The Mercedes CLS is the four-door coupe version of the E Class – and now there is an estate version.

Looking a bit like a normal E Class estate that has been sat upon, the CLS Shooting Brake is intended to combine style and (a little) carrying capacity. In fact the maximum carrying capacity is 1550 litres – exactly the same as the far smaller Vauxhall Astra. With a pretty small boot (given that it is very nearly five metres long) and no four wheel drive, it is going to be bought on looks alone. With a starting price of £49,360, there can surely be no less cost-effective estate or SUV on the market.There will be three versions. The 250 CDI produces 201 bhp, with a combined fuel consumption of 53.3 mpg and CO2 emissions of 139 g/km. The 350 CDI generates 262 bhp, combined fuel consumption of 47.1 mpg, and 161 g/km CO2. The CLS 63 AMG Shooting Brake offers 519 bhp, emits 235 g/km CO2 and offers 28 mpg. Hence the only petrol engine is of the “turbo nutter” variety: Mercedes is sensibly not bothering with the mid-range petrol engines for the UK market.Amusingly, the Shooting Brake has one mechanical difference to the CLS Coupe: air suspension to cope better with heavy loads. Given the size of the boot and the 1.8 tonne weight of the car when empty, they must be expecting people to be carrying something very small and very dense.