2010 Mercedes-Benz CLS
- 2009 Mercedes-Benz CLS
Based on analysis of 50 CLS reviews and test drives.
Safety - What the Auto Press Says
Neither the federal government nor the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety has crash-tested the 2010 CLS, but safety agencies rarely test super-luxury sedans. The list of safety equipment found on the CLS is extensive, and none of it is optional.
The CLS includes nine airbags -- driver and passenger’s side front airbags, full-length head-protecting side-curtain airbags, and torso-protecting side-impact airbags at all four seating positions, as well as a driver’s-side knee airbag to prevent the driver’s knees from hitting the dashboard in a collision. A standard pre-collision system uses radar to predict an impending impact. If the car's sensors detect a likely crash, the system will close the sunroof, cinch seatbelts and position seats to allow the airbags to function most effectively. Active head rests, which can help prevent whiplash injuries in a rear-impact accident, are standard on the front seats but not available in the rear.
Four-wheel anti-lock disc brakes, which increase braking power in a panic stop, are standard.
Safety-conscious buyers might want to note, however, that Mercedes engineers have put significant effort into several new safety technologies in recent years, but not yet applied them to the CLS. Both the S-Class and E-Class, entirely new for 2010, include a unique Attention-Assist system that helps to wake a drowsy driver, headlights that automatically dim bright beams to avoid temporarily blinding drivers in oncoming traffic, and other high-tech safety touches. Mercedes has not formally told the press that these systems will be included in the planned redesign of the CLS for the 2011 model year, but it is logical to assume they will.