2023 Mercedes-Benz CLA Class

The CLA has a blunt front end with a big Mercedes badge and wide LED headlights that give it more heft than its dainty proportions would otherwise suggest. The sleek, slippery roofline isn’t as coupe-convincing as Mercedes-Benz would like you to think, but it works quite well, especially as it slips elegantly rearward to a pert tail. AMG versions toss on some zippy-looking bits that are anything but subtle, but they don’t detract from the clean styling overall. 

The cockpit prioritizes tech, especially when outfitted with available 10.3-inch screens housed behind a single pane of glass. This modern look ties the CLA in with other Benz models, and it works well with the round air vents that can be framed by a variety of trim finishes including aluminum and different types of wood. The cabin doesn’t look cheap by any stretch, though its materials trail other Mercedes models.

The base CLA 250 sedan comes standard with all-wheel drive, but other versions send power to all four corners. CLA 35 and CLA 45 AMG versions send more power rearward in typical driving than the CLA 250 4Matic, which lends them a slightly more balanced feel when pushed hard into corners. You’ll want to budget for winter tires, though, since most CLAs come with performance-oriented rubber not suitable for cold weather or snow. 

How fast is the Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class?

Base CLA 250s are even more sprightly than their 221-hp rating would suggest. That turbo-4 is good for a 0-60 sprint of about 6.3 seconds, and it works well with the standard 7-speed automatic gearbox for quick in-town and highway passing performance. 

The CLA 35 amps things up to 305 hp from a version of that same engine, which Mercedes says slices 1.5 seconds from its 0-60 mph sprint. That’s quick, but if you’re going all in on a CLA-Class, the CLA 45 AMG swaps in a different turbo-4 rated at a hefty 382 hp. It works exceptionally well with an 8-speed dual-clutch gearbox to deliver a 60 mph run of just 4.0 seconds, though in practice it feels even faster. Few vehicles short of some EVs offer this kind of grin-inducing acceleration. 

All versions ride and handle nicely, with quick-witted steering and good response. Adaptive dampers available on AMG versions quell the road rumble inevitable with their stiffer tuning and shorter sidewalls. The CLA 45 AMG also comes with snappier brakes to shake off speed.

The rear seat serves up limited leg and head room, and passengers will need to contort themselves to climb aboard. 

Interior materials don’t quite match hefty price tags. Most versions wear synthetic leather, and Mercedes could do a better job hiding flimsy, cost-saving plastics.

Mercedes is stingy about crash-avoidance tech, though automatic emergency braking and blind-spot monitors come standard. A $1,700 package containing a particularly good adaptive cruise control and automatic lane-change requires about $3,000 in other options to be selected first. 

A 4-year/50,000-mile warranty ticks all the typical luxury car boxes save for free maintenance; it doesn’t get any. All-wheel drive costs $2,000 more for the base CLA 250. 

Which Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class should I buy?

That depends on how much you want to spend. At the very least, we’d budget for metallic paint ($750), wood trim ($325), heated front seats ($500), a heated steering wheel ($250), and packages containing dual 10.3-inch screens, navigation, and driver-assistance tech. Suddenly the price has ballooned to about $47,000 with all-wheel drive. 

How much is a fully loaded Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class?

The CLA 35 AMG starts at about $49,000, while the CLA 45 AMG runs $57,000 or so. Add various options and the price can push $80,000.

AMG models aren’t that bad, either. The CLA 35 is estimated at 22/29/25 mpg, while the CLA 45 slurps down fuel at 23 mpg combined. Premium fuel is required across the lineup.