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2004 Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class Review
Cabriolets add top-down freedom to superb line of coupes.
2004 CLK-Class Review Summary & Specifications
The 2004 Mercedes-Benz CLK hits the market as the best in its class. It marks a gracious return to style and elegance. It blends two body styles into a common, unified expression of refined, eye- and seat-of-the-pants-pleasure. The CLK is a rolling statement of style and taste, and a design that's likely to age well.The CLK marks a further evolution of the specialty coupe and cabriolet, one that rises above some of the limitations that undid the market for personalized transportation in the past. The CLK may not match a small sports sedan for passenger room, but nor does it have the cramped cockpit and impracticality of older coupes and cabriolets. We liked the CLK500 best. It's an absolutely superb automobile in every respect. The CLK320 is a good car, too, but suffers somewhat by comparison to the CLK500; it just isn't as involving. And the interior doesn't seem quite as nice. If the CLK320 is a car you climb into, the CLK500 is a car you put on. The CLK55 AMG is a car for serious enthusiasts. As driving enthusiasts, we can certainly understand the desire for more performance, but it's hard to imagine really wanting more performance than the CLK500 offers.
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| Vehicle Category | Luxury Cars |
| Editor | Tom Lankard and Mitch McCullough |
| Model Lineup | Mercedes-Benz CLK320 Coupe ($44,350), Cabriolet ($51,400); CLK500 Coupe ($52,800), Cabriolet ($59,850); CLK55 AMG Coupe ($69,900), Cabriolet ($79,500) |
| Engines (standard) | 5.0-liter sohc 24-valve V8 |
| Transmissions (standard) | 5-speed Touch Shift automatic |
| Engines (optional) | 215-hp 3.2-liter sohc 18v V6; 302-hp 5.0-liter sohc 24v V8; 362-hp 5.4-liter sohc 24v V8 |
| Transmissions (optional) | 5-speed, Touch Shift automatic |
| Safety Equipment (standard) | dual two-stage frontal airbags; front-seat head and chest side-impact airbags; rear-seat side-impact airbags; antilock brakes with brake assist; electronic stability program; automatic-deploying roll bars (cabriolet); rain-sensing windshield wipers; Tele Aid automatic emergency response notification system; front and rear foglights |
| Safety Equipment (optional) | radar-based cruise control; xenon headlights with heated washer system |
| Basic Warranty | 4 years/50,000 miles |
| Assembled In | Osnabrueck, Germany |
| Manufacturer Phone | 800-367-6372 |
| Manufacturer URL | www.mbusa.com |
| Base Price MSRP | 44350 |
| Model Tested MSRP | Mercedes-Benz CLK500 Cabriolet ($59,850) |
| Standard Equipment | 10-way power-adjustable front seats; 3-setting memory for front seats, steering wheel and exterior mirrors; auto-dimming exterior mirrors; 8-speaker, AM/FM/cassette/CD stereo; dual-zone, automatic climate control with pollen and dust filter; automatic, front seatbelt presenters; programmable, remote opener; heated windshield washers; one-touch up/down power windows; power tilt/telescope steering wheel; keyless remote lock/unlock and top operation; and trip computer |
| Destination Charge | 720 |
| Options as Tested (MSRP) | metallic paint ($670); electronic trunk closing ($490); and xenon headlamps and washers ($975) |
| Gas Guzzler Tax | 1000 |
| Layout | two-wheel drive |
| Price as Tested | 63705 |
| Horse Power | 302 @ 5600 |
| Torque | 339 @ 2700 |
| Fuel Economy | 17/22 |
| Wheelbase | 106.9 |
| Length/Width/Height | 182.6/68.5/55.43 |
| Track Front/Rear | |
| Turning Radius | 35.3 |
| Seating Capacity | 4 |
| Front Head/Hip/Leg room | 38.4/52.1/42.0 |
| Middle Head/Hip/Leg room | |
| Rear Head/Hip/Leg room | 36.3/46.9/30.4 |
| Trunk Volume | 8.6 |
| Payload | |
| Towing Capacity | |
| Front Suspension | twin lower links, independent strut, coil springs, gas-pressurized twin-tube shocks, stabilizer bar |
| Rear Suspension | 5-link independent, coil springs, gas-pressurized shocks, stabilizer bar |
| Ground Clearance | |
| Curb Weight | 3905 |
| Stock Tires | 225/45ZR17 front; 245/40ZR17 rear |
| Brakes Front/Rear | disc/disc with ABS and Brake Assist |
| Fuel Capacity | 16.4 |
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2004 Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class
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