Review: Mercedes-Benz X218 CLS Shooting Brake (2012-17)

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• Responsive turbo-diesel engines
• Airmatic suspension provides comfortable ride
• High standard of fit and finish
• Steering is well-weighted…

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• … but lacks feel
• Limited rear seat headroom and only seats four
• Foot-operated park brake
• Weight blunts agility

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Review: Mercedes-Benz X218.I CLS Shooting Brake (2012-14)

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Overview

Released in Australia in December 2012, the Mercedes-Benz X218 CLS Shooting Brake was a large, executive wagon. Manufactured in Sindelfingen, Germany, the rear-wheel drive CLS Shooting Brake range consisted of the CLS 250 CDI and CLS 350 models (see table below). Please note that the Mercedes X218 CLS 63 AMG Shooting Brake has been reviewed separately.

All engines within the CLS Shooting Brake range featured an ECO start/stop function which enabled the engine to shut down when stationary. The CLS 250 CDI and CLS 350 BlueEfficiency were fitted with Mercedes-Benz’s 7G-TRONIC PLUS automatic transmission. [su_table responsive=”yes”]

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Dimensions and body

Compared to the Mercedes-Benz C218 CLS on which it was based, the X218 CLS Shooting Brake was 16 mm longer (at 4956 mm) and 5 mm lower (1412 mm), though width and wheelbase length were unchanged (1881 mm and 2874 mm, respectively). Unlike the C218 CLS, the CLS Shooting Brake had five seats and the rear backrests could be folded down to expand the luggage compartment from 590 to 1550 litres. To minimise fuel consumption, the CLS Shooting Brake had frameless aluminium doors, while the tailgate, bonnet and front wings are also made from aluminium.

Suspension

The Mercedes-Benz X218 CLS Shooting Brake had a three-link front axle with MacPherson struts and independent, multi-link rear suspension; the rear suspension also featured air springs to maintain a horizontal body position, even when carrying a full load.

Safety equipment

Standard safety equipment for the Mercedes-Benz X218 CLS Shooting Brake included dual front airbags, dual front pelvis airbags, a driver’s knee airbag, front and rear side airbags, full length curtain airbags, ABS, electronic brake force distribution, brake assist, electronic stability control, traction control, active front seat head restraints, driver fatigue monitoring (‘attention assist’) and seatbelts with pre-tensioners and load limiters for the front and outer rear seats. The CLS Shooting Brake was also fitted with ‘Pre-Safe’, which anticipated and prepared for collisions by tensioning the seatbelts, adjusting the position of the front seats for optimal airbag deployment and closing the windows and sunroof (if open).

The CLS 250 CDI was also equipped with:

• Blind spot assist (passive): used two radar sensors in the rear of the vehicle to warn the driver before an indicated lane-change if a vehicle is in the driver’s blind spot; and,
• Lane keeping assist (passive): used a camera behind the windscreen to monitor lane markings and detect if the vehicle was drifting outside its lane. If so, acoustic and visual warnings would be issued.

The CLS 350, however, was further equipped with –

• Distronic Plus (adaptive cruise control with brake warning): an ‘adaptive’ cruise control system which used two short-range radar sensors positioned behind the front bumper to monitor the road up to 30 metres ahead, and a long-range radar located behind the radiator grille which had a range of 200 metres. Operating at speeds up to 200 km/h, Distronic Plus used an electronic control unit to analyse the information from both radar systems to calculate the engine, automatic transmission and braking parameters required for proximity control. As such, Distronic Plus could automatically apply the brakes to prevent the vehicle from becoming too close to traffic ahead (the time interval could be specified) and accelerate back to the set speed when traffic allowed. To accelerate from rest, the driver only needed to operate the Distronic stalk on the steering column or briefly depress the accelerator pedal. With Distronic Plus, automatic deceleration of up to four (4) m/s²was possible. If Distronic Plus detected that heavier braking was required, a warning light would illuminate in the instrument cluster and be accompanied by an audible warning. Furthermore, the electronic proximity control system could be activated independently of Distronic Plus at speeds over 30 km/h to alert the driver if they were approaching another vehicle too rapidly;
• Pre-Safe Brake (autonomous emergency braking): using two 24 GHz sensors behind the front bumper which had a range of 30 metres and a 77 GHz radar which had a range of 200 metres, Pre-Safe Brake operated at speeds between 30 km/h and 200 km/h, and at speeds below 70 km/h if the vehicle was approaching a stationary queue of traffic. Around 2.6 seconds before the anticipated moment of impact, an audible warning would sound and a red warning would appear in the tachometer. Around 1.6 before the calculated impact, the first stage of Pre-Safe Brake would initiate partial braking autonomously with around 40 per cent of the maximum braking power (approximately four (4) m/s²); the Pre-Safe occupant protections system would also be activated. If the driver then applied the brakes, maximum braking force would be made available. If the driver failed to react, Pre-Safe Brake would – in its second stage – initiate autonomous emergency braking (i.e. maximum braking power) around 0.6 seconds before the unavoidable collision to reduce the severity of the impact;
• Active Blind Spot Assist: automated braking of wheels on one side of the vehicle to prevent collisions with objects in the driver’s blind spot; and,
• Active Lane Keeping Assist: automated braking of wheels on one side of the vehicle to keep the vehicle within continuous lane markings.

Features: CLS 250 CDI and CLS 350 Shooting Brake

Standard features for the Mercedes-Benz X218 CLS 250 CDI BlueEfficiency included 19-inch AMG five-spoke alloy wheels, COMAND APS (Cockpit Management and Data System) with a seven-inch colour display, single disc CD/DVD changer, MP3/WMA/AAC compatibility, auxiliary inputs (3.5 mm/USB/SD card), HDD navigation, Bluetooth connectivity and voice recognition (‘Linguatronic’), climate control air conditioning, power adjustable front seats (with memory settings), leather upholstery, cruise control (with speed limiter), front and rear parking sensors, a reversing camera, leather-wrapped steering wheel with gearshift paddles, split and folding rear seats, remote central locking with proximity key and keyless go, power windows and heated mirrors, a power adjustable steering wheel (height and reach), powered glass sunroof, ambient lighting, cargo net, 12 volt power outlets, tyre pressure monitoring, a trip computer and an immobiliser. The CLS 250 CDI BlueEfficiency was also fitted with Active Parking Assist which automated parallel parking.

The CLS 350 BlueEfficiency was further equipped with a fourteen speaker Harman Kardon Logic7 surround sound system with digital radio (DAB+), multi-contour front seats with inflatable air chambers, three-zone climate control air conditioning (‘Thermotronic’), LED headlights and daytime running lights and a digital TV tuner.

Mercedes-Benz X218 CLS 250 CDI Avantgarde 10 Edition

In January 2014, Mercedes-Benz commemorated the tenth anniversary of the CLS-Class by announcing a limited-run CLS 250 CDI Avantgarde 10 Editions. Compared to its standard counterpart, the CLS 250 CDI Avantgarde 10 Edition was fitted with 19-inch alloy wheels, electronically controlled dampers (‘Airmatic’), LED headlights and AMG bodystyling. Inside, the Avantgarde 10 Edition featured a Harman Kardon Logic 7 surround sound system and heated front seats.

Brochure

• Brochure: Mercedes-Benz W218 CLS Coupe and X218 CLS Shooting Brake (October 2012)

Related links

• Press Kit: Mercedes-Benz X218 CLS Shooting Brake (September 2012)
• Specifications: Mercedes-Benz X218 CLS Shooting Brake (March 2014)

Review: Mercedes-Benz X218.II CLS Shooting Brake (2014-17)

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Overview

Released in October 2014, the Mercedes-Benz X218 Series II (X218.II) CLS Shooting Brake introduced a revised range as the CLS 500 replaced CLS 350. Mercedes-Benz’s ‘Airmatic’ electronically-controlled dampers were also fitted as standard for the CLS 250 CDI

Visually, the X218.II CLS Shooting Brake could be identified by its new diamond radiator grille, pronounced front bumper with large air intakes, multi-beam LED headlights (fitted as standard) and darkened tail-lights with multi-level functionality. Inside, the CLS Shooting Brake featured a new 21.3 cm free-standing colour display and a redesigned three-spoke sports steering wheel. Standard features were also extended to include a 360 degree camera. [su_table responsive=”yes”]

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Safety equipment

Standard safety equipment for the X218.II CLS Shooting Brake was extended to include:

• Distronic Plus;
• Pre-Safe Brake;
• Active Blind Spot Assist;
• Active Lane Keeping Assist.

For explanations of these technologies, please refer to ‘Safety equipment’, above.

Also fitted as standard was ‘Pre-Safe Plus’ which, if an impending rear impact was anticipated, would warn following traffic by flashing the rear brake lights. Pre-Safe Plus could also lock the brakes if the vehicle was stationary to reduce forward jolt on impact; Pre-Safe would also be activated immediately prior to impact.

Features

Standard features for the Mercedes-Benz X218.II CLS 250 CDI Shooting Brake included 19-inch alloy wheels, a Harman Kardon Logic7 surround sound system, DAB+ digital radio, a CD/DVD player and 10GB music register, COMAND Online with a 21.3 cm TFT colour display, HDD navigation with traffic updates, Linguatronic voice recognition, internet access, Bluetooth mobile phone connectivity and audio streaming, climate control air conditioning, power adjustable and heated front seats, leather upholstery, cruise control, multi-beam LED headlights, a 360 degree surround view camera, front and rear parking sensors, automated parallel parking (‘Active Parking Assist’), a nappa leather steering wheel with gearshift paddles, remote central locking with proximity key, power adjustable and folding door mirrors with heating, power windows, push-button start, a TFT instrument panel, driver memory settings, a glass sunroof, three 12 volt power sockets, electrochromatic rear view and door mirrors, tyre pressure monitoring, ambient lighting, velour floor mats, illuminated front door sills, black ash high-gloss wood trim, a trip computer and an immobiliser.

The X218.II CLS 500 Shooting Brake was further equipped with a digital TV tuner, three-zone climate control air conditioning, ‘Exclusive Passion’ leather upholstery, ‘Active’ multi-contour front seats, ‘Climatised’ ventilated front seats, a powered sunblind for the rear window and an anti-theft system.

Brochure

• Brochure: Mercedes-Benz C218 and X218 CLS Class (August 2014)

Related links

• Specifications: Mercedes-Benz X218 CLS Shooting Brake (November 2014)
• Mercedes-Benz Australia: Mercedes-Benz CLS Shooting Brake
• Wikipedia.org: Mercedes-Benz X218 CLS Shooting Brake