KBB Expert Review for 2016 Mercedes-Benz CLA
Original post Link: https://www.kbb.com/mercedes-benz/cla/2016/cla250-expert_car_reviews/?vehicleid=414824
KBB Editors’ OverviewBy Matt Degen – Updated Date: 2/19/2016
The 2016 Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class is the least expensive car in the German automaker’s lineup but packs plenty of features that make it desirable beyond mere badge appeal. Billed as a coupe but in reality a 4-door sedan, the CLA is also among the newest Mercedes models. Like the also-fresh Audi A3, Acura ILX and forthcoming Infiniti Q30, the CLA-Class is positioned to lure young up-and-comers to the luxury brand with its small size and sub-$33,000 starting price. The front- or all-wheel-drive CLA250 is the base model, while the AMG CLA45 is a $50,000, 375-horsepower all-wheel-drive rocket. The CLA has a cramped rear seat and a price that easily ascends, but for aspirational buyers seeking entry into the Mercedes-Benz brand, this is their ticket in.
You’ll Like This Car If…
If you want a small-luxury sedan that is stylish, efficient, and – most of all – a Mercedes-Benz, the CLA-Class can be yours at a price not much higher than that of a mainstream car. Buyers with deeper pockets seeking a sleeper will have a blast in the high-performance AMG CLA45.
You May Not Like This Car If…
The CLA’s rear seats are tiny, so if you frequently carry rear passengers or plan to in the future, you may want to make the stretch to a larger model like the C-Class or GLC SUV, or check out the Audi A3 instead.
What’s New for 2016
The Mercedes CLA receives Dynamic Select (selectable drive modes) as standard for 2016, while adaptive suspension is now an option. A limited “Edition: Orange” model is available for CLA250 trims, and the potent AMG CLA45 becomes more so with a horsepower increase to 375.
Driving It
Driving Impressions
Much has been made about the CLA250 being Mercedes-Benz’s first front-wheel-drive (FWD) car. But the reality is that you’d be hard-pressed to tell what wheels were doing the hard work in this compact-luxury sedan. In Sport mode it’s spry off the line, thanks to the excellent 7-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission, and only at the most extreme cornering limits do you notice front-end “plowing” in a way that belies its FWD origins. And if you’re truly concerned – or live in an area where foul weather can create slick roads – the 4Matic option adds all-wheel drive (AWD) for enhanced traction. The standard 208-horsepower turbocharged 4-cylinder will be adequate for most, though it suffers from some turbo lag in Standard mode. For speed freaks, the much pricier AMG CLA packs 375 horsepower that enables 0-60-mph blasts in just over four seconds, along with stiffer suspension, better brakes and other performance upgrades.
Favorite Features
PANORAMA ROOF
The snug CLA cabin benefits from the extra glass of the panoramic sunroof option. Open it up, and you’re treated to near- convertible levels of sunshine. Alternatively, you can just leave the glass exposed, creating the illusion of additional headroom.
AMG CLA45 4MATIC
It’s anything but cheap, but it’s hard not to marvel at the performance numbers of this top-line CLA-Class. With 2016 arrive 20 more horsepower and an additional 18 lb-ft of torque, making a total of 375 horsepower/350 lb-ft – all from a 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine.
