as not limit this car to being a four-seater only. However, I doubt that the middle seat of this version could comfortably accommodate an adult.
On the road
While piloting the CLS Shooting Brake you don’t feel as though you’re driving a wagon. It feels as comfortable and as nimble as its CLS coupe sibling – a car that I have grown fond of this year. The steering is light but responsive, the adjustable suspension is relatively soft in its sport setting, but a bit floaty in comfort mode, and the refinement is impressive.
This CLS 350 is in its element when cruising. The 3,5-litre V6 petrol is mated with a 7 G-tronic transmission and dvelops 225 kW and 370 N.m, enought to provide brisk and unflustered overtaking. It does this without fuss. Despite being quite nimble and swift for what it is, the Shooting Brake isn’t the type of car in which you feel compelled to drive aggressively. It’s the sort of car in which you’d want to spend a lot of time – almost as much of a grand tourer as a sport wagon. Mercedes-Benz claims a fuel consumption figure of 7,3 L/100 km on the combined cycle.
Dimensions and practicality
Underpinned by the same wheelbase as the E-Class, the CLS Shooting Brake doesn’t leave you wanting for much when it comes to space. It is 4 956 mm long and, despite the sloping roofline, boasts more headroom than its coupe sibling. Open the hatch and there’s 590 dm3 of luggage space available. Tumble the rear seats and the packing space increases to 1 550 dm3. At the launch, some models were fitted with the optional cherry wood floor for the luggage area. It looks stunning, but I fear that, should you go for this option, you will find that your precious wooden floor is no match for the dog, luggage and odds and ends that you may need to transport.
Overall
Despite the fact that this is a good car that offers heaps of practicality, excellent refinement and can transport most of the family in comfort while still managing to look classy, I can’t help but ponder about the reception that the CLS Shooting Brake’s will recieve in South Africa. Not only are we not a Shooting Brake/estate/station wagon country, but also we don’t like spending money on cars that fit into a new niche or new market segment (a five-door shooting brake is something new) altogether (take the R-Class as an example). Also, when it gets here, the CLS Shooting Brake will be significantly more expensive than the CLS coupe and will sit at a similar price level or out-price some well-loved premium SUVs, which offer the same amount of practicality, often a good degree of off-road ability and, in some cases, a bit of style as well.
Specifications
Model: CLS 350
Engine: V6/3 498 cm3
Power: 225 kW
Torque: 370 N.m
Model: CLS 500
Engine: V8/4 663 cm3
Power: 300 kW
Torque: 600 N.m
Model: CLS 63 AMG
Engine: V8/5 461 cm3
Power: 386 kW
Torque: 700 N.m
