EuroNCAP has still to test Mercedes CLS 63 AMG safety – or in fact the CLS it is based on – but that doesn’t mean we can’t surmise this performance model is a safe car.

The firm is famed for making safe and solid cars, and a look through the EuroNCAP archives shows that the other models in the range consistently score the maximum five stars – we’d expect the CLS to achieve the same should it be subjected to the procedure.

It’s packed with safety kit too, including adaptive brake lights which flash under heavy braking and a system that dries the disc and pad surface after driving in wet weather – ensuring optimum braking performance as soon as you request it. ABS and Brake Assist (BAS) are fitted as standard too, while the optional Carbon Ceramic brakes means you should be able to stop quick enough to avoid many impacts.

Attention Assist monitors your reactions behind the wheel and suggests you take a break should it feel you need it while the tyre pressure monitor ensures you never have a flat tyre without being made aware of the problem. There’s also Isofix child seat fastenings across the rear bench and a child seat recognition sensor for those who prefer their newborns to ride up-front – though this only works with specific Mercedes child seats fitted with a transponder.

As expected, the CLS 63 AMG is fully kitted-out with airbags, hosting an array of six bags throughout the cabin protecting the sides and heads of those travelling. The firm’s Pre-Safe system ensures that belts are tightened to an optimum tension, the seats are adjusted to improve occupant contact with the airbags and open windows and sunroofs closed to keep flailing limbs inside the car in the event of the inevitable collision or accident.

It’s the reason this car exists – Mercedes CLS 63 AMG practicality was a key part of the brief when the designers were creating this car (and its predecessor).

For a start there’s the four doors, alluding to the saloon or estate-like passenger cabin within. All seats are comfortable and finished in high-quality leather, though the rear-wheel drive layout dictates a chunky transmission tunnel in the rear, which can prove uncomfortable for middle rear passengers.

The sleek and sloping rear roofline impacts headroom too, and adults or tall children will find this lacking over long journeys, especially in the sleeker Coupe. Shallow side windows make the cabin feel dark and relatively claustrophobic also.

Regardless of which model you opt for, the boot is a usable size. The saloon is able to accommodate 520 litres, though the Shooting Brake surpasses this with a useful 590-litre capacity. Dropping the rear seat backs increases this to 1,550 litres.

Though fuel economy is rated at a miserly 28.0mpg, with a real-world figure much closer to 20mpg, the standard 80-litre fuel tank at least gives a credible 350 to 400-mile range.