The CLS 450 also comes with a cabin perfuming system. Mercedes includes a scent that I would describe as “Axe Body Spray’s high-rolling cousin,” but you can swap it out for any perfume you like.
And that, really, is the story of the CLS. The car was drafted with such an absurd attention to detail that everything you do in it feels better than a regular car. The interior lights can be set to any single color you want, not just the standard set of five or so options. Or, choose from a pleasing array of preprogrammed palettes that slowly shift to keep things interesting.
The trunk’s unsightly hinges are hidden from view, a step most other automakers don’t bother with. The latch for the trunk itself is incorporated into the Mercedes badge. When you turn on the high beams, they don’t flick on but instead light up from the middle outward, creating an “opening” effect. Start the car, and the lights do a little welcome animation. At every step, it’s clear that the designers wanted this car to feel consistently and completely special. Yes, you have to spend nearly six figures to get here, but Mercedes doesn’t let you forget that.
