Mercedes-Benz CL-Class: Trims, Generations & Buyer's Guide
Last updated August 4, 2026
The Mercedes-Benz CL-Class is a large four-seat luxury performance coupe known for combining S-Class-like comfort with strong acceleration and a dramatic pillarless design. It was built as a more personal, two-door alternative to Mercedes-Benz’s flagship sedan.
The CL-Class was Mercedes-Benz’s top luxury coupe, with long-distance comfort, substantial power, and a carefully finished cabin at its core. Its character ranged from smooth and relaxed in the regular models to seriously quick in the AMG versions. The final C216 generation ended after 2014 and was replaced by the S-Class Coupe.
Strengths
- Its cabin delivers the comfort, craftsmanship, and technology expected of a flagship Mercedes from this era.
- The pillarless side-window design gives this large coupe a clean, distinctive profile.
- Every 2014 version is seriously powerful, with output ranging from 429 to 621 horsepower depending on the engine.
- It is designed to cover long highway distances with strong acceleration and a relaxed, substantial feel.
- The CL 550’s standard all-wheel drive adds useful traction for drivers who use the car through changing weather.
Who it's for
It suits someone who wants the comfort and presence of a flagship Mercedes in a more stylish two-door shape. It is especially well matched to long highway drives and buyers who value effortless power over fuel economy or roomy rear seating.
Mercedes-Benz CL-Class lineup
The CL 550 4MATIC is the most approachable all-rounder, pairing V8 power with standard all-wheel drive in U.S. models from 2009 onward. Pick the CL 600 for smoother, more relaxed V12 performance without the AMG models’ harder-edged identity. The CL 63 AMG is the performance-focused V8 model, while the CL 65 AMG sits at the top with the lineup’s most powerful V12 and most exclusive character.
Mercedes-Benz CL-Class generations
From 2009 to 2014, the CL-Class spans 1 generation. The current C216 Generation arrived for 2007.
C216 Generation (2007–2014)
The C216 CL-Class is a two-door coupe generation that ran through 2014. Its biggest change in the years covered here came for 2011, when Mercedes refreshed the exterior and replaced the V8s in the CL 550 and CL 63 AMG with twin-turbo engines.
0 In Stock
2014
The former Premium 2 package became standard, adding a rearview camera, an infrared night-view display, and upgraded front-seat massage functions across the lineup. This was the final CL-Class model year.
2013Trim changes
The four-model lineup carried over with the same engines, drivetrains, safety equipment, and cabin technology.
2012Trim changes
The CL 550 received a revised seven-speed automatic, and the infrared night-view system gained pedestrian spotlighting. The overall lineup was largely unchanged.
2011Mid-cycle update
Mercedes refreshed the grille, hood, fenders, bumpers, and LED lighting. The CL 550 and CL 63 AMG also received new twin-turbo V8s, while the CL 65 AMG gained more power.
2010
An upgraded 8-inch infotainment system brought hard-drive navigation, improved voice control, and a media interface. The engine lineup and basic chassis carried over.
2009Trim changes
The CL 550 became the CL 550 4MATIC, making AWD standard on that model. Every CL also gained steering-wheel shift paddles and a brake-hold function.
What's new by year
See what changed in a specific model year of the Mercedes-Benz CL-Class.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Mercedes-Benz CL-Class a coupe or a sedan?
The CL-Class is a large two-door luxury coupe, not a sedan. The 2007–2014 C216 generation has pillarless side windows, four seats, and a cabin designed to deliver S-Class-like comfort in a more personal body.
What is the Mercedes-Benz CL-Class known for?
The CL-Class is known for combining strong acceleration, a smooth highway ride, and a richly finished four-seat cabin. It is more of a comfortable long-distance grand tourer than a small, lightweight sports car.
Is the CL-Class good for long highway trips?
Yes. The CL-Class was built around quiet, comfortable long-distance travel, with powerful engines, supportive front seats, and suspension systems designed to keep the large coupe composed on the road.
Is the CL-Class practical for a family?
It can handle occasional family use, but practicality is not its main strength. It seats four and has 32.2 inches of rear legroom, but the two-door layout makes the back seats less convenient to reach than those in a sedan.
Does the CL-Class come as a hybrid?
No. The CL-Class covered here uses gasoline engines throughout the lineup. Later C216 models offered twin-turbo V8 and V12 engines, with no hybrid version included.
Does the CL-Class have all-wheel drive?
Some versions do. From 2009 onward, the U.S. CL 550 became the CL 550 4MATIC and used all-wheel drive as its sole drivetrain. The broader lineup also included rear-wheel-drive models.
What generation is the last Mercedes-Benz CL-Class?
The final CL-Class is the C216 generation, sold for the 2007–2014 model years. Mercedes gave it a major refresh for 2011, then ended the CL name after 2014 and replaced it with the S-Class Coupe.