2012 Mercedes-Benz CLS Class vs 2012 Porsche Panamera

2012 Mercedes-Benz CLS Class

2012 Porsche Panamera

Select style

4-Door Sedan CLS 550 4MATIC

Style	MPG City	MPG Hwy	Invoice	MSRP
CLS-Class 4-Door Sedan CLS 550 4MATIC	16	25	$68,634	$73,800
CLS-Class 4-Door Sedan CLS 550 RWD	17	25	$66,309	$71,300
CLS-Class 4-Door Sedan CLS 63 AMG RWD	16	25	$88,257	$94,900

Select style

4-Door HB

Style	MPG City	MPG Hwy	Invoice	MSRP
Panamera 4-Door HB	18	27	$67,500	$75,200
Panamera 4-Door HB 4	18	26	$71,640	$79,800
Panamera 4-Door HB 4S	16	24	$85,500	$95,200
Panamera 4-Door HB S	16	24	$81,120	$90,300
Panamera 4-Door HB S Hybrid	22	30	$85,320	$95,000
Panamera 4-Door HB Turbo	15	23	$122,850	$136,700
Panamera 4-Door HB Turbo S	15	23	$155,700	$173,200

Show Only Differences

Pricing

Invoice Price

$68,634

$67,500

Manufacturer Suggested Retail Price

$73,800

$75,200

Monthly Payment Estimate

$1230 / month

$1253 / month

The Car Connection's Take

TCC Rating

8.4

Read Our Full Review

8.2

Read Our Full Review

TCC’s Bottom Line

Still a fashionista at heart, the 2012 Mercedes-Benz CLS is cut from a more masculine pattern book these days--especially in powerful AMG trim.

Bucking tradition and the ordinary, the 2012 Porsche Panamera mostly succeeds in being an excellent large fastback sedan.

TCC Likes

Muscular new sheetmetal
Strong, smooth turbo V-8s
AMG's stunning big-car handling

Supercar power (Turbo and Turbo S)
Excellent PDK gearbox
Confident handling and high-speed stability

TCC Dislikes

Rear-seat head room still tight
Unabashedly expensive
Interior can look busy

Styling misses the mark from some angles
Button-busy center console
Driving feels almost synthetic due to numerous aids

Fuel Economy

City

16 mpg

18 mpg

Highway

25 mpg

27 mpg

Vehicle

EPA Classification

Compact

Large Car

Interior Dimensions

Front Hip Room (in)

- TBD -

Passenger Volume (ft³)

104.3

98.0

Second Leg Room (in)

35.0

33.3

Front Head Room (in)

36.9

38.0

Second Hip Room (in)

- TBD -

Front Shoulder Room (in)

57.1

51.9

Passenger Capacity

Second Head Room (in)

36.1

38.2

Second Shoulder Room (in)

56.5

51.7

Front Leg Room (in)

42.1

41.9

Exterior Dimensions

Track Width, Rear (in)

64.1

65.4

Wheelbase (in)

113.2

115.0

Liftover Height (in)

- TBD -

Width, Max w/o mirrors (in)

74.1

83.2

Track Width, Front (in)

62.9

65.3

Min Ground Clearance (in)

- TBD -

5.6

Length, Overall (in)

194.5

195.7

Height, Overall (in)

55.8

Cargo Area Dimensions

Trunk Volume (ft³)

15.3

Cargo Volume with Rear Seat Up (ft³)

15.7

Cargo Volume with Rear Seat Down (ft³)

44.6

Brakes

Rear Drum Diam x Width (in)

Disc - Front (Yes or )

Yes

Front Brake Rotor Diam x Thickness (in)

14.2 x 1.4

Drum - Rear (Yes or )

Brake ABS System

4 Wheel

4-Wheel

Disc - Rear (Yes or )

Yes

Rear Brake Rotor Diam x Thickness (in)

12.6 x 1.0

13.0 x 1.1

Brake Type

Pwr

Fuel Tank

Fuel Tank Capacity, Approx (gal)

23.8

21.1

Steering

Lock to Lock Turns (Steering)

2.6

Turning Diameter - Wall to Wall (ft)

- TBD -

N/A

Steering Ratio (:1), Overall

- TBD -

17.1-13.8

Turning Diameter - Curb to Curb (ft)

37.0

39.3

Steering Type

Pwr Rack & Pinion

Tires

Spare Tire Order Code

N/A

Rear Tire Size

P285/35R18

275/45R18

Rear Tire Order Code

N/A

Front Tire Size

P255/40R18

245/50R18

Spare Tire Size

- TBD -

Front Tire Order Code

N/A

Trailering

Dead Weight Hitch - Max Trailer Wt. (lbs)

- TBD -

Wt Distributing Hitch - Max Trailer Wt. (lbs)

Dead Weight Hitch - Max Tongue Wt. (lbs)

- TBD -

Wt Distributing Hitch - Max Tongue Wt. (lbs)

Weight Information

Base Curb Weight (lbs)

4158

3880

Wheels

Rear Wheel Size (in)

18 x 9.5

18 x 9.0

Front Wheel Material

Aluminum

Spare Wheel Material

- TBD -

Front Wheel Size (in)

18 x 8.5

18 x 8.0

Spare Wheel Size (in)

- TBD -

Rear Wheel Material

Aluminum

Cooling System

Total Cooling System Capacity (qts)

- TBD -

Electrical

Cold Cranking Amps @ 0° F (Primary)

- TBD -

Maximum Alternator Capacity (amps)

180

Engine

Engine Type

Gas V8

Gas V6

Fuel System

Direct Injection

SAE Net Torque @ RPM

443 @ 1600-4750

295 @ 3750

Engine Order Code

Displacement

4.6L/285

3.6L/220

SAE Net Horsepower @ RPM

402 @ 5000-5750

300 @ 6200

Mileage

Fuel Economy Est-Combined (MPG)

EPA Fuel Economy Est - Hwy (MPG)

EPA Fuel Economy Est - City (MPG)

Transmission

Trans Order Code

Final Drive Axle Ratio (:1)

2.47

3.54

Fourth Gear Ratio (:1)

1.37

Trans Description Cont.

Automatic

Automatic w/Manual Shift

Drivetrain

All Wheel Drive

Rear Wheel Drive

Sixth Gear Ratio (:1)

0.82

0.81

First Gear Ratio (:1)

4.38

5.97

Seventh Gear Ratio (:1)

0.73

0.59

Clutch Size (in)

Third Gear Ratio (:1)

1.92

2.01

Trans Type

Fifth Gear Ratio (:1)

1.00

Trans Description Cont. Again

Reverse Ratio (:1)

3.42/2.23

4.57

Second Gear Ratio (:1)

2.86

3.31

Summary

Vehicle Name

Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class

Porsche Panamera

Body Style

4 Door Sedan

Hatchback

Suspension

Shock Absorber Diameter - Rear (mm)

- TBD -

Suspension Type - Front

MacPherson Strut

Double Wishbone

Stabilizer Bar Diameter - Rear (in)

- TBD -

Suspension Type - Front (Cont.)

w/Air Springs

w/Coil Springs

Shock Absorber Diameter - Front (mm)

- TBD -

Stabilizer Bar Diameter - Front (in)

- TBD -

Suspension Type - Rear

Multi-Link

Suspension Type - Rear (Cont.)

w/Air Springs

w/Coil Springs

Emissions

Tons/yr of CO2 Emissions @ 15K mi/year

9.6

8.7

EPA Greenhouse Gas Score

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