Mercedes Benz CLS 500

by Maisto

Maisto likes making sedans and SUVs - lots of them - but most lack one very important feature: 4-opening doors!

Don't get me wrong, they are very nice (S-Class, 300C) but if I never got 'em, it was for that one reason. Fortunately, "the four-door coupe" is unlike Maisto's previous efforts. We actually get a 4-opening doors on this one!
Let's have a closer look:

Paint

The paint application on this model is well-applied and smooth. You will not find any blemishes or bubbling and the metal flakes are very moderate. Everything seems even. The chrome application in various areas is decent; some it being silver painted lines across the windows and edges, some on the door handles, which is nice but couldn't find that detail on the 1:1 where it's all black. The exhaust pipes are also bathed in chrome and Maisto went the extra step by painting the insides black.

Exterior

Here's another car with killer curves with proportions that seem very accurate. It features six openings; four doors, which is a plus on any budget model, a trunk and hood. Neither of these openings leave gaps because they shut tight.

The front is probably one of the nicest attributes of the real thing and Maisto did a nice job capturing it. However, don't expect all metal like you would on a more expensive model because you will be disappointed and shouldn't be. The main grill and headlights are chromed bathed plastic. The mesh located on the bumpers is just textured plastic but the fog lights are separate pieces. The logo on the hood is a sticker.

The rear of the car is not as striking probably because the CLS 500 logo is missing and the MB badge is painted. The tail lights look right and the license plates, which can also be found in the front, are always a nice touch.

My only problems in this department were the following: (1) the stance because the car stands a little high due to stiff springs and (2) the absence of the front side windows, which I felt shouldn't have been left out, but then again, Maisto is known for almost never having front side windows on their models. Easy access for the kids' fingers, I guess...

Interior

The interior is another highlight of this model. If you liked what you saw on the Maisto Cayenne, you will definitely like the detail in this Merc. The wood trim is similar to what you may find in a 1:1 Hyundai, but for a 1:18 scale model, it looks great! The detail on the dashboard, especially the center console is very nice. The seats may be plastic but still look as welcoming as the real thing. I'm also happy to report there are no dog-leg hinges for the doors!

Like all Maisto, there's sadly no carpeting but if you like modifying your models, there's always room for improvement.

Wheels & Brakes

The elegant 5-spoke rims look like the real thing, but sadly, they are slightly small. Even though they should be 18s, they look more like 17s. The high-performance tires are branded as "Dunlop".

The brake detail is seemingly decent BUT the rotors do not spin with the wheels and the calipers are molded onto them. However, the calipers are proudly branded Mercedes-Benz.

Engine, Trunk and Undercarriage Detail

Unfortunately, the engine detail in this model is far from great as it is basically a sheet of molded plastic.

The undercarriage isn't as bad as the engine. The exhaust, transmission and part of the suspension set-up are visible.

As mentioned before, the trunk opens but there's no carpeting. However, there is plenty of room... for up to three fingers!

The Verdict

It started great but inevitably ended with a bit of a low. That happens and that's okay. For $10 (at those wholesale stores), you get a very nice replica of one of the hottest cars out there. Great shape, lovely interior and four-opening doors to see what's in the back - You can't go wrong!

The toy brand is slowly-but-surely showing us signs of maturity. Are they ready for the next step? We'll have to wait and see.

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