2020 Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class

Powering the coupe is a 2.0L 4-cylinder engine which produces 208 horses and 258 pound feet of torque, mated to a 7-speed automatic transmission. It reaches 0-60 in 6.3s and has decent driving dynamics. Comfortable and packed with features, the CLA 250 still has a long way to go to stand out amongst its competition.

Why do we say that? Read further the review where the Silver Arrow takes on the likes of enthusiastic BMW 2 Series and the luxurious Audi A3.

The CLA 250 starts at $33,100 and comes packing a 2.0L with 4-cylinders powering the front wheels. Mated to a 7-speed automatic transmission, the coupe couples with host of standard features and shares the affordability of a Mercedes automobile with that of the new A-Class. Some noteworthy packages include Multimedia Package at $2,300, Smartphone Integration package at $350, Drive Assistance Package at 1,500, and AMG Line Exterior Package at $2,400.

We Recommend

The CLA 250 comes loaded with a bunch of features that should be enough to fulfill your feature-thirst. Invest in standalone packages of Android Auto and Apple CarPlay to experience better smartphone integration with the infotainment system.

"With its strong four-cylinder and quick-shifting transmission, the CLA 250 offers enough performance to impress owners of the larger C-Class. Unfortunately, that same transmission can be quirky in typical driving." -edmunds

The CLA 250 is powered by is a turbocharged 2.0L inline-4 engine mated to a 7-speed automatic transmission. Punching out 208 horses and 258 pound feet torque, the coupe produces enthusiastic-level driving performance and is a lot of fun when driven sportily. The machine impresses when taken as a daily driver or as on the track. Its transmission, while quick and smooth, however is more of a slow-brain in the sense the unit delays its response to your command and occasionally stutters.

Along its rivals, the German CLA 250 sees deficit amongst its competition where the Audi A3 stands lowest in the field. The leader of the segment is the Alfa Romeo Giulia followed by the likes of Volvo S60, BMW 2 series and the rest.

Acceleration

The CLA 250 sprints from 0-60mph in 6.3s and zips the quarter mile in 14.9s. With the field housing similar powertrain, their dissimilar outputs vary due to weight and tuning. Quickest amongst the competition is the Volvo S60 with zipping 0-60 mph in flat 5 seconds followed by the BMW and Giulia. With the CLA, the affordable luxury coupe stands amongst the low-end mix of the brethren.

Handling and Braking

The ride quality of the CLA 250 is harsh and its driving dynamics are not necessarily negative as its suspension tuning suggests. While it has a comfortable and posh setup, stray atop bumps and uneven asphalt and you'd feel wobbles around the cabin.

Otherwise the coupe is planted and stable with great handling around curves and chicanes. Its steering feels balanced, neither too heavy nor too light and steers with sharpness. On the other hand, the wheels provide less road feedback.

The disc brakes clasp the 12" and 11" rotors with absolute ease. Easily modulated, its brakes are linear and don't feel mushy. In a panic brake test, the Mercedes takes 121ft. to come to a standstill from 60-0 mph.

Housing a decent powertrain, the Mercedes' fuel efficiency is quite impressive with the coupe clocking 24 mpg in the city, 37 mpg on highway and a combined 29 mpg. Drinking the least on the highway, the Silver Arrow joins ranks with its rivals on other estimates where the entire field returns quite decent efficiency irrespective of their output which is quite an impressive task.

"The CLA has traditional Mercedes-Benz interior design in that it isn't flashy, but it surprises with its ease of use. Limited rear-seat access and space, plus lackluster visibility, hurt the CLA's score in this category."

Getting inside, the interior incorporates ambient lighting, feels cramped but is strikingly well designed. If you're tall, getting in and out the coupe will prove to be a tad difficult for you, while overall visibility also takes a hit. Stitched with MB-Tex upholstery, the Mercedes Benz CLA 250 is capable of accommodating 5 passengers but due to its sloping roofline and a compact coupe design, it falls short of providing ample comfort and space.

Front seating is comparatively better in comfort than the rear. It incorporates 14-way power seating with memory and adjustable cushion length, while the rear seats get split-folding feature for extra luggage space. A 4.5" instrument cluster sits behind the multifunction steering wheel. Now you'd expect a Mercedes quality cabin, especially knowing the marque's status. But prepare to be disappointed in this affordable lineup for the materials and finish inside it is plastic and feels cheap compared to the enormous price tag it carries.

Infotainment System

On the dash floats an 8" COMAND infotainment system with no touchscreen capability but controlled by a rotary dial sat on the center console. The system on the CLA 250 is intuitive and easily navigable. In terms of performance, its response times are quite quick with a neat interface. While the system gets laudable comments, its controller would seem otherwise - it feels plastic and cheap - unexpected by a brand such as Mercedes. Unfortunately, the biggest disappointment would be excluding Android Auto and Apple Carplay, which are available in the Multimedia Package or Smartphone Integration Package.

Some standard features included in the system are -

• SiriusXM Radio with 6-month All Access trial
• harman/kardon LOGIC7 surround sound system
• Prewiring for GARMIN MAP Pilot - Navigation System
• 8" COMAND Infotainment System

Interior Features

Some features included in the cabin are -

• Dual-zone automatic climate control
• MB-Tex upholstery
• Sport front seats with adjustable cushion length
• 4-way power lumbar support for driver
• 14-way power front seats with memory

Cargo Volume

All the spacing that should've been available for seating comfort is found in the trunk allowing 13.1 cubic feet of cargo volume. This makes the Silver Arrow playing the second fiddle to the competition leader, the Jaguar XE, followed by the BMW 2 series, and the rest follow with similar volume.

"Both the 2020 CLA250 and 2020 CLA45 feature the sweeping, dramatic design that made them revolutionary so many years ago."

Design and Measurements

The Mercedes CLA 250 has the beauty and curves of the manufacturer's design philosophy. Yet, an ageing design carried forward since the 2017 refreshed styling, the 4-door coupe still retains its beautiful and aerodynamically sleek look all across its gorgeous curvaceous body.

A diamond-block grille greets the front fascia with the chrome accented tri-starred Mercedes insignia. Flanked either sides by large headlights, underneath comes the bumper which houses mesh air intakes with sharp character lines, giving the whole front a serious, no-bullshit yet sort of bland look. Over the hood feature two parallel character lines and a metal Mercedes-Benz monogram sealed on the nose.

Its fenders curve just above the 17" 5-spoke wheels. Body colour character line sits on the side skirts with hard and sharp design element running along the window line. The roofline has a pleasant curve, tapering down elegantly down the back, where the rear finds bulbous LED taillights and dual-tail pipes on either sides.

Exterior Features

Included in the CLA 45 are some of the following exterior features -

• Diamond-block grille
• 17-inch 5-spoke wheels
• 4-door coupe design
• Diamond-block grille
• 17-inch 5-spoke wheels
• 4-door coupe design

While NHTSA and IIHS are still to rate the CLA 250, Mercedes have provided their take on safety standards by kitting the coupe with a host of safety features. Some of them are -

• Mercedes-Benz Emergency Call
• Active Brake Assist
• Rearview camera
• Rain-sensing windshield wipers
• Seat belt technology
• Antilock Braking System (ABS)
• ATTENTION ASSIST
• Electronic Stability Program (ESP)
• Advanced Tire Pressure Monitoring System
• 8 air bags
• Electronic Traction System
• Electric parking brake
• Adaptive braking technology
• Brake Assist (BAS)

Mercedes Benz CLA 250 vs BMW 2 Series

Built like a sedan, the 4-door Mercedes coupe and the 2-door BMW 2 Series have similar limitation in the rear seats. Keeping that in mind, both the cars are strong rivals where the Beemer is an enthusiastic machine with excellent driving dynamics and also more comfortable than the Mercedes. Priced similarly, the Beemer makes a much better choice here.

Mercedes Benz CLA 250 vs Audi A3

In the entry-level luxury sedan, the Audi A3 is unmatched so the competition here clearly looks to be bordering the losing side for the Mercedes CLA. Its interior luxury as well as spirited driving dynamics alongside a comfortable ride, the A3 faces one common problem with the Silver Arrow - rear seats, but the 4-ringed sedan edges ahead with slightly better seating comfort here. Picking the A3 is a worthy choice.

Clearly, the affordable Silver Arrow doesn't quite live up to what the term luxury is. Housing a decent powertrain, relatively efficient fuel economy, and a decent boot space, the Mercedes CLA 250 falls short of the standards it has already raised. Its competition offers far better package and you'd be sorted if you ignore this for you're losing out on nothing much.