REVIEW: Is Mercedes-Benz's 2010 CL550 "Worth It?"

When I think of practicality, easy-to-use instrumentation and reliability, I think of Lexus and Toyota.  When I think of letting your hair down and having a totally visceral experience, I immediately think of a Ferrari. 

When I think of style, class and power, the first image that pops into my mind is a Mercedes-Benz S-Class or CL. 

The cars are large, handsome and are essentially the pinnacle of top-notch quality -- with exception to that "down" period Mercedes experienced in the early 2000s.  Well, fear no more because Benz has recently reached the top of some of J.D. Power's surveys, yet again.  Knowing this, it is easy to deduce that things are back on the upswing. 

You want a look into old-school MB quality?  Shut the door of a decade old imported Gelandewagon and it is comparable to a steel bank vault.  That feel is coming back; at least with the current S and CL's I have had the chance to drive. 

This neatly brings me to the car of this particular talking point, the 2010 Mercedes-Benz CL550 4MATIC.  With a strong focus on luxury, this GT car was built to drive from London to Nice when things get a bit too hairy in the city and you just want to relax at the beach. 

It is not meant to sniff out every groove in the pavement and provide stellar road feel.  You have to look towards the AMGs for that.

Looking into its heritage, the CL stems from the SEC designation from the early 80s.  You know, the W126s, a mix between class and elegance.  As it revolutionized throughout the years it came to the last generation, the W215s, which was a bit of a mix up.  To be quite honest, it did not really stay true to the graceful heritage with its peculiar face. 

The latest CL, however, looks more like a child of the earlier models.  Although there are some curves, its prominent grille and swept-back headlights ensure that you do not get confused.  This is a big-daddy Benz.

From front to the rear of the vehicle, the lines are very tapered and fluid.  Any stroke that could have been edgy or harsh has been expelled from the design.  Kind of like a fancy party that has a serious security force in order to keep out the ruckus.  My favorite line: just beyond the front door is a streak that begins in the middle of the side profile, as it moves to the rear it transcends upwards ever so slightly in a smooth fashion.  It is stunning. 

But not quite as impressive as the interior.  When you sit down in the plush seats and close the door while taking in your first breath, you would swear you are in a leather factory.  It reeks of hide -- this is good.  You have to wonder how many cows it used in producing this interior and how many burgers that would have been able to serve starving Somalians.  But, then you do not seem to care because you are in a CL.

Playing around with the gadgetry, it is up to date with just about everything you can imagine.  Although my tester was not loaded to the gills it still had plenty of kit, as you would expect for nearly 1200 Benjamins.  Some examples include: a moveable 40 gigabyte Hard Drive GPS navigation unit, heating and cooling seats that feature adjustable bolsters, and the optioned DISTRONIC PLUS Adaptive Cruise Control, Parking Guidance and Blind Spot Assist.  

If you have ever sat in stop and go New York City traffic jams, as I did for nearly two hours, you will come to love Distronic.  Unlike a lot of systems currently on the market, it actually has the capability to bring the vehicle to a full stop and then restart the car.  Essentially, you become a monkey behind the wheel.  At this rate, CL's will eventually become "ghost ships" because no one will even need to drive them.

There is a spot where I find fault, though.  It is the seats.  Although they are extremely comfortable, as you would expect from 14-way power seats, you cannot truly find your ideal seating position.  Why? Because the seat allows only so much travel in one direction before manipulating another part.  For instance, if you put the bottom of the seat all the way back, at one point it will automatically move the backrest forward.  Awkward and annoying, yes it is!

Turning around and peering into the backseat reveals that there appears to be enough room for more than a small child, unlike most GT cars.  Strangely enough, it looks like someone with legs can fit in the backseat.  Besides the Bentley Brooklands, which claims the largest amount of backseat room in a large coupe, the CL may have one of the most usable interiors.  Note: practicality is always a plus.

But, enough about the philosophical debates.  Let's get down to brass tacks; how does this car drive?

With Mercedes' standard 5.5L V8 putting out 382-horsepower and 391 lb-ft of torque, power is adequate.  It will not knock your socks off but for a vehicle over 4,600 pounds and this size, it is impressive that it records a 0-60 time of 5.4 seconds.  Granted, drama is kept to a minimum as you do not want to spill your Grey Poupon -- this means no screeching tires or side winding.

This power does come at a cost though.  Real-world MPG came in at about 11 due to some heinous Manhattan traffic.  If you do more highway cruising, it is easy to pick up approximately 20 MPG in time.

The sound of the motor can be best described as grumbly and lumbering as it reminds me of a large 80's Cadillac.  It is not the most desirable sound, especially when compared to the SL550 or E550 coupe I have driven.

Although getting off the line is crucial, it is far more important to have serious stopping power and you better believe MB took care of this.  Set up with 13.2 inch cross-drilled rotors up front and 11.8 inch discs in the back, its hardware certainly does not sound overly impressive.  But when paired with four-piston calipers, in front, and single piston calipers in the rear, stopping is not a concern.  However, I would prefer a bit more bite in the brake pedal. 

Coupled with the motor is a seven-speed automatic transmission.  If Comfort mode becomes a bit too smooth for your taste, you can step it up with Sport mode and try your luck with the paddle shifters.  But do not get your hopes up too much because the paddles serve as mere suggestions not an actual shift most of the time.  As in Benz's other sportier models, there is a Manual mode that unfortunately did not make an appearance. 

That is a shame too because for control freaks like myself, this can be the nail in the coffin for this car.

Back to the positives for the über comfort cruiser.  Easily the single most impressive aspect of the car is the suspension.  Nothing I have driven has come even close to matching the level of comfort while allowing the vehicle to drive with sporting intentions.

Equipped with an AIRMATIC air suspension that features adaptive damping, it makes the ride just about perfect for long-distance travel.  On a trip to Boston, the car ignored bumps and made the ride just as pleasurable as one could ask for.  At speed it makes sure the car does not bounce from being too stiff and it does not become careless and floaty over dips in the pavement. 

Because it is managed with antilift, antisquat and antidive systems, the CL does not become sloppy in corners and switchbacks, either.  And I made sure to test this out.  Getting aggressive through twisty, rural roads in Northern New Jersey, there was very limited body lean and while there was a tad bit of dive on braking it was miniscule compared to what I should have experienced in nearly two and a half tons of moving metal.  It is downright shocking.

In addition, its speed-sensitive steering rack is one of the most dramatic interpretations I have tested.  At low speed it really provides an ease about it.  So much so, it took several days to adjust to the sensitivity of the wheel while maneuvering at parking lot speeds. 

Do not get it twisted though, because while you ratchet up the MPH, the feel tightens up significantly.  While going through S-curves and gaining speed, the CL's steering increases confidence instead of some luxury cruisers that do not let a driver explore its limits without worrying about the repercussions.

Clearly a vehicle with a focus on the luxury side, the CL550 makes a serious case against its rivals, the Maserati GranTurismo and Bentley Continental GT.  There is something to be said for the amount of shock value this vehicle presents when it is driven for the first time. 

Of course a lot of people come up to me and ask about the vehicles I have piloted north of $100k.  The most frequently asked question is, "Is it worth it?"  After spending a week with the CL, I can simply reply with "Absolutely." 

When there is not one stitch out of place, a suspension that essentially allows you to melt into the captain's chair and technology that makes your life about 100 times easier in gridlock, you too can find the value in such a vehicle. 

Until it is experienced first hand, it is extremely difficult to grasp the greatness of a car like the CL.  So, get out there and get in one.  It will change your perspective on what a car can be and what it should be.

[Note: Interior shots below are from a CL600]



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