This may very well be the battle of ugliness. I’m sure both of these are good cars, cars that are comfortable, luxurious, built well and perform well. But Sweet Fancy Moses are both these cars ugly. The BMW 6 Series Gran Turismo looks like Quasimodo and the Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class has so few body lines it looks like a plucked bird. Nevertheless, both of these cars are going to be decent-volume sellers, even if they don’t exactly compete with one another. So let’s take a loot at which one looks better.
From the front, neither of these cars are terrible. The BMW 6 Series GT looks like a 5 Series from the front, so there’s really nothing out of the ordinary there. It looks good and fine and safe. The CLS-Class looks like a Mercedes-Benz from the front, just with oddly small and squinty headlights. While almost all current Mercedes’ look great from the front, the CLS-Class is the familial outlier. It’s not terrible, just weird. Something just looks off about it. This may be the only decided win in this comparison, as the BMW’s face is distinctly better, even if it’s not spectacular itself.
In profile, this one is tough. The BMW 6 Series GT has a sort of hunchback look to it but at least it’s visually interesting and has some sculpted body lines that make it look muscular. The Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class has a sweeping roofline that could make the car look sexy if it weren’t for the complete lack of body lines or any surface details. It looks like Mercedes designers took a wood planer to the side of the car and shaved it smooth. There’s literally one body line and it’s toward the bottom of the doors but it’s not enough. It looks unfinished. Still, the 6 Series’ hunchback rear and dumpy butt aren’t really much better. Gonna call this one a wash.
Out back, it’s also pretty evenly bad. The 6er’s butt is lumpy and tall and features oddly shaped taillights. But the CLS-Class’ rump looks like a cartoonish sad face, with the taillights as droopy eyes and the body line over the license plate as the frowny mouth. It’s mind-blowing to me that both a Mercedes and BMW designer could go, “Ja, das ist gut” to either of these cars. I really can’t decide between them.
What’s even crazier is that the interiors of both cars are great. Seriously. The 6 Series’ is pretty typical BMW and that’s very good. The CLS-Class is very typical Mercedes and that’s also very good. Both features luxurious designs, superb build quality and impressive technology. No one will be upset sitting in either of these cars for hours at a time. Personally, I think Mercedes’ design is better but BMW’s tech is much better. So this is, again, a wash.
Being that in almost every way, these two cars are pretty equally weird looking, while being equally beautiful inside (is that a metaphor for the both of them?). However, the BMW takes the win, as the 6 Series GT’s mug is better than the oddly anime-looking CLS-Class. Also, the 6 Series GT’s odd design is functional, as it’s meant to be more practical and accommodating than the standard 5 Series or 7 Series. So you can understand why it looks like that. The CLS-Class is literally designed to be sexy and stylish and it’s neither of those things. So the winner of this design comparison is the BMW 6 Series Gran Turismo. I never thought I’d say that.
The thing is, the elements that make the 6GT a bit of an oddball do improve its usability. The CLS is just bad, no excuse. Man i would’ve never thought that out of anything the 3rd gen CLS would be the car making me appreciatz the 6GT more…
Exactly,it’s why it wins. It’s weird looking but for a purpose. The CLS is just a huge miss.
merc really messed up the CLS, saw a lot of hardcore merc fans dissapointed too
can we all agree that the new cls, 6 series and even the new audi a7 are ugly.
Again, these two cars can’t and shouldn’t be compared. The CLS is sporty, low and has no desire to perform utility duties. The 6 GT is exactly the opposite. Neither Merc nor Audi have cars in the 6 GT category. Obviously, the 6 GC is the natural counterpart.
+100 to you
You people are missing the point. The point should be if mercs inline six will be better than BMW’s. So, is mercs inline six outperform or match and more importantly, more reliable than BMW’s?
I agree, that is indeed the point here.
The CLS is fugly though, I really don’t understand what went through their head. Normally modern Mercs have a ton of lines, like the S Class and C Class both especially. This one has nothing. It literally looks like the first gen CLS, only worse. Ridiculous.
I don’t understand all the hate for the 6 GT though, BMW really couldn’t have made it look much better than it does. It’s a practical, luxurious GT (literally) meant to be practical.
I see not even BMWblog understands BMW’s Gran Turismo still. The CLS is a 6-Series Gran Coupe competitor!!
This site routinely compares unrelated cars and acts like they are direct competitors. Nobody on earth is cross shopping the new CLS with the 6 series Gran Turismo….this site does not seem to understand this simple fact.
Guys. We only compared them cause the 6 Gran Coupe is an older model. When the replacement comes out, 8 series Gran Coupe, we will compare it to the CLS.
I’m pretty sure we understand the differences
Then be patient, it’s this same comparison that damaged the Gran Turismo’s reputation in the first place.
Someone would have compared those anyway, so didn’t wanna be the last
Come on, you know we know the differences. As I
said, those two models are new and in some ways, similar. Are they
identical? Not at all, but it wouldn’t be fair to compare a 6 year old 6
Gran Coupe to the new CLS.
Some of those comparisons are
also interesting cause real customers do ask those questions. I asked
someone today asked me to choose between M240i and M3.
The Gran Turismo is a sedan utility crossover vehicle, kind of like a fast back Touring with a long wheelbase. Yes the 6GC isn’t quite as new as it once was, but this happens all the time. One brand brings a newer version to market first, and the wrest catch up soon after. The main reason for my previous statement was because the article does the same thing that gave BMW Gran Turismos a bad reputation in the first place, putting it in a direct comparison with a sleek four door coupe. I like the concept of the Gran Turismo, everything you expect from a 5-Series but adding a long wheelbase, and added cargo versatility over the sedan, all wrapped up as a modern crossover. But it has nothing that can be directly compared to it, it especially shouldn’t be compared with a four door coupe.
What kind of comperation is it ? U can’t compere those two cars they have different reason to exist.
In terms of pure look CLS is great and much better but I like 6GT very much for many different reasons.
BMW blog wake up.
I could not agree more…that CLS is nice looking and the 6 series GT looks like something an elderly person would drive!
Guys. We only compared them cause the 6 Gran Coupe is an older model. When the replacement comes out, 8 series Gran Coupe, we will compare it to the CLS.
I’m pretty sure we understand the differences
Mercedes are the new Korean design pioneers !!
Of course Mercedes-Benz wins this comparison as always. The 6 series is just a piece of shit just like any car BMW produce. Mercedes-Benz reigns supreme as always.
Are the people on this site all crazy? This new 6 series is one of the ugliest cars BMW has ever created. The Benz looks pretty slick,,,the BMW is an abomination that I wouldnt be seen in! I am a BMW owner. I own a 2013 650i coupe. This replacement is ridiculous looking. I know this is a straight up BMW “fan boy” page,,,,,but come on guys,,,saying the Beemer is a nicer car than that low slung Benz is outright crazy. Stop drinking the BMW Kool Aid and call a spade a spade. This new 6 is a joke….akin to riding around in a minivan!!!! The Benz on the other hand is pretty tough looking…Wow! Talk about brand loyalty,,,turning peoples minds in to mush!
If there is one thing that I can guarantee you is that we are not a fanboy website. If you would spend time reading some articles and reviews, you’d see that we often criticize BMW products and often we claim that a competitor car is better.
If you really wanna see who we are and how we do our job, come meet us at the Chicago Auto Show.
And when it comes to design, the beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Do I agree with Nico that the 6 GT is a nicer car? No. Can I criticize his personal opinion? No as well. We all have different tastes.
I will be at the chicago auto show this year…I am a life long resident.
We’re based in Chicago also, so how about I get a 6GT from BMW and we find a CLS and take a closer look together? :) Then maybe I can convince you that we know what we’re talking about. Usually.
@CDSpeed,
Come on, you know we know the differences. As I said, those two models are new and in some ways, similar. Are they identical? Not at all, but it wouldn’t be fair to compare a 6 year old 6 Gran Coupe to the new CLS.
Some of those comparisons are also interesting cause real customers do ask those questions. I asked someone today asked me to choose between M240i and M3.