2000 Mercedes-Benz S-Class/CL500: Overview

Vehicle Highlights

Mercedes' 2000 flagship sedan bowed in spring '99 with two redesigned V8 models: 4.3-liter S430 and 5.0-liter S500. A companion CL500 coupe arrived last winter with 2 2 "hardtop" styling sans fixed center roof posts. Due this October are an S600 and CL600 with a revised version of Mercedes' 6.0-liter V12, plus a hot-rod S55 AMG sedan with 5.4-liter V8, firm suspension, and aero body addenda. A $4800 S-Class Sport Package was added last spring with larger wheels and tires, deeper front and rear lower-body aprons, and sculptured side sills. The CL gets its own Sport option this fall.

Against their predecessors, both coupe and sedan are somewhat smaller and 500-600 pounds lighter. The only transmission is Mercedes' "Touch Shift" 5-speed automatic with manual-shift feature. Also standard are front side airbags, antilock 4-wheel disc brakes, traction control, antiskid ESP system, a satellite-based navigator with in-dash video display, and Mercedes' Teleaid emergency assistance system. Rear side airbags are standard on sedans, and all models include head- and shoulder-protecting curtain airbags that deploy along the side windows. Sedans use air bladders that adjust damping to suit road surface within sport and normal settings and also provide automatic level control. The CL500 retains coil springs but adds Mercedes' new Active Body Control, which uses electro-hydraulic rams to automatically reduce body lean in turns. The S-Class will add ABC this fall, plus a radar-based "smart" cruise control option. All Mercedes vehicles now include some maintenance items in the 4-year/50,000-mile basic warranty.

COMPETITION

This diverse segment offers the widest price range. It covers everything from the $33,000 Saab 9-5 to the $128,000 Mercedes-Benz SL500. Obviously our Best Buys are somewhere in between. We think that the Acura RL is a steal at $42,000 fully equipped. Though it is a front-drive V6 in a field of V8 rear-drive models, it has a great ride, plenty of power, and is quite luxurious. In the same vein, the more-expensive Lexus LS 400 continues to impress, excelling in every way except for handling. If you are looking for something a bit more sporting we recommend the BMW 5-Series, Jaguar S-Type, or Lexus GS 300/400. If your taste ranges more toward the luxury end, then take a look at the new Cadillac DeVille or Mercedes-Benz CLK.