Safety

The CLS has not been crash-tested by either the federal government or the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

It comes equipped with seat-mounted side airbags for front passengers and side-curtain airbags for front and rear passengers.

High-tech features like blind spot and lane departure warning systems are available in an $850 option package. The two are also available in another package, for $2,950, that also includes active cruise control that enables the car to sense a forward collision and apply full braking.

The market for luxury cars is a funny thing. A stylish car with performance chops can be just as popular as a more practical selection at a lower price. The fact that the CLS sacrifices less against both its E-Class sibling and the competition should make it even more appealing to this group of buyers.

    See also:

    Panic alarm
    To activate: press button 1 for at least one second. An alarm sounds and the exterior lighting flashes. To deactivate: press button 1 again. or Insert the SmartKey into the ign ...

    Seat belt adjustment
    The seat-belt adjustment function adjusts the driver's and front-passenger seat belt to the upper body of the occupants. The belt strap is tightened slightly when: - you engage the belt tongue i ...

    Hazard warning lamps
    The hazard warning lamps automatically switch on if: • an air bag is deployed. • the vehicle is slowed down severely from a speed of over 45 mph(70 km/h) and comes to a halt. ► To swit ...