Mercedes claims the new CLA is the future on wheels. I took a spin in the shiny blue-silver front-wheel drive version of the new Mercedes-Benz CLA 220 to find out if that claim is true. Is it the ultimate lifestyle sedan or just a smartphone on wheels that will charge you a monthly fee for every little thing? Read on.
If someone were to come to me twenty years ago saidIf I were to sit in a Mercedes-Benz that doesn't have a big, voracious V8 engine under the hood, but a water bottle-sized grinder, and the car tries to charge me for using my smartphone's navigation, I'd probably laugh in its face and order another beer. But welcome to the present. New Mercedes-Benz CLA 220 is here and it represents exactly that – a beautiful, incredibly modern, and in some ways, extremely frustrating piece of automotive art.
We got our hands on the front-wheel drive CLA 220 for the test. (FWD), dressed in a fantastic, deep blue silver paint that shimmers in the sun like the surface of the Mediterranean Sea on a perfect summer day. And I have to admit something right from the start: this car is a visual masterpiece. With a length of 4.72 meters (186 inches) and a characteristically sloping coupé roofline, this is a sedan that turns heads. The front grille, which in our petrol version is classically open for air intake (unlike the electric EQ version, which only has a plastic “shield”), is sprinkled with tiny Mercedes stars. It looks aggressive, but at the same time incredibly elegant. The wheels are a real measure of prestige, and the entire silhouette just screams for the car to be parked in front of the most expensive hotel in town. Just to see you get out of it. But it seems that there are too many stars on the car. And that Mercedes wants to make sure that you can’t miss the stars.
Mercedes-Benz CLA interior: Zen garden or digital trap?
When you open the doors of the Mercedes-Benz CLA – which are frameless, by the way, which always adds that real coupe charm – you are greeted by an interior that could easily be mistaken for the cockpit of a spaceship designed by the company. Apple. Our test version was equipped with an optional dashboard trim that Mercedes calls paper wood. It's a textured, matte material that mimics the look of a Japanese Zen garden. And it really is calming. As long as you don't touch the screens, of course.
Digitalization is complete here. You have huge high-resolution screens in front of you, everything is touch-sensitive (even the volume buttons), and luckily they have brought back physical buttons on the steering wheel for controlling cruise control. Thank goodness! But this is where the Zen garden quickly turns into a capitalist nightmare. You want to use Apple CarPlay or Android Auto? Sure sir, please enter your credit card number. Most of the basic connectivity features and apps in the car are hidden behind a paywall or monthly subscriptions. It's like buying a luxury villa for millions of euros, but having to throw a two-euro coin into the door every time you want to use the toilet. Complete and completely unacceptable nonsense for a car in this price range.
Regarding space: The front seats look great, upholstered in premium Artico leatherette, but they simply lack depth and thigh support. If you’re taller, you’ll feel like you’re sitting on the car, not in it. The biggest advantage of this petrol version over the electric model is in the back. Without a huge battery in the floor, this CLA has so-called “foot garages”, or deep recesses for your feet. This means that adults sit in the back much more naturally and comfortably. The boot offers a perfectly decent 405 litres of volume, which is enough for a couple of suitcases and golf equipment. There’s also plenty of space for skiing.
Under the hood: A lot of noise for nothing and a jumpy transmission
Now to the mechanics. New The CLA 220 is powered by an all-new 1.5-liter four-cylinder mild hybrid, which sends power exclusively to the front wheels. On paper, the numbers are quite decent: 155 kW (211 hp) and a healthy 300 Nm (221 lb-ft) of torque. This blue arrow will launch you from a standstill to 100 km/h (62 mph) in a respectable 7.2 seconds, before reaching a top speed of around 240 km/h (149 mph). Thanks to the mild-hybrid technology, when driving downhill, the engine can be completely switched off and the car “sails”, which has a beneficial effect on consumption, which is around very moderate 6 liters per 100 kilometers.
The car constantly feels as if the engine sound is somehow artificially amplified through the speakers, with the whole thing strongly reminiscent of AMG’s “motor theater” — except the CLA 220 is not an AMG. The problem isn’t that the sound is unpleasant per se, but that it’s overdone given the car’s character. The car wants to sound more aggressive, more dramatic, and more muscular than it actually is, so there’s a slightly awkward discrepancy between what you hear and the actual driving experience.
A minor problem is the new dual-clutch transmission. When you're driving fast on a regional road or cruising on the highway, it's great. But in the city center, at low speeds, maneuvering in a parking lot or driving in a queue, this transmission becomes extremely nervous. The car tends to "jump" or jerk unsightly when starting off, like a dog pulling too hard on a leash. I would simply expect a smoother and more silky city ride from a sedan with a star on its nose.
Bright spot: Ride and chassis
But to avoid being cynical, I have to admit the best part is the chassis. Here, Mercedes proves that it still knows how to handle things. Despite the fact that the drive is only sent to the front wheels, the engineers didn't have to install a concrete-hard suspension to tame the mass, as is often the case with heavy electric cars. Gasoline Mercedes-Benz CLA The 220 is much lighter and as a result the suspension is fantastically tuned.
In the corners, the car is surprisingly agile and light, the steering is direct and precise – almost sporty. At the same time, the shock absorbers swallow up road bumps with that characteristic Mercedes “floating” softness. This is a car that your passenger (or “passenger princess”) will enjoy on long journeys without needing a visit to the chiropractor after two hours. The blue CLA drives through the corners smoothly, smoothly and above all – fun. It is almost a driver’s car. Not clean, but close.
Final Verdict: Love with Reservations
New Mercedes-Benz CLA The 220 FWD is a car of great contrasts. Its exterior in blue silver metallic is simply stunning, while the chassis and dynamic driving comfort are at the top of the class. Its lightness compared to electric alternatives means that this is still the right car for the driver who appreciates classic road dynamics. Consumption is good. In the test average it was below 6lIts price is basically around 52,000 euros for the chosen engine, but with a cross on the list of additional equipment - and there is no shortage of these - it quickly and dangerously approaches 68,000 euros (this is how much Edition 1 costs).
But it's hard to ignore the darker sides. The nervous transmission quickly gets on your nerves at city speeds and parking, and the artificial engine noise in the cabin seems like a cheap show for children, given the horsepower, acceleration and general nature of the car. And then there's that digital arrogance - the fact that you have to pay monthly subscriptions for connectivity with your own phone (Apple CarPlay / Android Auto) in such an expensive car simply infuriates me. The Chinese, for that amount, offer you a car with 650 horsepower with all the equipment that exists and an 8-year warranty.
Would you buy it? The looks, the gorgeous color, and the fantastic chassis would make me seriously consider it. But every time the transmission jerked in traffic or the screen offered me a “cheap monthly subscription” for an app, I would probably swear out loud. The CLA is beautiful, brilliant, and frustrating at the same time. It’s exactly what a true modern German seducer should be – it demands your money, it demands your patience, and in the end it still steals your heart.
