Compare the2024 Rolls-Royce PhantomVS 2023 Mercedes CLS

The Rolls-Royce Phantom has standard driver and front passenger side knee airbags mounted low on the dashboard. These airbags helps prevent the driver and front passenger from sliding under their seatbelts or the main frontal airbags; this keeps them better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. Knee airbags also help keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The CLS doesn’t offer a front passenger side knee airbag.

The Phantom has standard whiplash protection, which use a specially designed headrest to protect the driver and front passenger from whiplash. During a rear-end collision, the whiplash protection system moves the headrests forward to prevent neck and spine injuries. At the same time the pretensioning seatbelts fire, removing slack from the belts. The CLS doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

The Phantom has standard PostCrash, which automatically apply the brakes in the event of a crash to help prevent secondary collisions and prevent further injuries. The CLS doesn’t offer a post collision braking system: in the event of a collision that triggers the airbags, more collisions are possible without the protection of airbags that may have already deployed.

An active infrared night vision system standard on the Phantom helps the driver to more easily detect people, animals or other objects in front of the vehicle at night. Using an infrared camera and near-infrared lights to detect heat, the system then displays the image on a monitor in the dashboard and even aims one of the vehicle’s headlights in the direction of the person or object. The CLS doesn’t offer a night vision system.

The Phantom’s standard lane departure warning system alerts a temporarily inattentive driver when the vehicle begins to leave its lane. A lane departure warning system costs extra on the CLS.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the Phantom has standard Cross Traffic Warning, helping the driver avoid collisions. Mercedes charges extra for Rear Cross-Traffic Alert on the CLS.

Both the Phantom and the CLS have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front and rear seatbelt pretensioners, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras and driver alert monitors.

The Rolls-Royce Phantom weighs 1389 to 1499 pounds more than the Mercedes CLS. The NHTSA advises that heavier cars are much safer in collisions than their significantly lighter counterparts.

The Phantom comes with a full 4-year/unlimited-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire car and includes 24-hour roadside assistance. The CLS’ 4-year/50,000-mile basic warranty expires sooner.

Rolls-Royce pays for scheduled maintenance on the Phantom for 4 years and unlimited miles. Rolls-Royce will pay for oil changes, tire rotations, air filter replacements, cabin filter replacement, brake fluid replacement, inspections, and any other required maintenance. Mercedes doesn’t pay scheduled maintenance for the CLS.

The Phantom’s 6.8 turbo V12 produces 201 more horsepower (563 vs. 362) and 295 lbs.-ft. more torque (664 vs. 369) than the CLS’ 3.0 turbo 6-cylinder hybrid.

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Rolls-Royce Phantom uses regular unleaded gasoline (premium recommended for maximum performance). The CLS requires premium, which can cost on average about 82.8 cents more per gallon.

The Phantom has 2.7 gallons more fuel capacity than the CLS (23.8 vs. 21.1 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

For better stopping power the Phantom’s brake rotors are larger than those on the CLS:

For better traction, the Phantom has larger standard tires than the CLS (255/50R21 vs. 245/40R19). The Phantom’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the CLS (F:255/45R22 & R:285/40R22 vs. F:245/40R19 & R:275/35R19).

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Phantom has standard 21-inch wheels. Smaller 19-inch wheels are standard on the CLS. The Phantom’s optional 22-inch wheels are larger than the 20-inch wheels optional on the CLS.

The Phantom has standard front and rear gas-charged shocks for better control over choppy roads. The CLS’ suspension doesn’t offer gas-charged shocks.

The Phantom has active sway bars, which help keep it flat and controlled during cornering, but disconnect at lower speeds to smooth the ride and offer greater off-road suspension articulation. This helps keep the tires glued to the road on-road and off. The CLS doesn’t offer an active sway bar system.

The front and rear suspension of the Phantom uses air springs for a smoother, controlled ride than the CLS, which uses coil springs. Air springs maintain proper ride height and ride more smoothly.

The Phantom offers an available adjustable active suspension system, which counteracts cornering forces actively, limiting body roll and improving handling and stability. Mercedes doesn’t offer an active suspension on the CLS.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Phantom’s wheelbase is 24.1 inches longer than on the CLS (139.8 inches vs. 115.7 inches). The Phantom EWB’s wheelbase is 32.8 inches longer than on the CLS (148.5 inches vs. 115.7 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the Phantom is 2.6 inches wider in the front and 2.5 inches wider in the rear than on the CLS.

Because it has more passenger and cargo room, the EPA rates the Phantom a Large car, while the CLS is rated a Compact.

The Phantom has 23 cubic feet more passenger volume than the CLS (116 vs. 93).

The Phantom has 4.3 inches more front headroom, 1.6 inches more front shoulder room, 2.6 inches more rear headroom and 8.5 inches more rear legroom than the CLS.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the Phantom’s rear seats recline. The CLS’ rear seats don’t recline.

The Phantom has a much larger trunk than the CLS (19 vs. 11.9 cubic feet).

Laser headlights, standard on the Phantom, produce their light by firing blue lasers through phosphorus, a process that uses one-half the power of the CLS’ LED headlights. Laser headlights can have double the range of LEDs with a much smaller surface area.

A power rear sunshade and rear side window sunshades are standard in the Phantom to help block heat and glare for the rear passengers. The CLS doesn’t offer rear side window sunshades.

Both the Phantom and the CLS have standard heated front seats. The Phantom also has standard heated rear seats to keep those passengers extremely comfortable in the winter. Heated rear seats aren’t available in the CLS.

The Phantom has standard front air conditioned seats and offers them optionally in the rear. This keeps the passengers comfortable and takes the sting out of hot seats in summer. The CLS doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats in the rear.

The Phantom has a standard heated steering wheel to take the chill out of steering on extremely cold winter days before the car heater warms up. A heated steering wheel costs extra on the CLS.

Both the Phantom and the CLS offer optional massaging front seats. The Phantom also offers optional massaging rear seats in order to maximize comfort and eliminate fatigue on long trips. Massaging rear seats aren’t available in the CLS.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Rolls-Royce Phantom has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console and one for the rear passengers. Wireless charging costs extra on the CLS.