2009 Mercedes Benz CL550 4Matic

This CL550 is very old-school Mercedes. It is large, feels heavy, and is extremely cosseting. I'm generally not a big fan of large coupes as they always seem to lack interior space for their substantial exterior dimensions but at least the CL can hold adults in the back if needed. That feature sets the Benz apart from the much less spacious BMW 6-series.

It's interesting that Mercedes fits four-wheel drive as standard on the CL550. The traction is nice, but I'm not sure that most of the target market for this car needs that feature. Plus, $120K is a lot of money for a big coupe.

In the end, I can't help but think that an S550 sedan is still the smarter choice for those looking for the ultimate $100K luxury car. At least you don't need to flip the front seats forward to get your passengers into the back.

Marc Noordeloos, Road Test Editor