Aston Martin DB9 vs. Bentley Continental GT vs. Ferrari 612 Scaglietti vs. Mercedes-Benz CL65 AMG - Interior - Luxury Sport Coupes Comparison

Even though the AMG gods have waved their wands over the CL65, there's still a layer of insulation between road, driver, and machine. The steering loads up and feels unnatural. It uses electronics to manage traction, handling, braking, and to fight body roll, among other things; all of which takes something away. The car doesn't respond to the driver's wishes as much as it tells you what's good for you. Its limits are high, and it covers ground at a torrid pace, but you still feel every one of the CL65's 4633 pounds and the electrons working to keep them in line. At 7- or 8/10ths, it's superb and offers a polished ride; it just gets out of phase when pushed. As expected of an autobahn-bred German, this Mercedes's high-speed prowess is faultless, even more so than the Bentley's.

All four carmakers put considerable effort and expense into their drawing-room-level cabins. But the star of this show is the Continental GT. Every surface smacks of quality, beauty, tactile pleasure, and precision. The chrome is lustrous, the wood rich, the leather supple; even the knobs are nice. Some have criticized this car for using audio, HVAC, and other systems recognizable from its Audi and VW cousins, but the components and execution are so good, it doesn't matter. Those big, eyeball-style air vents we've always loved in Rolls and Bentley products are present and accounted for, if in smaller scale.

Mercedes has been bagged on for cheapening its cabins, but that's a malady the CL has never suffered. This top AMG-spec interior is terrific and, if not quite to the Bentley's level, is what you expect for this kind of money. The heated and cooled 14-way-adjustable seating is comfy and supportive, the wood and Alcantara trim elegant, and everything feels and works as it should. Sure, the black plastic switchgear is the same as on less costly models, and the 10-speaker Bose audio gear not up to the standard set by some of the newest 5.1 Surround Sound systems, but, overall, the CL65 cabin is a fine place to burn miles.

The DB9's interior is an aesthetic pleasure of surfaces and style. Not everyone liked the big swathe of (optional) bamboo that tumbles from the base of the windshield to the top of the center stack, but it's eye-catching, nonetheless. The glass starter button is a nice touch. There's no shifter for the automatic trans; buttons on the IP allow you to select Park, Reverse, and Drive. The upgraded leather is delectable, and the seats supportive, if not the massive and technologically advanced chairs found in the Bentley or the Benz. Our biggest gripe is the center stack itself. The silverish surface looks cheap and, on our tester, already shows signs of scratching. The white backlit lettering is small and difficult to read, and many of the buttons are too small. A rethink is in order here.