2014 Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class: A Smaller CLS

It’s not uncommon for people to fall under the spell of a luxury car and then fall out of love just as quickly once they see the price, especially once a few options are added. Unfortunately, in many cases, buyers have to resign themselves to a less luxurious – read less expensive – car. Reason trumps emotion. Prestige, luxury and exoticism rarely go hand-in-hand with affordability, but Mercedes-Benz is bucking that trend with the introduction of the CLA-Class, a car that has everything you’d want and sells for a more-than-reasonable price.

While Mercedes-Benz already offers the B-Class at a very appealing price of less than $30,000, this little family car doesn’t have the same panache as its bigger siblings. And that’s exactly what makes the new CLA so attractive: To see it, you’d think it was expensive and completely out of reach. The fact is, however, that with a base price of $33,900, it actually costs less than the C-Class. This is where incredulity gives way to love.

• Also: 2014 Mercedes-Benz CLA 45 AMG: High Performance for the Working Class
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A style invented by Mercedes

At first glance, the new CLA-Class seems oddly familiar. No surprise there, since it steals its exterior lines – on a smaller scale, of course – from the CLS, Mercedes-Benz’s four-door sport coupe.

With fluid lines and a sculpted roofline, the CLS is genuinely beautiful! It borrows the CLS’s style features, such as the arching roofline that makes this sedan look more like a coupe. The front end is undoubtedly the nicest part with the plunging hood and large Mercedes emblem in the centre of the grille. The tailend is very different from what we normally see from the German manufacturer, with the lights placed far from the trunk lid, which will probably cause some differences of opinion. What really gives the car its dynamic look are without a doubt its sweet 17-inch rims, which happen to come factory standard. The AMG Package boosts the CLA aggressive appeal with 18-inch five-spoke wheels, among other things.

B-Class at heart

While the CLS-Class inspired the CLA’s style, this new vehicle shares its platform and mechanical components with the B-Class. That’s the secret to its affordability. Initially, it will be offered as the CLA 250 and, just like the B-Class, it gets a new engine: a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder that develops 208 horsepower and 258 lbs.-ft. of torque. This engine transmits power to the wheels using a 7G-DCT (seven-speed dual-clutch transmission). This exceptional transmission helps with fuel economy, especially as it works in tandem with the Start/Stop function that shuts the engine off automatically when the car is stopped and starts it up again when it’s time to go.
The other feature that favours fuel economy is the CLA’s drag coefficient. Its 0.22 figure represents a world record for the lowest drag coefficient for a production car. The Canadian version comes in at 0.28 because of the superior capacity that brings with it bigger wheels, brakes and an air intake for the turbo engine, which increases air friction.

The most affordable AMG

By this fall, the CLA will also be sold in a 4Matic all-wheel drive version, which should be very popular here in Canada. High performance aficionados will be able to opt for the CLA 45 AMG, the most affordable AMG at Mercedes-Benz and the only one equipped with a four-cylinder engine. In fact, it will use the same engine as the new A-Class 45 AMG offered in Europe. Specifically, it’s a 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo that develops 360 horsepower and 331 lbs.-ft. of torque.

Inside, the car also draws some of its key features from the B-Class. Apart from a few unique elements, the CLA has the same dashboard and similar instrumentation. The CLA is also equipped with the same screen that displays various systems’ settings. The centrally positioned multifunction screen looks like an iPad mounted on the dashboard – unfortunately, it isn’t a touchscreen, so you’ll have to rely on the tracking ball to control the various functions.

The CLA is less practical than the B-Class. The cargo space is less generous, 470 litres compared to 488, and the passengers have a little less space – especially headroom – mainly because of the backward-plunging roofline.
Otherwise, the CLA is an extraordinary car, as evidenced by its unique style features. You can even order the car with seats in unusual colours like Neon Art lime green.

On the road

At the wheel, you’ll like the driving position and the feel of the steering wheel. The vehicle offers a comforting sense of control and, despite the car’s fluid lines, the visibility is excellent, even in the rear. Its ride is both pleasant and dynamic, and even though the engine’s capacity is reduced, it still emits a nice sound, adding to the car’s appeal.

With 208 ponies, the engine delivers highly satisfying performances without any real lag, provided you haven’t selected Eco mode, which favours fuel economy and reduces the accelerator’s enthusiasm. To really appreciate the car’s performance, Sport mode is the only choice. Press down on the accelerator and the Mercedes launches immediately, which speaks volumes for the turbo engine. When equipped with the Sport Package, the car is a little more rigid, due to its firmer suspension and 18-inch wheels fitted with low-profile tires. It feels agile and responsive, which compact sports car fans will definitely appreciate. You’d think you were driving an ultra-luxurious Volkswagen GTI.

As a journalist, we fall in love with cars all the time. But all too often we’re forced to report that the price puts the vehicle out of reach for most buyers. Fortunately, that’s not the case with the CLA – all the more reason to love this car!