The Mercedes-Benz CLS has three generations: the C 219, introduced in 2004; the C 218, introduced in 2010; and the C 257, introduced in 2018. Those are the manufacturer’s calendar-year milestones, not a complete, worldwide list of model years. Model-year boundaries vary by market, and the available Mercedes-Benz timeline does not establish an exact global final model year.
Mercedes-Benz CLS generations at a glance
| Generation and series | Introduction | Later milestones | Body styles |
|---|---|---|---|
| First generation, C 219 | Sales began in 2004 | Facelift in 2008 | Four-door coupé |
| Second generation, C 218 | Premiere in 2010 | CLS Shooting Brake introduced in 2012; facelift in 2014 | Four-door coupé and five-door CLS Shooting Brake (X 218) |
| Third generation, C 257 | Introduced in 2018; Mercedes-Benz said it would reach the market in March 2018 | Substantial model-year changes in 2020; facelift in 2021 | Four-door coupé |
These dates follow Mercedes-Benz’s CLS historical timeline and launch announcements. They identify generation and update milestones; they should not be treated as universal model-year ranges.
First generation: C 219 (introduced 2004)
The CLS story began with the Vision CLS concept, shown in 2003. Mercedes-Benz’s archive describes the production C 219 as presented in 2004, when first-generation sales began. The generation received a facelift in 2008.
Mercedes-Benz’s C 219 archive entry is a useful reference for the series and its historical milestones. A facelift is an update within the same generation, not a new CLS generation.
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Second generation: C 218 and X 218 (introduced 2010)
The C 218 premiered in 2010. In 2012, Mercedes-Benz added the five-door CLS Shooting Brake, series X 218. It belongs to the second-generation period rather than being a fourth generation. Mercedes-Benz updated the C 218 in 2014, with changes including MULTIBEAM LED headlamps and 9G-TRONIC.
What distinguishes the update
Equipment depends on the exact car and specification. Mercedes-Benz’s C 218 and CLS Shooting Brake archive entry describes the generation’s milestones, including optional dynamic LED High Performance headlamps and the 2014 update. Check a specific vehicle’s market, model year, and equipment rather than assuming every C 218 has the same features.
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Third generation: C 257 (introduced 2018)
The C 257 arrived in 2018 as a four-door coupé. Mercedes-Benz’s launch announcement said the car would reach the market in March 2018. Its launch-era specifications described a five-seat cabin, a 40:20:40 split-folding rear seat, a 520-litre luggage compartment, and a drag coefficient of 0.26. Those are manufacturer figures for the launch description, not specifications that should be assumed for every later model year or configuration.
See Mercedes-Benz’s 2018 CLS launch announcement for the introduction and launch-era details. Mercedes-Benz later recorded substantial model-year changes in 2020 and a facelift in 2021. Both are updates to the C 257 generation, not new generations.
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What “all model years” means for the CLS
Mercedes-Benz’s public historical timeline gives introduction, facelift, and update years; it does not supply one definitive model-year range for every market. A calendar-year introduction—such as the C 257’s 2018 arrival—does not by itself prove that every market designated it model year 2018. Sales dates and model-year conventions can differ across countries.
Mercedes-Benz USA documents a 2023 CLS Coupe, establishing that model year for the US market. That page does not establish the final model year worldwide or an end-of-production date. For an exact year-by-year identification, use records for the relevant country and vehicle rather than extending one market’s dates globally.
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How to identify a CLS generation when comparing cars
- Identify the series and body style. The main generation codes are C 219, C 218, and C 257. The five-door X 218 is the CLS Shooting Brake within the second-generation period.
- Confirm the market and model year. Registration year, model year, and the year a generation was introduced are not interchangeable. Start with the vehicle’s official documentation and market-specific records.
- Check the update period and equipment. The timeline’s 2008, 2014, and 2021 facelift milestones, along with the 2020 C 257 model-year changes, help narrow down which version you are viewing. Verify equipment against the exact car.
- Match manuals or parts by configuration. Mercedes-Benz USA provides CLS Coupe manuals and an official parts catalog organized by vehicle year. Select the correct market, year, and configuration before relying on a manual or ordering a part.
Generation history and factory specifications do not establish the condition, reliability, or equipment of an individual used car; those depend on the specific vehicle.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Sales and market context
Mercedes-Benz reported in a 2021 release that more than 450,000 CLS vehicles had been bought worldwide since the first generation’s 2004 introduction. The company also said China was the largest CLS Coupé market in 2020, followed by South Korea, the United States, and Germany. These are Mercedes-Benz’s reported figures and market ranking, not an independently audited sales series.
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Mercedes-Benz also noted that its US 3G sunset notice affected CLS vehicles from model years 2013–2016, while saying 2018-and-newer vehicles were not affected by that shutdown. This is a dated connectivity notice, not a general guide to a car’s features or to current network availability. See the Mercedes-Benz USA 3G sunset notice.
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