2014 MERCEDES-BENZ CLS63 AMG 4Matic Review

Our drive has just begun, but you don’t need too much time in here to notice the tributes paid to the car’s shape. Inside the city, you’ll feel the size of the car. The problem’s not that bad, but it’s there.

It’s the same story with the visibility. This is OK, but in many crowed traffic situations you’ll be looking for a bit more.

Nevertheless, the tech side of the CLS63 AMG 4Matic is relaxed enough to handle any urban traffic abuse. We’ve always preferred the lazier, yet deeper voice of the exhaust in the Comfort powertrain mode anyway.

The seven-speed AMG gearbox has received a few software tweaks, so it now gets the car rolling smoother, a treat you’ll appreciate during urban drives. There is one side of the vehicle that’s been downgraded as far as the city driving is concerned and that’s the turning circle. However, this has only gone from 11.35 to 11.75 meters.

Well, that turning circle is pretty much irrelevant right now, as we’re enjoying the benefits of the AMG 4Matic out on the open road. Right from the get-go, you can feel the car releasing the power more directly.

We’ve just welded the throttle to the floor in second gear and the ESP wasn’t forced to interfere in its usual way. And we haven’t even gotten to the launch procedure.

We were predictably determined to start laughing in exciting. This Mercedes is stunningly good at the take-off game. Opt for the CLS63 AMG S-Model and you’ll hit 60 mph faster than the SLS AMG. Now that’s proper German humor.

Up from 2,000 rpm the V8 is ready to rumble. Literally. In the process, the 520-liter boot gets occupied by a group of drummers. Yes, AMG’s exhaust trick never gets old. The CLS63 isn’t quite up there with the leaders of the exhaust sound pack, the G63 AMG and the SLS AMG, but it’s damn good.

As the fuel injection is briefly suppressed during the gear changes, it all sounds like you’re striking the chords of a guitar-drum. Pay close attention in the rest of the time and you’ll even hear the mechanical noises of the twin-turbo V8 up front. OK, just a little bit of them, but it’s still enchanting.

Time for the first full-power bend of this drive now and the car... keeps a perfect balance as we’ve imagined. Yes, there’s a bit of initial roll but that’s it.

We’ll have another go then, with the ESP in the Sport mode. At least in the dry, this doesn’t make too much of a difference. AMG’s 4Matic gives the CLS63 neutral handling. There’s no understeer, but the back won’t be caught stepping out either.