Why does Benz bother with the Mercedes CLS here?

The question isn’t ‘why’ bother persisting with the Mercedes-Benz CLS four-door ‘coupe’ in Australia when it will account for only a handful of sales here. The question is ‘why not’, says the local arm of the German luxury car-maker.

According to Mercedes-Benz Australia/Pacific, the new third-generation CLS will fulfil the fundamental requirement of selling at least 100 examples per annum Down Under.

In fact, Mercedes expects the new CLS to attract a few hundred buyers in Australia.

But just importantly, it retains faith with a local group of mature, affluent buyers who not only buy the CLS but also have other Benzes in their garage.

“You don’t surrender a segment,” declared Mercedes-Benz Australia/Pacific communications chief David McCarthy at this week’s CLS local launch.

“We have said before that a vehicle — other than really, really heavy metal — has to do 100 units for us to justify it. This will do 100 units no problem at all.

“This is the third generation of the car and [buyers] have probably had two or three CLSs in that time.

“They are pretty loyal and there is a lot of customer feedback that has gone into this car, so projections are good.”

The four-door coupe has been available in Australia since 2004, but for generation three the line-up has been halved.

The V8, V6 and diesel engine choices have been chopped, as has the wagon bodystyle. Instead, there are now three turbo-petrol alternatives: the four-cylinder CLS 350 and the inline six-cylinder CLS 450 4MATIC and Mercedes-AMG 53 4MATIC+.

The $155,529 CLS450 4MATIC — the first example of Benz’s new 3.0-litre straight-six petrol engine to go on sale in Australia — is now available, while the $136,900 CLS 350 and $179,529 AMG 53 aren’t in showrooms until November.

We’ve driven the CLS 450 on local soil and you can read out first Australian review here. We also drove the CLS 350 and 53 at the global launch in Spain earlier this year, when we covered the product concept too.

Mercedes-Benz is expecting the CLS 350 to be the volume-seller in the range. Powered by the brand-new OM 264 four-cylinder 2.0-litre engine, which is assisted by both exhaust gas and ‘EQ Boost’ belt-driven 48-volt mild-hybrid boosting, it makes 220kW and 400Nm, plus an extra 12kW and 150Nm in short squirts.

The 350 is the only rear-wheel drive model in the CLS range, but local fuel consumption, emission and performance figures are yet to be finalised.

The CLS 450 4MATIC’s turbocharged M 256 engine makes 270kW and 500Nm, supplemented in bursts by another 16kW and 250Nm produced by the integrated start-generator ‘EQ’ system. Claimed fuel consumption is 8.7L/100km and CO2 emissions 197g/km on 98 RON fuel.

The Mercedes-AMG CLS 53 adds an electric compressor to the 450’s already complex engine plumbing, helping tip-in throttle response and boosting outputs to 320kW and 520Nm. EQ Boost contributes another 15kW and 250Nm. The efficiency claims are 8.9L/100km and 203g/km.

Based on the same rear/all-wheel drive MRA architecture as all other Benz passenger cars from the C-Class upward, all three CLS models share a nine-speed automatic transmission, air springs, adaptive dampers and the ability to tune both drivetrain and suspension through multi-mode ‘dynamic select’.

Read the all-new Mercedes-Benz CLS 2018 Review

Standard CLS safety equipment includes nine airbags, a package of driver-assist systems that includes autonomous emergency braking with a cross-traffic function, 360-degree camera, Multibeam LED headlights and head-up display. The CLS comes with run-flat tyres and a pressure-loss warning system.

All CLS models roll on 20-inch alloys, are swathed in a full leather and wood interior with AMG Line exterior and interior design bits and bobs, plus Burmester surround sound, heated front seats with memory functions, dual-zone climate control and a sunroof. They also get the widescreen cockpit display system and a 64-colour interior ambient light package.

Upgrade to the CLS 450 and you get the energizing comfort control package, which issues aromas via the AC, has massaging seats and offers specially selected music. There are also soft-closing doors, a sports exhaust and an anti-theft alarm. AMG additions include active multi-contour seats, wireless charging, nappa leather and a performance exhaust.

Uprating its performance further from the 450, AMG also has retuned the 53’s auto, all-wheel drive system (which does not have the E 63’s drift mode), electro-mechanical steering, air springs and adaptive dampers, and added bigger brakes.

For about the first 12 months of production, Benz will also make its traditional Edition 1 package available with all models of the CLS. Entirely cosmetic, it will cost 350 and 450 buyers $7900 and AMG buyers $8600.

How much is the 2018 Mercedes-Benz CLS?
CLS 350 — $136,900
CLS 450 4MATIC — $155,529
CLS 53 4MATIC+ — $179,529
* Prices exclude on-road costs