Pomp and Glitter on an Octavia-Sized Stage - Mercedes-Benz CLA 220 4Matic Test
The smallest four-door Mercedes coupe may not have shown a single wrinkle, but last year it received its mandatory facelift, featuring redesigned bumpers and LED lights, and an upgraded interior. The desirable shape and many impressive details have remained, but so has the somewhat family-unfriendly size. We tested the beauty queen of compact cars, manufactured in Kecskemét, Hungary, with a respectable-sized turbocharged petrol engine supported by a mild-hybrid system.
NEARLY FOUR YEARS IN PRODUCTION, YET IT COULD DENY ITS AGE
In recent years, Mercedes has been on a roll, with annual sales exceeding two million passenger cars worldwide. In Hungary, the star-branded has been the most popular premium brand over the past few years, although last year, BMW took the lead. Of course, everyone has their own level of struggle; for example, I usually drive a 26-year-old C-Class, but during the test week, I quickly determined that the new CLA could easily become a desirable youngtimer in 26 years. The main reason is that Stuttgart's elegance remains timeless.
As decades ago, since the late 2000s, under the direction of Gorden Wagener, the Mercedes design team has mostly created shapes that I believe will stand the test of time admirably. A good example is the second generation of the four-door coupe, which silhouette (especially with the lowered suspension) clings so closely to the asphalt that during our test, the massive snowfall turned it into a sculpture-like snow mound in the parking lot. On average days, its form is such a hit that nothing is overcomplicated, the lights at the front and rear are beautiful, with just enough aggressiveness to the front end that is not excessive.
It's always a pleasure to discover frameless doors, and here they greatly enhance the ambience (fortunately, not the noise level). The occasion for our current test is twofold: last year's facelift brought little real novelty beyond the first apron's redesign, but alongside it, the soft hybrid drivetrain labeled 220 is also fresh. Two new colors arrived, both blue: our test car in Spectral Blue, while Hyper Blue is more conspicuous and exciting. Regardless, the important thing is that interesting paintwork has replaced the usual black, grey, and white, and with the AMG Line package, it looks great without overemphasizing sportiness.
INSIDE LIKE A BIGGER CAR, APART FROM THE SPACE CONSTRAINTS
The four-door coupe does not seem small in pictures, but in reality, the A in the model designation rightly indicates its class: despite its nearly 4.7 meters in length, this four-door coupe remains a compact car, with its advantages and disadvantages. Amongst the latter is the limited space; the CLA allows for roughly 190 cm front and preferably 180 cm in the back. Anyone taller may not feel comfortable in the cabin. This is logically derived from the design, as is the modest (440 liters) and small-opening trunk for loading, the Shooting Brake version is much more ideal.
A few centimeters of space and a front-wheel-drive platform (MFA2) therefore mark the difference from the larger Mercedes models. However, there was no compromise on valuable and quality equipment: the materials, the switches, the displays could belong in a category two notches higher, and the assembly is impeccable. Every time, I found it difficult to leave the fine, brown split leather interior, especially at the end of the test week. It’s this premium feel and the extra-packed features that distinguish a premium car if you don't spare the money, and the CLA shines on both fronts, sparing nothing from our test example.
The MBUX infotainment system may be familiar from other models, and although there are still some minor logical quirks, overall it provides an excellent user experience with a merciless array of settings options. Since the model update, the Kecskemét-manufactured model now comes standard with a larger central display (10.25 inches), and the only time you need to pay extra is if you want an equally large screen behind the steering wheel, as otherwise, only a 7-inch screen is included. It's not worth saving on, as the digital instrument cluster then offers beautiful themes and exciting graphics.
In recent years, Mercedes has been on a roll, with annual sales exceeding two million passenger cars worldwide. In Hungary, the star-branded has been the most popular premium brand over the past few years, although last year, BMW took the lead. Of course, everyone has their own level of struggle; for example, I usually drive a 26-year-old C-Class, but during the test week, I quickly determined that the new CLA could easily become a desirable youngtimer in 26 years. The main reason is that Stuttgart's elegance remains timeless.
As decades ago, since the late 2000s, under the direction of Gorden Wagener, the Mercedes design team has mostly created shapes that I believe will stand the test of time admirably. A good example is the second generation of the four-door coupe, which silhouette (especially with the lowered suspension) clings so closely to the asphalt that during our test, the massive snowfall turned it into a sculpture-like snow mound in the parking lot. On average days, its form is such a hit that nothing is overcomplicated, the lights at the front and rear are beautiful, with just enough aggressiveness to the front end that is not excessive.
It's always a pleasure to discover frameless doors, and here they greatly enhance the ambience (fortunately, not the noise level). The occasion for our current test is twofold: last year's facelift brought little real novelty beyond the first apron's redesign, but alongside it, the soft hybrid drivetrain labeled 220 is also fresh. Two new colors arrived, both blue: our test car in Spectral Blue, while Hyper Blue is more conspicuous and exciting. Regardless, the important thing is that interesting paintwork has replaced the usual black, grey, and white, and with the AMG Line package, it looks great without overemphasizing sportiness.
INSIDE LIKE A BIGGER CAR, APART FROM THE SPACE CONSTRAINTS
The four-door coupe does not seem small in pictures, but in reality, the A in the model designation rightly indicates its class: despite its nearly 4.7 meters in length, this four-door coupe remains a compact car, with its advantages and disadvantages. Amongst the latter is the limited space; the CLA allows for roughly 190 cm front and preferably 180 cm in the back. Anyone taller may not feel comfortable in the cabin. This is logically derived from the design, as is the modest (440 liters) and small-opening trunk for loading, the Shooting Brake version is much more ideal.
A few centimeters of space and a front-wheel-drive platform (MFA2) therefore mark the difference from the larger Mercedes models. However, there was no compromise on valuable and quality equipment: the materials, the switches, the displays could belong in a category two notches higher, and the assembly is impeccable. Every time, I found it difficult to leave the fine, brown split leather interior, especially at the end of the test week. It’s this premium feel and the extra-packed features that distinguish a premium car if you don't spare the money, and the CLA shines on both fronts, sparing nothing from our test example.
The MBUX infotainment system may be familiar from other models, and although there are still some minor logical quirks, overall it provides an excellent user experience with a merciless array of settings options. Since the model update, the Kecskemét-manufactured model now comes standard with a larger central display (10.25 inches), and the only time you need to pay extra is if you want an equally large screen behind the steering wheel, as otherwise, only a 7-inch screen is included. It's not worth saving on, as the digital instrument cluster then offers beautiful themes and exciting graphics.
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