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By KBB Editors
Updated December 23, 2019
If you wish the E-Class Sedan were available in coupe or convertible form, the CLK is about the closest you’re going to get, short of a custom job. A rigid body, firm ride and well-insulated top (on the Cabriolet) await the CLK’s lucky owners. There aren’t many rivals in this price range, making the CLK a rather exclusive vehicle.
The high price tag for the Cabriolet and V8-powered models is the only negative on our radar screen. In true two-door fashion, the CLK offers little in the way of rear-seat legroom and a manual transmission is not offered on any model.
The CLK500 becomes the CLK550 as the 382-horsepower, 5.5-liter V8 becomes the car’s new engine. A new Sport Package includes 10-spoke, 17-inch wheels, shorter springs and perforated brake discs. The package is available on both the CLK350 and CLK550.
The CLK is Mercedes-Benz’s mid-level premium coupe and convertible line. Although the CLK costs significantly more than its competition, Mercedes-Benz believes the brand’s name and engineering excellence command the higher price. Styling, performance and luxury hold strong sway with consumers in these market categories, and the CLK Coupe and Cabriolet are prime examples. The CLK Coupe stands out from the few others in this segment by touting a pillarless hardtop design and a stunning profile. Where the CLK350 and CLK550 clearly place luxury above any really serious performance ambitions, the 475-horsepower CLK63 AMG makes no bones about its intentions. True driving enthusiasts, however, may turn to Audi or BMW, as the CLK63 AMG still is not offered with the choice of a manual transmission.
The Kelley Blue Book Fair Purchase Price for any individual used vehicle can vary greatly according to mileage, condition, location, and other factors, but here's a general idea of what buyers are currently paying for used 2007 Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class models when purchasing from a dealership.
Original MSRP | KBB Fair Purchase Price (nat'l average) | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
$49,505 | $6,510 | |||
$54,975 | $7,210 | |||
$58,205 | $7,787 | |||
$63,675 | $9,222 | |||
$92,575 | $13,268 |
For reference, the 2007 Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class originally had a starting sticker price of $49,505, with the range-topping CLK-Class CLK 63 AMG Cabriolet 2D starting at $92,575.
The CLK550’s new V8 develops 382 horsepower, which rockets the car forward while leaving behind the unmistakable note of a V8 exhaust. The wonderfully neutral handling requires only minor input to the steering wheel and offers excellent feedback. Mercedes-Benz also includes two settings for the smooth-shifting seven-speed transmission; one for comfort and one for sport. In the comfort setting, the transmission starts in second gear, reducing the amount of torque to the wheels and thus improving traction. This setting is very useful for those who drive in snow and rain.
The CLK’s interior received a thorough update last year, more an improvement than a replacement. Familiar Mercedes-Benz styling cues were augmented by better ventilation controls, while the power seat controls were mounted on the door to form the shape of a seat. Clever features abound, such as the electronic arm that extends for front-seat occupants or the power-operated front seats that automatically move forward when the seatbacks are tipped up. We found the CLK’s seats offer a wide range of positions, including the ability to raise the seat bottoms to a significant rake. This is a favorite position for long-legged drivers who need more thigh support. Oddly, the standard seats do not offer any form of adjustable lumbar support.
Introduced in 2003, the CLK’s timeless design remains fresh and alluring. The stunning Cabriolet takes full advantage of the rakish CLK lines and, with the top removed, looks as though it was born to be a convertible. One of the great features on the Coupe is the absence of a center pillar between the front and rear window on each side. Not only does this design create a beautiful visual profile, it actually improves active safety by allowing an unobstructed view, with the windows in place or lowered.
Pop-Up Roll Bars
Integrated pop-up roll bars on the CLK Cabriolet remain out of sight until needed.
Side Turn Signals
Turn signals built into the base of the side-view mirrors are visible to drivers next to you.
There are three CLK trim levels: The V6-powered CLK350, V8-powered CLK550 and special edition CLK63 AMG. The base CLK350 has a seven-speed automatic transmission, front and rear fog lights, Bose audio, front and rear side-impact and head-curtain airbags, automatic roll bars (Cabriolet), 10-way power leather seats, automatic slip control, traction control, 16-inch alloy wheels, a leather-wrapped steering wheel with touch controls and memory for the front seats, outside mirrors and steering column position.
Options include heated and cooled front seats, power glass moonroof, power rear sunshade, COMAND audio and navigation control, Keyless Go, rear side-impact airbags, SIRIUS Satellite Radio, Distronic radar-guided cruise control, bi-xenon headlamps and an electronic trunk closer.
Last year’s addition of the potent 3.5-liter V6 to the CLK lineup was a wise and welcome move. Though not as lightning-quick as the new 5.5-liter V8, the V6 gives the CLK the quick throttle response buyers expect from a $50K-plus automobile. For those who insist on top performance, the 6.3-liter V8 in the CLK63 AMG really turns up the volume.
3.5-liter V6
268 horsepower @ 6000 rpm
258 lb.-ft. of torque @ 2400-5000 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 19/28
5.5-liter V8
382 horsepower @ 6000 rpm
391 lb.-ft. of torque @ 2800-4800 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 16/23
6.3-liter V8
475 horsepower @ 6800 rpm
465 lb.-ft. of torque @ 5000 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 13/20
Our Expert Ratings come from hours of both driving and number crunching to make sure that you choose the best car for you. We comprehensively experience and analyze every new SUV, car, truck, or minivan for sale in the U.S. and compare it to its competitors. When all that dust settles, we have our ratings.
We require new ratings every time an all-new vehicle or a new generation of an existing vehicle comes out. Additionally, we reassess those ratings when a new-generation vehicle receives a mid-cycle refresh — basically, sprucing up a car in the middle of its product cycle (typically, around the 2-3 years mark) with a minor facelift, often with updates to features and technology.
Rather than pulling random numbers out of the air or off some meaningless checklist, KBB’s editors rank a vehicle to where it belongs in its class. Before any car earns its KBB rating, it must prove itself to be better (or worse) than the other cars it’s competing against as it tries to get you to spend your money buying or leasing.
Our editors drive and live with a given vehicle. We ask all the right questions about the interior, the exterior, the engine and powertrain, the ride and handling, the features, the comfort, and of course, about the price. Does it serve the purpose for which it was built? (Whether that purpose is commuting efficiently to and from work in the city, keeping your family safe, making you feel like you’ve made it to the top — or that you’re on your way — or making you feel like you’ve finally found just the right partner for your lifestyle.)
We take each vehicle we test through the mundane — parking, lane-changing, backing up, cargo space and loading — as well as the essential — acceleration, braking, handling, interior quiet and comfort, build quality, materials quality, reliability.
Curb Weight | 3585 lbs. | ||
---|---|---|---|
EPA Passenger | 81.5 cu.ft. | ||
Fuel Capacity | 16.4 gallons | ||
Front Head Room | 37.1 inches | ||
Front Leg Room | 42.0 inches | ||
Max Seating Capacity | 4 | ||
Overall Length | 183.2 inches | ||
Front Shoulder Room | 53.2 inches | ||
Trunk or Cargo Capacity | 10.4 cu.ft. | ||
Turning Diameter | 35.3 feet | ||
Wheel Base | 106.9 inches | ||
Width with mirrors | 68.5 inches |
Alloy Wheels | Available | ||
---|---|---|---|
Moon Roof/Sun Roof | Available | ||
Number of Doors | 2 doors | ||
Rear Spoiler | Available |
City | 17 mpg | ||
---|---|---|---|
Highway | 25 mpg | ||
Combined | 20 mpg |
Drivetrain | RWD | ||
---|---|---|---|
Transmission Type | Automatic | ||
Recommended Fuel | Premium |
Horsepower | 268 @ 6000 RPM | ||
---|---|---|---|
Torque | 258 @ 2400 rpm | ||
Engine | V6, 3.5 Liter | ||
0 to 60 | 6.4 seconds |
Basic | 4 years / 50000 miles | ||
---|---|---|---|
Powertrain | 4 years / 50000 miles | ||
Corrosion | 4 years / 50000 miles |
Used 2007 Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class | Used 2011 Honda CR-Z | Used 2012 Mitsubishi Eclipse | Used 2007 Toyota Solara | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Price | $6,895 | $6,499 | $6,553 | $6,277 | |
KBB.com Rating | N/A | 3.5 | N/A | N/A | |
Consumer Rating | 4.5 | 4.5 | 4.6 | 4.8 | |
Fuel Economy | City 17/Hwy 25/Comb 20 MPG | City 35/Hwy 39/Comb 37 MPG | City 20/Hwy 28/Comb 23 MPG | City 18/Hwy 27/Comb 21 MPG | |
Fuel Type | Gas | Hybrid | Gas | Gas | |
Safety Rating | N/A | 3.0 | N/A | N/A | |
Seating Capacity | 4 | 2 | 4 | 5 | |
Basic Warranty | 4 years or 50000 miles | 3 years or 36000 miles | 5 years or 60000 miles | 3 years or 36000 miles | |
Horsepower | 268 @ 6000 RPM | 122 @ 6000 RPM | 162 @ 6000 RPM | 210 @ 5600 RPM | |
Engine | V6, 3.5 Liter | 4-Cyl, Hybrid, VTEC, 1.5L | 4-Cyl, 2.4 Liter | V6, 3.3 Liter | |
Drivetrain | RWD | FWD | FWD | FWD |