Mercedes-Benz

Mercedes-Benz CLS build years & generations

Coverage 2005-20243 named generationsSaloonPETROL / DIESEL

The Mercedes-Benz CLS spans several build years and named generations (2005-2024). Match a build year to its generation, then see how each group of build years does at its MOT.

Newest Mercedes-Benz CLS generation shown; older shapes are pictured on the cards below.

Which year is which

Build years & generations, side by side

Find the build years you're looking at and see which generation they are. You'll also see which group of build years the MOT figures come from.

Built 2005-2008
Generation
C219
Figures from
cars built 2005-2008
Counted with this generation only.
Built 2009-2010
Generation
C219
Figures from
cars built 2009-2012
Counted together with C219 and C218 cars built in the same years.
Built 2011-2012
Generation
C218
Figures from
cars built 2009-2012
Counted together with C219 and C218 cars built in the same years.
Built 2013-2016
Generation
C218
Figures from
cars built 2013-2016
Counted with this generation only.
Built 2017
Generation
C218
Figures from
cars built 2017-2020
Counted together with C218 and C257 cars built in the same years.
Built 2018-2020
Generation
C257
Figures from
cars built 2017-2020
Counted together with C218 and C257 cars built in the same years.
Built 2021-2024
Generation
C257
Figures from
cars built 2021 onwards
Counted with every car built from 2021.

Build years	Generation	Figures from cars built	What to know
2005-2008	C219	2005-2008	Counted with this generation only.
2009-2010	C219	2009-2012	Counted together with C219 and C218 cars built in the same years.
2011-2012	C218	2009-2012	Counted together with C219 and C218 cars built in the same years.
2013-2016	C218	2013-2016	Counted with this generation only.
2017	C218	2017-2020	Counted together with C218 and C257 cars built in the same years.
2018-2020	C257	2017-2020	Counted together with C218 and C257 cars built in the same years.
2021-2024	C257	2021 onwards	Counted with every car built from 2021.

“Figures from cars built” is the group of build years behind each row's MOT figures. Years where one generation gave way to the next can sit in a wider group until there's enough history to split them.

“Figures from” is the group of build years behind each card's MOT figures. Years where one generation gave way to the next can sit in a wider group until there's enough history to split them.

By build-year group

How each group of build years performs

Each card shows MOT results for one group of Mercedes-Benz CLS build years. “Age” means the car's age on the day of its MOT, not its build year. “25+” groups every test on cars aged 25 or older.

Built

2017-2020

A mix of C218 and C257

These build years include both C218 and C257 cars, so the figures are less exact than for a single generation.

Fail rate at 7 years old

15.0%

UK average for cars this age: about 1 in 6 (17.1%)

Ages with data

4 to 8 years old

MOT tests counted

4,285

Chart shows

Age at the MOT

Not the build year

Below typicalAbove typicalHigh (28% or more)Highest fail rateUK average for all vehicles this age

AgeFail rateMOT tests

4 years

9515.8%

5 years

54015.7%

6 years

1,32616.1%

7 years

1,15515.0%

8 years

1,16917.0%

Fail rate is the share of MOT tests that ended in a fail. Retests count as tests. How we count fail rates Highest fail rate at 8 years old.

Built

2013-2016

C218 only

These build years are all C218, so the figures are almost all from that generation.

Fail rate at 12 years old (latest age)

22.1%

UK average for cars this age: about 1 in 4 (25.9%)

Ages with data

8 to 12 years old

MOT tests counted

11,811

Chart shows

Age at the MOT

Not the build year

Below typicalAbove typicalHigh (28% or more)Highest fail rateUK average for all vehicles this age

AgeFail rateMOT tests

8 years

1,02817.7%

9 years

2,88617.3%

10 years

2,81718.1%

11 years

2,96722.6%

12 years

2,11322.1%

Fail rate is the share of MOT tests that ended in a fail. Retests count as tests. How we count fail rates Highest fail rate at 11 years old.

Built

2009-2012

A mix of C219 and C218

These build years include both C219 and C218 cars, so the figures are less exact than for a single generation.

Fail rate at 16 years old (latest age)

26.6%

UK average for cars this age: about 3 in 10 (30%)

Ages with data

12 to 16 years old

MOT tests counted

5,164

Chart shows

Age at the MOT

Not the build year

Below typicalAbove typicalHigh (28% or more)Highest fail rateUK average for all vehicles this age

AgeFail rateMOT tests

12 years

62922.1%

13 years

1,32221.3%

14 years

1,28924.4%

15 years

1,34425.2%

16 years

58026.6%

Fail rate is the share of MOT tests that ended in a fail. Retests count as tests. How we count fail rates Highest fail rate at 16 years old.

Built

2005-2008

C219 only

These build years are all C219, so the figures are almost all from that generation.

Fail rate at 20 years old (latest age)

23.9%

UK average for cars this age: about 3 in 10 (30.3%)

Ages with data

16 to 20 years old

MOT tests counted

5,768

Chart shows

Age at the MOT

Not the build year

Below typicalAbove typicalHigh (28% or more)Highest fail rateUK average for all vehicles this age

AgeFail rateMOT tests

16 years

58124.6%

17 years

1,80624.6%

18 years

1,60225.6%

19 years

1,28622.4%

20 years

49323.9%

Fail rate is the share of MOT tests that ended in a fail. Retests count as tests. How we count fail rates Highest fail rate at 18 years old.