Mercedes-Benz CLS Shooting Brake review

The CLS may be based on the now-outgoing E-Class, but the driving experience is more advanced. More mature. More elegant and refined. The CLS cruises as well as you’d hope, with a continental gait that soaks up miles effortlessly. If possible, spec yours with full air suspension – as standard it features conventional steel springs up front and air cans at the back, which gives the ride a very slightly disjointed edge.

Either way, the Shooting Brake handles very well. It has nice, natural steering and controls its weight better than the E-Class. Engine choice is limited to a pair of diesels (have the V6 350 if you can as its smoother, sweeter and swifter than the four cylinder 220), and a single petrol. This could be pointless were it not a 5.5-litre twin turbo V8 with more shove than a rugby scrum and an AMG badge on the flanks.