2021 Mercedes-AMG CLS 53 revealed

Mercedes-Benz has combined good looks and brawny performance in its updated new AMG-tuned monster and it’s headed our way.

Facelifts are optional for humans, but not for cars. The mid-life visual update is inevitable for anything with four wheels, and that time has come for the four-door coupe from Mercedes-Benz.

There have now been three generations of the CLS since 2004, with the latest and still-current shape arriving in 2018. As ever, it’s an E-Class sedan reclothed to impress the style-conscious customer.

Mercedes has updated its stylish four-door coupe.

According to Mercedes-Benz, CLS owners around the world say the car’s dramatic design is the main reason they chose to buy it. It’s most popular in Asia. The biggest single market for the CLS is China, followed by South Korea, the USA and Germany.

From the outside, the changes to the striking four-door are most obvious in the top Mercedes-AMG CLS53 model. It features a redesigned front apron with distinctive new air intakes below AMG’s signature vertical-bar grille.

The AMG version features a punchy six-cylinder turbo engine.

Inside, a new steering wheel design is the major difference between pre- and post-facelift versions of the CLS53. It features double horizontal spokes equipped with touch-sensitive controls. This AMG-specific design is appearing in other new and facelifted models, including the C-Class.

The interior of the CLS is the place its age is most evident. Compared with the most recent Mercedes-Benz models, the dash of the CLS looks really old-school. It lacks the large and luscious portrait-oriented centre screen of the much newer S-Class and C-Class, and the elegant simplicity of their instrument panels’ overall design.

Merc’s simple design is elegant luxury.

Worth noting, however, that the driver-assistance and MBUX infotainment systems of the CLS were upgraded a year ago. So their core tech is bang up to date, according to Mercedes-Benz.

When it comes to driving, the updated CLS53 is the same as before. Its 3.0-litre six-cylinder engine, equipped with 48-volt electric and conventional turbochargers, and mild-hybrid tech, is unchanged. It has the same nine-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel-drive system, too. The same goes for the less costly four-cylinder 350 and six-cylinder 450 versions of the CLS.

There have been some small alterations to air-spring suspension of the CLS53, but not enough to alter the firm character of its suspension. Though large and heavy, the Mercedes-AMG is reasonably agile.

Very mild hybrid tech gives it a bit of oomph off the mark.

It’s the engine that’s the highlight of the package. Electric boost, both from the turbo and the electric motor attached to the crankshaft, makes it eager right from idle. From standstill it leaps forward, and once into stride the cultured bellow from its in-line engine rushing to the redline is a truly arousing sound.

Though adept at pleasuring its driver, the four-door coupe isn’t so concerned with impressing everyone else on board. While the front seat passenger has little to complain about, the rear seat is a different story. That low-swooping roofline that gives the CLS such a dramatic profile means head room isn’t generous and the view isn’t great.

The slooping roofline may look good but it compromises back seat headroom and vision.

The facelifted CLS goes on sale in Europe from August. It’ll take a couple more months to reach Australia. This is a very light-touch makeover, so there’s no reason to expect much change in prices of the three-model line-up.

MERCEDES-AMG CLS53 VITALS

Price: $190,000 (est)

Safety: Not rated by ANCAP

Engine: 3.0-litre 6-cyl turbo mild hybrid; 320kW/520Nm

Transmission: 9-speed auto; AWD

Thirst: 8.9L/100km

0-100km/h: 4.5 secs

Originally published as 2021 Mercedes-AMG CLS 53 revealed