2015 Mercedes-Benz CLS Shooting Brake

Luxury Shooting Brake - Wagon

​    With a final score of 61.30%, the new CLS Shooting Brake is sure to turn a lot of heads.  So if you want a ride that shows you are different from the crowd and you like to haul everything you need, then the CLS Shooting Brake is for you.

  For 2015 Mercedes has decided to one up the competition by making the segment only CLS Shooting Brake even better. I guess when you own a market, the best thing to do is ensure that your competition has a harder time entering it.  Too bad no one ever told Blackberry that.  What has really change is that the new CLS has added more sports car features to the front end, making it appeal to more of the saloon market, rather than the wagon market.

    Up front the new Shooting Brake has made the most changes.  Adding in a new headlight setup, grille and lower ducts.  This has made the front appear more of a sports car than that of a sedan or wagon.  Of course when you are known as the sports coupe of the wagon market, then you might as well add some more sports to your appeal.  The only thing which has not changed for the better would the the desolate wasteland of a hood.  Mercedes could have added in a cowl or a stronger hood line.  This would have made this front the best it can be.

​    Outback is where someone should have told Mercedes that they needed some work.  They have left the underbite rear bumper and over sized bubble tail lights.  Add on a larger spoiler, and a few hard edges to the bumper and you will start to make this rear seem a bit better.  After that Mercedes could spring for a rear band light which runs with the body line.  This could put BMW and Audis laser lights to shame.  Maybe next time they will change the rear up.

    Along the side Mercedes has kept the hard lines and lower ground effects.  This is great but, they could have smoothed out the rear wheel well line to give the back a more blended look.  This would have made the front blend with the rear.
    The overall appeal of the new CLS is a bit better than the last.  With more sport appeal and an outline which still stands out.  The only downside is that Mercedes still has not added on any more chrome accents and they should really put the cab forward. A flat bottom is nice, but a lifted rear could really make this wagon stand out from everyone else.

    Overall the new CLS Shooting Brake is still king where it counts, well except for out back.  Next time the rear needs more attention than the head.

Everett J.

OVERALL GRADE = C+

​Front End: C+
    Good: Big Bullet Grille
    Bad: A desert of nothing on the hood
Rear End: C-
    Good: An exhaust worthy of the power
    Bad: Over sized lights and an under bite
Side: B+
    Good: All the right lines
    Bad: Small bland wheels
Overall Appeal: B
    Good: All on its own in the world of wagons
    Bad: Not enough chrome

---

AutoLooks Buy List Approved:    Yes
Recommended Tuner:                    No
Trend Setter:                                    Yes
Brand Value:                                     Same
AutoLooks Stock Value:               Increase