Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class

The Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class carries the youthful essence of the exterior in its cabin too – while the Progressive variants get a black-themed cabin with soft-touch grey inserts on the dashboard and door panels, the AMG variant has AMG sports seats, ARTICO black man-made leather for seats and steering wheel and aluminium pedals

While the Progressive variants get a standard three-spoke multi-functional steering wheel, the AMG variants have an electronically adjustable AMG performance steering wheel wrapped in Nappa leather. All the variants of the Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class have a full-TFT rectangular cockpit which has 12.3-inch screens for instrument console and touchscreen infotainment system. This cockpit has AMG-specific displays in AMG variants. The CLA-Class gets round propeller-themed AC vents in the centre console below the infotainment system and dashboard corners.

The quality of the materials and panels used in the Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class are top-notch with high-quality leather, satin chrome and piano black inserts and features like powered front seats with memory function for the driver’s seat, premium sound system, dual-zone automatic climate control, wireless charger and more. 

Following the trademark coupe-like silhouette that made headlines with the first-generation model, this new second-generation Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class has an evolutionary design with a sleeker and flashier appearance than before. 

At the front, the Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class gets a hexagonal grille with diamond-studded chrome inserts and a chrome slat in the Progressive variants (CLA 200 and CLA 250 4MATIC) and vertical chrome slats and gloss black highlights in the AMG variants (CLA AMG 35 and CLA AMG 45 4MATIC). The headlamps have grown in size as compared to those in the previous-generation version, with them having boomerang-shaped LED DRLs and bi-functional LED projectors. 

The Progressive and AMG variants are also differentiated from each other with their front and rear bumper designs and different patterns for alloy wheels. While the Progressive variants have subtler-looking bumpers with smaller air dams on the corners, the AMG variants have a sportier-looking front splitter, rear diffuser and larger, more prominent air dams. The AMG Line alloy wheels in the AMG variants also look sportier than the standard alloy wheels in the Progressive variants. Both versions come with angular-looking LED combination tail lamps and a slim black spoiler on their boot. 

While the CLA 200 and CLA 250 4MATIC have comfort-oriented suspension, the same in the CLA AMG 35 and CLA AMG 45 4MATIC have stiffer setups for relatively more thrilling and sportier driving dynamics. The CLA 200 and CLA 250 4MATIC have adaptive adjustable damping with three driving modes – Comfort, Eco and Sport – in their Dynamic Select Package. Meanwhile, the CLA AMG 35 and CLA AMG 45 4MATIC get AMG torque control and AMG ride control suspension with three personalised drive modes – comfort, sport and sport+ - for more precise handling and traction. 

All four variants of the Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class are well-differentiated with different powertrain options. The base-spec CLA 200 gets a 1.3-litre four-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine (163 PS and 250 Nm), while the mid-spec CLA 250 4MATIC has a 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine (211 PS and 350 Nm).

Meanwhile, the AMG variants also have the 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo-petrol engine, but in different state of tune – 305 PS and 400 Nm in CLA AMG 35 and 425 PS and 500 Nm in CLA AMG 45 4MATIC. All variants come with a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission, with the CLA 250 4MATIC and CLA AMG 45 4MATIC having all-wheel drive systems.  

The wide array of driving assistance features available in the Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class includes forward collision mitigation, attention assist, adaptive braking technology with predictive brake priming, automatic brake drying, crosswind assist, trailer sway assist, Blind Spot Assist with Exit Warning Assist and Active Parking Assist.

The other essential safety features in the CLA-Class are airbags all around, ABS with EBD, an electronic stability program, front and rear parking sensors, a reverse camera, a tyre pressure monitoring system, auto headlamps, rain-sensing wipers, hill-start Assist, brake hold feature, emergency-sensing brake assist and advanced tyre pressure monitoring system.

The Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class is not for those who are seeking the comfort and practicality of traditional sedans from the German brand. Instead, with its dramatic looks and sportier performance and handling, it is for the enthusiast in you.