The New Mercedes CLA Is A Big-Screened Saloon That Thinks It's A Coupe

Mercedes' tech-filled A-Class has morphed into the CLA, a four-door 'coupe' that sits alongside the existing A-Class saloon
The New Mercedes CLA Is A Big-Screened Saloon That Thinks It's A Coupe

If you’re a little confused right now, we don’t blame you. Mercedes did indeed reveal an A-Class saloon last year, but this isn’t it. Nope, it’s the all-new CLA, which is - despite Mercedes’ claims of it being a coupe - is also effectively an A-Class saloon.

So it’s now even more of a niche proposition than the first-generation model. But it is certainly a more elegant-looking thing than the A-Class saloon, and much better proportioned than the outgoing model to our eyes. It’s like someone stuck a downsized CLS rear-end onto an A-Class hatch, and that’s no bad thing.

The New Mercedes CLA Is A Big-Screened Saloon That Thinks It's A Coupe

It should be better to drive than the old one, too. The track widths have been increased by 63mm at the front and 55mm rear, and the centre of gravity is lower than before. The anti-roll bar is fatter, and if you want, you can spec adaptive dampers.

As well as being wider than before, the car is also longer and ever-so-slightly lower. The boot opening is bigger, but at 460 litres, the boot capacity has dropped by 10 litres. Boo.

The New Mercedes CLA Is A Big-Screened Saloon That Thinks It's A Coupe

The inside is all as-per the A-Class, and again, we aren’t going to grumble. The highlight of the cabin is the twin-screen setup of the new MBUX infotainment system, which includes fancy features like augmented reality navigation and voice control.

Anything here you don’t get in the A-Class? Well, other than a new gesture control system which will - among other things - automatically turn on a light when you reach over to the empty front passenger seat, not much.

The proportions of the new Mercedes CLA look a little tidier, and there seems to be a CLS theme going on at the rear
The proportions of the new Mercedes CLA look a little tidier, and there…

Unlike the A-Class saloon, which is only available as an A220, the CLA is set to receive AMG A35 and A45 derivatives. The car you see here is the CLA 250, which is powered by a 2.0-litre inline-four turbo engine sending its power through a seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox.

When the car is launched in May, there’ll be a full complement of petrol and diesel engines to choose from, a choice of automatic or manual gearboxes and the option of a ‘4Matic’ four-wheel drive system.

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Comments

Anonymous

Guess it works because it fits the CL(A or S) Line up.

01/08/2019 - 19:34 |
0 | 0
Chewbacca_buddy (McLaren squad)(VW GTI Clubsport)(McLaren 60

What did I tell you about putting the CLS in the dryer? Now it’s shrunken down

01/08/2019 - 19:37 |
23 | 1
Elliot.J99

Ew

01/08/2019 - 19:55 |
4 | 1
5:19.55

[insert Communist flag]
[Insert russian anthem]

01/08/2019 - 19:57 |
1 | 1
German Perfectionist

My opinion: Still hideous, but now with orange trim.

01/08/2019 - 20:13 |
38 | 4

You mean m4 gts trim😂

01/09/2019 - 03:07 |
1 | 1
Twopoint0

I just can’t get myself to like the rear end of these new mercedes models, they look so plump and blobbish

01/08/2019 - 20:48 |
10 | 2

This particular car’s rear reminds me of the new Infiniti Q60

01/09/2019 - 01:31 |
2 | 0
NotARealRoadTest

People who buy that car are literally just buying it for the badge…what exactly is the point of the CLA?

01/08/2019 - 20:48 |
1 | 0

to sell it to young professionals that aren’t ready to buy a C class, and get them into the brand so they buy bigger Mercs in the future. there’s a big market for this, just fyi

01/08/2019 - 22:41 |
6 | 0

Exactly. Its a mediocre car for badge snobs

01/09/2019 - 14:00 |
1 | 1
Pagz777

If it has four doors, it is not a coupe.

End of story

01/08/2019 - 21:31 |
17 | 0
Martin Burns

In reply to by Pagz777

again for the people in the back

01/09/2019 - 00:06 |
4 | 0
Anonymous

Talk to me once Mercedes makes a good looking car

01/09/2019 - 00:11 |
2 | 2
Freddie Skeates

I think this car goes bottom of the list of cars that tried to match black with orange accents, below even the DS3 Racing

01/09/2019 - 01:00 |
1 | 1