Overall rating:

Niche ignoring Mercedes-Benz adds supercar pace to the CLS Shooting Brake line up with the CLS 63 AMG version.

Key Facts

Model tested: Mercedes-Benz CLS 63 AMG Shooting Brake
Pricing: £83,055
Engine: 5.5-litre bi-turbo V8
Transmission: rear-wheel drive, seven-speed automatic
Body style: five-door estate
Rivals: Audi RS 6 Avant, BMW 5 Series Gran Turismo 550i, Ferrari FF
CO₂ emissions: 235g/km
Combined economy: 28.0mpg
Top speed: 155mph (electronically limited)
0-62mph: 4.3 seconds
Power: 557hp at 5,250- to 5750rpm
Torque: 800Nm at 1,700- to 5,000rpm

In the Metal:

Gorgeous. From the front of its AMG-specific grille to those tapered rear LED tail lamps the CLS 63 AMG Shooting Brake is a Merc-badged mix of metal and plastic, glass and rubber that's got us a bit weak at the knees. The AMG styling adds some intent to the already achingly pretty lines of the standard Shooting Brake, not least some impressive gizzard-like exhausts around the back that signal some serious performance (both visually and aurally) and the more aggressive snout.

Inside it's less outstanding, the current CLS lacking the distinction that the old car had from the rest of the Mercedes-Benz line-up. The dashboard is a little bit too familiar in something that otherwise feels very special, AMG's sprinkling of badges, perforated leather and the likes helping, but not entirely distancing this car from lesser models. There's a bit more headroom in the back, and while the roofline may pinch to that pseudo estate rear end there's a C-Class Estate bettering 590- to 1,550 litres of load space back there.

Driving it:

Evidently AMG figures CLS Shooting Brake customers are in a greater hurry than their mere CLS friends, the Shooting Brake coming with the Performance Pack options already included as standard. That bumps the power of the 5.5-litre bi-turbo V8 engine up to 557hp (from 525hp), torque also taking a leap - of 100Nm to offer a tyre-testing 800Nm. All this means that the marginal weight increase the Shooting Brake brings with it comes with no reduction in performance. Indeed, the more useful CLS AMG manages the 0-62mph dash 0.1 seconds quicker than its non-estate relation, with a scorching time of 4.3 seconds.

All the V8's power drives the rear wheels via AMG's Speedshift seven-speed automatic, it a quick and slick shifter on the move - though it can be a bit clunky when manoeuvring. You'll forgive it that on the road though, as the CLS's engine and transmission work beautifully in unison, the need to intervene and shift yourself rare - it's quick to drop ratios when you're heavy with your right foot and doesn't hang on to them too long when you're not.

Obviously it's indecently quick, but it's the dual nature of the drivetrain that's so impressive, as it's docile and friendly in traffic, but a tearaway when the mood takes you. Whatever your disposition, the engine always accompanies with a moodily purposeful soundtrack. The ride is surprisingly supple too, helped on our test car by some winter specific tyres, but the suspension does a decent job of not only containing roll and pitch, but also isolating occupants from the road's imperfections. That, combined to the powertrain's duality gives the CLS AMG Shooting Brake remarkable breadth of ability. It's a consummate all-rounder, feeling more agile than its E 63 AMG relation, the steering light in weight and limited in feel, but quick and accurate regardless. The brakes too are mighty, making the optional ceramic stoppers seem like a pointless extravagance.

What you get for your Money:

You're buying a deeply impressive car, but also the opportunity to spend a lot more - some of the options really ought to be standard too. AMG will lighten your wallet further for a limited slip differential, keyless go, telephone pre-wiring and reversing cameras, but if you're able to stomach the purchase price then a few thousand pounds worth of options won't break you.

Worth Noting

While the power and torque are boosted over the standard CLS AMG model there's no penalty in economy and emissions for the additional performance. For the record the official combined cycle figures are 28mpg and 235g/km of CO₂.

Summary

If you, like us, love the look of the Shooting Brake, then the sensible money goes on the 350 CDI model, but the AMG version remains an alluring flagship, one that feels worth the sizeable premium. It offers surprising practicality in conjunction with supercar pace.