Orlando Sentinel's view

In the 1990s, Chrysler has been the world’s hottest car company in terms of rolling out one critically acclaimed vehicle after another.

At the very least, that honor must now be shared with Mercedes-Benz.

There’s a line out the door and around the block at most of the nation’s Mercedes dealers for such hot vehicles as the SLK roadster and the ML320 sport-utility. Sales of all Mercedes cars are the highest in the German automaker’s 100-plus year history.

What went right?

Mercedes raised quality, lowered prices, reduced weight and designed smarter-looking vehicles aimed at younger buyers. It’s a winning recipe, and one that the faltering Lincoln and Cadillac divisions of Ford and General Motors may need to mimic.

This week’s test car, the new CLK320, is a two-door, four-seat luxury-sport coupe that proves the depth and breadth of the German automaker’s comeback is big. In the fall, a convertible version of CLK will be available.

PERFORMANCE, HANDLING

The CLK320 comes with Mercedes’ powerful new double overhead cam V-6 engine, the same 3.2-liter, 215-horsepower unit found in the ML320 sport-utility vehicle. A five-speed automatic transmission is the only gearbox available.

Mercedes’ V-6 engine provides ample thrust at all speeds. When driven normally, the car is quiet and smooth. But floor the accelerator and the engine roars like a lion and the car flies. Mercedes claims the CLK will reach 60 mph in a respectable 6.9 seconds.

The gears shift so smoothly that only the movement of the tachometer needle across the face of the dial lets you know the transmission is changing gears.

A button on the console near the shifter lets the driver program the transmission for “Winter” or “Normal” driving. In the W mode, the transmission will start in second gear, which helps prevent the rear wheels from losing traction when accelerating.

But a backup traction control system will automatically engage if the wheels slip. Another type of traction control system, ASR, automatically applies the brakes to the wheel or wheels that have the least amount of traction, ensuring that the car will go in the direction it is steered.

These computerized systems, which work in conjunction with the engine, brakes, steering and suspension systems, make the CLK320 nearly foolproof. There’s very little a person can do to make the car lose traction.

The CLK has a four-wheel independent suspension system. The ride is firm but not jarring over bad pavement. I heard no squeaks or rattles as I drove over a bumpy dirt road and over numerous speed bumps. The CLK, which weighs 3,240 pounds, feels as if it is carved out of a single block of steel. At times, such as when driving slow, the car seems a bit heavy. But the ride is always stable and predictable.

The steering and brakes are typical Mercedes: excellent. The mid-size CLK is easy to steer into tight spaces. The wheel has a firm, posit ive feel. All CLKs come with four-wheel anti-lock disc brakes. The anti-lock system is quiet and powerful. I tested it several times on a dirt road. The car stopped almost as quickly as if it were on pavement.

Our test car averaged 25 mpg in combined city/highway driving.

FIT AND FINISH

I liked the CLK the moment I settled into the leather driver’s seat. Wood trim on the door panels, dash and console gives the interior a classy feel.

The CLK’s handsome styling also can be enjoyed from the driver’s seat. The hood slopes down gently into the tops of the curved fenders. This is a design that will age gracefully.

The power leather seats, which come with a memory feature, offer excellent support. When you pull up on a lever and flip the seatback forward, the bottom part of the seat automatically slides forward. This feature makes it easier for passengers to get in and out of the rear.

Even so, it’s a bit of a stretch climbing in and out of the bac k seats. There’s not a lot of space between the seat and the door pillar. However, once in the rear seat, an average sized adult will find adequate head-, leg- and foot-room.

The rear seats split and fold forward, giving the CLK a lot of storage capacity.

The CLK is furnished with a full complement of amenities and accessories – except one. For $44,000 and change, the car should come with a CD player. It doesn’t. But the usual goodies – power windows, mirrors and door locks, cruise control, anti-theft system, AM/FM cassette and fog lights – are standard. The air-conditioning system is a computer-controlled dual zone setup that allows the driver and passenger to set different temperatures.

As with many other premium imported luxury cars, the CLK has door-mounted air bags for added protection in a severe side-impact crash. Other interesting features include Xenon headlights, which light up the road with a bright white glow; the BabySmart seat system, which turns off the passenger-side air bag when a special infant seat, available from Mercedes, is buckled up; and a rain-sensing system that varies the speed of the windshield wipers.

The comfortable, stylish CLK gobbles up the highway miles. It’s a joy to drive.

Specifications:

1998 Mercedes-Benz CLK320 Base price: $39,850 Safety: Anti-lock brakes, dual front and side air bags, traction control, front and rear crumple zones and side-impact protection. Price as tested: $44,285 EPA rating: 21 mpg city/29 highway Incentives: None

Truett’s tip: The stylish new CLK320 luxury/sports coupe is a quick and agile car that is well-made and lavishly equipped. It’s another winner for Mercedes.