MBE550

I am thinking about ditching 2014 E350 and move up to 2016 CLS. I have driven both CLS400 and CLS550 at two separate times. CLS550 feels much more powerful but on paper 0-60 times are almost same - 5.3 vs 5.2.
Prior to 2014 E350, I had 2007 E550. Again, on paper these cars didn't have much gap on acceleration time but very different performance in real life.

For those of you who had more extensive experience with both CLS400 and CLS550, how do they compare in performance for daily driving, especially on highways. I'm not looking for drag strip race situation. I'm more interested and spirited driving and highway passing and merging type of situation.
Lastly, is 3.0 engine more reliable than 4.7?
I see that price gap for 2016 CPO is about $7k in average.

TechSuperstar

I've driven both and ended up buying the CLS400. The 550 does have the V8 sound and does have a bit more torque feeling from the line but I feel that's about it. On the 400 once the turbo's kick in you feel it. The 400 still takes off nicely for highway passing but if you drive it nice it will give you right around the 30gpm mark. You wont get that with the 550. As far as reliability the engine is rock solid. Its the same engine being used in the E and C classes, only difference is the bi-turbo added to the front of it. If your worried about reliability the main concern would be with the turbo.

bob2011

The 550 is light years faster stock, and once you put a tune on it, it's in AMG power territory. There's no question here, get the 550.

MBE550

Yeah, that's how I felt when I test drove 550. I had E550 (5.5L) before and CLS550 felt much faster and responsive. For some reason, there is almost no certified CLS550 to be found in the east coast but so many 400 available.
I'm only looking for well optioned low mileage ( < 30k). Is $50k good deal for really clean 2016 CLS550 with P2 or P1 with some additional options?

bob2011

You can find lower mileage car, around the 20k mikes mark for 50k to be honest, and they should be fully loaded, distronic and everything. That's how I see the 16 550s out here in the west coast.

And for whatever reason it seems like after 2015, the cls400 were way more prevalent than the cls550, I ran into the same issue buying my car last year lmao

djrabbi

Get the 550 to be honest. CLS400 I feel for a big car it not pulling its weight. I might be putting my CLS550 up for sale soon, which is tuned already at 550HP/600TQ.

celmem

Just chime on the 400 thingy. I love mine and I think it has excellent performance. Just depends on what you're planning on doing with the car...
I'm not racing mine.

blaise

I wish I had waited for a cls550 with the options I was looking for, lets just say I got anxious and pulled the trigger. oh well.. once I tuned my cls400, I have been pretty impressed and never looked back. Good luck!!

Musa's M278

Hey boss, did you get it a tune on it by any chance? if yes where did you get it and how much it cost? + was it worth it?

Musa's M278

Hey boss, where did you get it tuned at? any cons about it? I own a cls550 rn and it's laggy tbh, very disappointed because I know how much power that engine has but something's holding it back which is very sad. I have checked a lot of things on the engine so far the last thing I am checking tomorrow is for a boost leak!!!

Tbbt CLS

They only made the 400 for sale for two years in the US, wonder why that is? The CLS550 has so much more potential and options than the CLS400. Almost three years ago I drove from Denver to Cincinnati to buy a CPO CLS550 with 18K miles. I really enjoyed the trip back home getting to know the car. Don't be afraid to jump on a plane either for a low mileage CPO from a Mercedes dealer. I had mine tuned by OE Tuning 2 years ago and WOW what a difference. Try it, you'll love it! Marv

Adi-Benz

I love my CLS400. It was only 2 years because it became a 450.

Tbbt CLS

The CLS450 didn't come out until 2019, so you got a preproduction model? Straight 6 or did you just get the emblem? LOL

Ghostty

He probably meant that the 400 model was made only 2 years - 2015 and 2016, then they made only V8, which is true. There are no CLS V6 after 2016 until 2019, when they released the 450 models.