Item: Mercedes CLA
Rating: 4
Author: What Car? Team

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Mercedes CLA

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Introduction

Performance & drive

Interior

Passenger & boot space

Costs & verdict

The only trim available is AMG Line, so the CLA has a considerably higher starting price than the<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mercedes-benz/a-class/hatchback/review/n88"> A-Class</a>, which also comes in cheaper SE and Sport forms.

It holds its value well, though, and still undercuts the<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/audi/a5/hatchback/review/n170"> Audi A5 Sportback</a> and<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/volkswagen/arteon/hatchback/review/"> Volkswagen Arteon</a>. Plus, the AMG Line-only policy means every version is decently equipped: LED headlights, a sporty bodykit and heated front seats are all included.

Adding the Premium package is worth considering, because this brings the larger instruments, keyless entry and an upgraded stereo, but we’d avoid the Premium Plus package due to its head room eating panoramic sunroof, mentioned earlier.

For <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/advice/owning/company-car-tax-bands/n1255">company car buyers</a>, the clear choice in this lineup is the plug-in hybrid CLA 250e; low <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/advice/buying/new-official-fuel-consumption-and-co2-tests-explained/n1213">official CO2 emissions</a> and an impressive electric range put it in a low benefit-in-kind tax bracket. Indeed, because its claimed electric range is so much further than the VW Arteon’s, it’ll cost usefully less on tax bracket than its rival.

And it’s worth noting that the CLA is a very safe car, earning<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/how-euro-ncap-crash-tests-save-lives/n15107"> Euro NCAP</a>’s full five-star rating with very high individual scores for adult occupant, child occupant and pedestrian protection.

The CLA 220d is powered by a 2.0-litre diesel engine that’s also found in the<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mercedes-benz/c-class/saloon/review/n70"> C-Class</a> and<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mercedes-benz/e-class/saloon/review/n17174"> E-Class</a> saloons, and is a big step forward from the clattery 2.1-litre unit in the<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mercedes-benz/cla-class/coupe/used-review/n17564"> previous-generation CLA</a>. It has more than enough power; it takes only a relatively gentle squeeze of the accelerator pedal to get the 220d to pick up significant speed,Yes, you’ll feel a few vibrations through the seat, steering wheel and pedals at idle, but these all-but disappear as soon as you start moving. What’s more, any gruffness remains muted even under hard acceleration, and engine noise is virtually non-existent at a cruise.

Switching to petrol, the CLA 250 is pretty rapid; its 6.3sec 0-62mph time will comfortably see off the similarly priced <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/audi/a5/hatchback/review/n170">Audi A5 Sportback</a> 40 TFSI (it covers the same sprint in 7.2sec). As a bonus, the 250 is a smoother and quieter choice than the diesel-powered 220d.

As for cheaper options, the 1.3-litre petrol engine of the CLA 200 is perfectly adequate when you’re just pottering around town, and has the legs for longer motorway journeys, too. You have to work it hard for it to feel as potent as its 161bhp output suggests, though, and when you do it starts to sound rather coarse and thrashy. There’s also a 134bhp CLA 180, but it’s best avoided – it’s the weakest engine in the lineup and feels far less spritely than the CLA 200.

That same 1.3-litre petrol engine also shows up in the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/what-is-a-hybrid-car-and-should-you-buy-one/n1290">plug-in hybrid</a> CLA 250e, where it’s paired with an electric motor that offers a boost in performance making it almost as quick as the CLA 250. As well as offering impressive pace, this plug-in CLA can officially travel for up to 44 miles on pure electric power alone. That’s a lot farther than the 33-mile <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/volkswagen/arteon/hatchback/review/n176">Volkswagen Arteon plug-in hybrid</a> will take you, while the A5 Sportback doesn’t offer a plug-in hybrid variant at all.

The petrol cars are fitted with Mercedes’ seven-speed<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/which-type-of-automatic-gearbox-should-i-buy/n17022"> dual-clutch automatic gearbox</a>, while the diesels and the plug-in get an eight-speed auto. Both ’boxes hold onto gears for an unnecessarily long time when in Sport mode, but switch back to Normal and shifts are impressively smooth, especially with the eight-speeder.

In town, the CLA feels smaller and more nimble than rivals, and if you break out in search of the countryside and back roads, it’s perfectly capable up to about eight-tenths pace. Just bear in mind that beyond that its steering doesn’t provide a huge amount of feedback and it will run out of grip before the A5 or<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/volkswagen/arteon/hatchback/review/"> </a>Arteon.

The CLA also bounces around more than those models over dips and crests, but it stops well short of being uncomfortable, and its ride is suitably smooth on the motorway.

Fuel 

Gearbox

0-62 MPH

This entry-level petrol is expected to be the biggest seller, despite its meager 134bhp
power output. Based on the more powerful 200, we’d avoid it unless you don’t mind
driving rather sedately.

http://example.com

CLA 180

cla-180

Like the 180, this is a 1.3-litre turbocharged petrol engine but here with 161bhp.
Performance isn’t bad at all, but you have to work it hard to get that pace, revealing a
coarse engine note.

CLA 200

cla-200

CLA 220d

cla-220d

This plug-in hybrid CLA is the obvious choice in the lineup for company car drivers. A 1.3-litre petrol engine is paired with an electric motor to deliver a boost in performance, improve fuel efficiency, and offer the ability to travel on electric power alone. It’s almost as quick as the CLA 250, and is said to travel for up to 44 miles on electric power before it calls on the petrol engine for assistance. That’s a lot further than the 33-mile Volkswagen Arteon plug-in hybrid offers.

CLA 250e

cla-250e

CLA 35 4Matic

cla-35-4matic

CLA 45

cla-45

Have you ever seen Queer Eye? In this TV makeover show, five ‘fabulous’ presenters take a ‘regular’ person and give them a new look so they’re sleeker and sexier than before. And really that’s the best way to explain the Mercedes CLA.

It may be based on the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mercedes-benz/a-class/hatchback/review/n88">A-Class hatchback</a>, but from the twin ‘power domes’ on its bonnet, through its arching, coupé-like roofline, down to its sculpted tail, it adds a big dollop of extra style.

True, the interior is carried over from the A-Class pretty much unchanged. However, that’s no bad thing, because it means you get tactile materials and a layout that’s similar to that of the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mercedes-benz/s-class/saloon/review/n17355">S-Class limousine</a>.

<iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/PAMGwqGJVKM"></iframe>

This is a family car, then, for those who don’t want to stop worshipping at the altar of design just because they’ve swapped karaoke and kayaking for kids and kaboodle.

The regular engine line-up includes petrols and diesels that range from 134bhp to 221bhp, as well as a fuel-sipping plug-in hybrid. Or should you want more pace, there’s the AMG-tuned performance models, including the flagship<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mercedes-benz/cla-class/coupe/review/n19851"> CLA 45</a>, which we’ve reviewed separately.

How does the CLA compare with its rivals, though, which include the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/audi/a5/hatchback/review/n170">Audi A5 Sportback</a> and <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/volkswagen/arteon/hatchback/review/">Volkswagen Arteon</a>?

That’s what we’ll be looking at in this review, as we consider everything from comfort to handling and practicality to costs. And, of course, if you&nbsp;decide it's the one for you, our <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/new-car-deals">New Car Buying service</a> offers <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/make/mercedes-benz/cla/city-car/deals">fantastic discounts on the CLA</a> and hundreds of other great cars, and all without you needing to lift a finger.

The interior of the CLA offers a serious wow factor, especially if you specify it with dual 10.3in screens (as standard, the infotainment screen is that size, but instrumentation is displayed on a 7.0in monitor).

It helps that the graphics are lemon-sharp. And usability is similarly impressive, because the various menus are logically laid out, and you can choose between pressing the onscreen icons, scrolling with responsive touchpads or issuing voice commands to a system that recognises natural speech instead of requiring you to remember specific phrases.

The CLA also provides wireless phone charging, via a handy tray located in front of the main infotainment touchpad. Similarly cutting-edge is Mercedes’ standardisation on USB ‘C’ sockets, the drawback being that you’ll probably need to buy an adaptor before you can plug in most of your devices.

More positively, whether you’re tall or short, it won’t be too tricky to find a driving position that works for you, thanks to a wide range of adjustment for the steering wheel and seat, and good under-thigh support.

Meanwhile, the relaxing ambient lighting, flashy air vents and classy wood or metal finishes mean that the CLA outguns the<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/audi/a5/hatchback/review/n170"> Audi A5 Sportback</a> and the<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/volkswagen/arteon/hatchback/review/"> Volkswagen Arteon</a> on interior pizzazz points. However, in terms of outright build quality inside, the Mercedes does have some flimsy-feeling materials here and there, and is no match for the Audi in this regard; the A5 feels far more solid and robust throughout.

Coupe

Mercedes’ line-up is vast – ranging from the A-Class family hatchback through to staple saloons such as the C-Class and E-Class, and onwards towards multiple SUVs, luxury saloons and even sports cars. Coupés and convertibles are thrown into the mix as well.

As one of the ‘big three’ German brands, Mercedes most often finds itself competing with Audi and BMW but more recently has found itself fending off Jaguar and Volvo, too.

Mercedes models are known for comfort. One example of this is the E-Class, because while the Audi A6 has a plusher interior and the BMW 5 Series handles better, the E-Class is probably the most comfortable for a long motorway journey.

MERCEDES-BENZ

Classy, safe and stylish, but some rivals are better to drive

Mercedes-Benz CLA

Despite the coupé-like roofline, there’s plenty of head room up front, especially if you avoid the panoramic sunroof that comes with the optional Premium Plus package.

Sadly, the news isn’t so good in the back; yes, leg room is plentiful, but your bonce will be rubbing against the headlining if you’re over six feet tall.

Move to the boot and things are similarly mixed; at 460 litres, the CLA has a slightly greater overall capacity than the 465<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/audi/a5/hatchback/review/n170"> Audi A5 Sportback</a> (and comfortably more space than Mercedes’ own 355-litre<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mercedes-benz/a-class/hatchback/review/n88"> A-Class</a> hatchback), but being trickier to load due to a high lip and small aperture. Go for the plug-in hybrid CLA 250e and you’ll lose 60 litres of boot capacity.

The door pockets in the front of the car are big enough to hold a small bottle of water and a selection of travel snacks, while the cubby beneath the central armrest is large.

OUR PICK

Diesel, Petrol, Petrol/Plug-In Elec Hybrid

The CLA range opens with AMG Line, which gives you 18in alloy wheels, a sporty body kit, LED headlights, a 7.0in digital instrument cluster, a 10.3in infotainment screen with DAB radio and sat nav, heated front seats and wireless charging.


AMG Line

amg-line

Some rivals are better to drive, but the Mercedes CLA is a classy, safe and stylish choice that comes packed with technology.


<h2>What we're looking for:</h2><ul><li>Strong performance</li> <li>Good balance between ride and handling</li> <li>Excellent build quality</li> <li>Decent practicality</li> <li>Sophisticated interior</li></ul>

Coupés are all about style, but while practicality undoubtedly takes a back seat to aesthetics, these cars still need to be easy to live with on a daily basis. It’s this that distinguishes a coupé from an out-and-out sports car.

Fortunately, there’s a wide range of style-focused models available, and you don’t even need to spend silly money to buy or run one.

For a blend of rock-solid resale values, punchy engines and an interior to die for, the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/audi/tt/coupe/review/n12">Audi TT</a> is a brilliant option. But the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/bmw/4-series/hatchback/review/n17260">BMW 4 Series Gran Coupe</a> and <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mercedes-benz/cla/coupe/review/n19245">Mercedes CLA</a> both offer plenty of style and substance to match, while the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/aston-martin/dbs/coupe/review/n18289">Aston Martin DBS Superleggera</a> will give you serious performance.

<h2>What we're looking for:</h2><ul><li>Effortless long-distance capability</li> <li>Strong standard specification</li> <li>Low running costs</li> <li>Comfortable driving position</li> <li>Comprehensive yet easy-to-use infotainment system</li></ul>

Executive cars are often the choice of company car drivers, so factors such as CO2 emissions (which govern your monthly tax bill) are just as important as cruising refinement for those long motorway journeys, a plush cabin and (whisper it) the image of the badge on the bonnet.

The good news is that there are options for all budgets and tastes. If rear space is crucial and you’re willing to put up with a less-than-premium badge, the Skoda Superb is tough to beat, while if you want a premium badge on the bonnet then the BMW 3 Series is consistently one of our favourites in this class.

And don't think you're limited to just petrol or diesel-powered choices in this class,&nbsp;because at the top end the Tesla Model 3 is well worth considering for its long range and engaging driving style.

Executive

Mercedes CLA review

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Read review covering Mercedes CLA boot space, size and dimensions, front and rear seat comfort by the expert What Car? test team.

Despite the coupé-like roofline, there’s plenty of head room up front, especially if you avoid the panoramic sunroof that comes with the optional Premium Plus package.,Sadly, the news isn’t so good in the back; yes, leg room is plentiful, but your bonce will be rubbing against the headlining if you’re over six feet tall.,Move to the boot and things are similarly mixed; at 460 litres, the CLA has a slightly greater overall capacity than the 465 Audi A5 Sportback (and comfortably more space than Mercedes’ own 355-litre A-Class hatchback), but being trickier to load due to a high lip and small aperture. Go for the plug-in hybrid CLA 250e and you’ll lose 60 litres of boot capacity.The door pockets in the front of the car are big enough to hold a small bottle of water and a selection of travel snacks, while the cubby beneath the central armrest is large.

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