Vehicle: 2004 Mercedes CLK320 coupe with heated front seats, multicontour left & right front seats, Bi-Xenon headlights with washers and sunroof
Price as tested: CDN$68925

Performance: CLK is powered by 1 of 3 engines. A 215hp 3.2L V6, a 302hp 5.0L V8 and an awesome 362hp AMG-tuned 5.5L V8. Our tester is equipped with the base motor which consists of Mercedes’s 3-valve-per-cylinder technology with SOHC. Its the same venerable 18-valver 3.2L V6 that has been used in both C and E-Class. Both the refinement, flexability, smoothness and responsiveness are live up to Mercedes’s usual high standards. With 229 lb/ft of torque arrives at 3k rpm, its a very docile car to drive around time. The throttle response is quick without the over-reactive response of some of its competitors. Its adapative Touchshift 5-speed auto tranny is typical of Mercedes quality. Its willing to up and downshifts, the shifts are crisp and smooth. Although it won’t let you upshift once passed redline, its more than acceptable for CLK’s target audience.

Handling: Based on proven C-Class platform, CLK’s chassis stiffness and rigidty are definitely no slouch. Its completely feel of rattles and flex. Dynamically speaking, CLK is more of a touring coupe than a sports coupe. On the one hand, its steering provides decent feedback and response. The ESP also doesn’t feel instrusive at all given CLK’s touring purpose. On the other hand, it feels cumbersome through twisties given its weight and suspension tuning. There is a feel of softly sprung when pushed although it got enough stiffness to give driver confidence. There are quite an amount of body rolls through twisties.

Brakes: Combined 4-wheel discs, ABS and brake assist. CLK’s brake system is nothing short of exceptional. The stops are short and straight, while the pedal feels solid and easily modulated. The brake assist also doesn’t feel grabbing your feet when it starts to activate.

Interior: CLK’s interior is another mix bag Mercedes interior effort. The usual merits of Mercedes interior like clear analog gauges, easy-to-find driving position, comfortable leather seats and effective auto climate control all remain. However, there are a couple of criticisms. There are tons of cheap, shiny and ungainly plastic abound in the center console. The center cupholder is nicely designed but there is a cracky sound during motion. The grey climate control knobs are cheap and cheesy to feel and look at. Lumber support adjustments for the seats are located on the right instead of left, which are a nightmare to use. The rounded air vents might look sporty to some, they look cheesy to my eyes. Not to mention the “huge” glovebox handle which look and feel awkward. Frankly, many of today’s econocars have the ability to beat CLK’s use of interior materials. For a car wearing presitgous Mercedes tri-star emblem and costing 60 grand, it should receive a far better interior.

The back seat is spacious for a coupe, probably the most spacious in its segment.

The trunk is large although it got a somewhat high lift-over that’s obstruct the convenience of cargo loading.

Conclusion: Despite of my criticisms, CLK remains a pretty good touring coupe. It got an excellent powerplant, comfortable and handles decently. However, G35 coupe and 330Ci remain better alternatives if you are looking for something sporty to drive.

OVERALL VERDICT FOR 2004 MERCEDES CLK320 COUPE
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Performance: 4.5/5
Handling and ride/fun-to-drive: 2.25/5
Interior/ergonomics/user-friendliness: 2.25/5
Fit-and-finish/build quality: 2.25/5
Cargo/accessibility/layout: 3/5
Value-for-money: 3/5

Overall rating: 3.5/5