2022 Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class gets facelift

Back in 2004, Mercedes-Benz CLS debuted as a four-door coupe, since then becoming a long-standing oxymoron of the motoring world that inspired many imitators. Now, for this year, the 2022 Mercedes-Benz CLS gets a refresh, giving a polish to its fading appeal in an over-extended Mercedes line-up.

As part of the 2022 facelift, the AMG Line visual package now comes standard. The grill gets revised as well, sporting a single slat instead of two. The colour palette gets Starling Blue Metallic as a new shade. The sides are refreshed, courtesy of the new 19-inch or 20-inch wheel designs. In Europe, the CLS range also gets the Mercedes-AMG CLS 53, which shows off an aggressive design with 20-inch AMG wheels, updated bumpers and a derivative of the “Panamericana” grill. There is also a limited edition on offer that adds new body shades and blacked-out exterior elements.

There are new capacitive touch buttons on the steering wheel replacing the old-school buttons in the current model. Customers are also offered two new leather choices — two-tone Neva Grey/Magma Grey and Sienna Brown/Black. Open Pore Brown Walnut or High-Gloss Grey Wood can be opted for decorating the dashboard. In the AMG CLS 53, the interior gets a different steering wheel, carbon fibre elements, two-tone leather upholstery with red-contrast stitching and AMG branding at different places.

The regular Mercedes-Benz CLS is offered in the CLS 450 4MATIC guise. Under the hood of this CLS 450 sits a turbocharged 3.0-litre inline-six engine producing 362 hp and 500 Nm of torque. There is a mild-hybrid system with a starter-generator, contributing an additional 21 hp and 250 Nm. A nine-speed automatic system is married to this powerplant.

The sportier Mercedes-AMG CLS 53 brings no changes under its skin. It soldiers on with 429 hp and 520 Nm of torque. The same starter-generator from the CLS 450 appears here too, adding the same boost to the mix. The CLS 53 can shoot from 0 to 100 kph in just 4.5 seconds and scream until it reaches its electronically limited top speed of 250 kph. The top speed can be hiked up to 270 kph if the optional AMG Driver’s Package is chosen. Sadly, there will be no big-fat AMG 63 model for the CLS due to the threat of cannibalism, as it can look like a cost-effective alternative to the mighty AMG GT 4-Door Coupe that the CLS shares a platform with.

Expect the facelift model to quietly show up at UAE and GCC showrooms by winter this year.

Keep track of prices and specs in the Mercedes-Benz buyer guide.