Facelift for the Mercedes CLA range

Both Mercedes CLA models have been given facelifts for 2016. The refreshed saloon version will be on display to the public at the New York Motor Show later in March, while the new Shooting Brake estate will be launched in Berlin the month after.

The most obvious visual updates to the range are new bumpers, a diamond radiator grille that comes in black as standard and new alloy wheels. At the rear, the exhaust pipe panels on the CLA now sit flush with the bumper to give the it a wider and sleeker appearance.

Changes inside are fairly subtle, ranging from new seat covers and some extra chrome touches, to a slimmer-looking media display and updated dials in the instrument cluster. New finishes will also be available for some trim elements, including ‘sail-look’, matt-black ash wood, black Dinamica microfibre and honeycomb aluminium.

Options will include LED headlights, some new alloy-wheel designs, a power-opening tailgate, and leather upholstery.

The 107bhp 1.5-litre diesel CLA 180d BlueEFFICIENCY Edition will be the most economical in the range, claiming 78mpg and 89g/km CO2 emissions for the saloon. The greenest petrol will be the 121bhp 1.6-litre CLA 180 BlueEFFICIENCY Edition, capable of 51mpg with CO2 emissions of 117g/km.

A more powerful version of the same engine will be available in the CLA 200, as well as a 2.0-litre petrol in the CLA 220, CLA 250, CLA 250 Sport and high-performance CLA 45. In similar fashion, the three other diesel models in the range use either a more powerful version of the 1.5-litre diesel in the 180d or, in the case of the CLA 200d and CLA 200d, a 2.1-litre diesel engine. Mercedes’ 4MATIC four-wheel-drive system is available on selected models, as is the 7G-TRONIC automatic gearbox.

The facelifted CLA range will be available to order in April, with first cars arriving in July. Prices have yet to be announced.