Skip advert
Advertisement

Mercedes CLA saloon (2013-2019) - Engines, drive & performance

The Mercedes CLA is competent more than exciting and its automatic gearbox can be frustrating

Carbuyer Rating

3.0 out of 5

Owners Rating
Be the first to review
Engines, drive & performance Rating

2.5 out of 5

Out on the open road, the CLA is competent without being razor-sharp or hugely rewarding to drive quickly. This may not bother most people who are considering buying one, as it’s perfectly pleasant to drive and the steering feedback is far from terrible – it just lacks the sharpness of a BMW. The Mercedes does compare favourably to competitors such as the Audi A3 Saloon, though, with better body control and positive turn-in that make it feel sharper and sportier than the Audi.

Advertisement - Article continues below

The trade-off for the CLA's decent handling is a firm ride that means it can really thump over cracks or potholes in the road. This is further evidence of how the CLA is aimed at younger buyers, as older Mercedes customers will be used to more refinement and comfort than is offered by the CLA’s suspension. AMG Sport models come with even firmer lowered suspension, so it’s worth remembering that the most comfortable and forgiving setup is the standard one fitted to the entry-level Sport version.

The AMG CLA 45 has been set up for speed, so it gets the Speedshift version of Mercedes’ automatic gearbox, which is more responsive than the standard version. The CLA 45 also features AMG sports suspension, which you can also specify on AMG Sport versions of the less powerful cars in the CLA range. This makes the car even better through corners, but means the ride is even harder. As the driver, this is something you may be able to live with, but your passengers might find the car pretty uncomfortable.

Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement - Article continues below

The 4MATIC four-wheel-drive system offered as an option with the CLA 220d and CLA 250 (it’s standard with the AMG CLA 45) means these models have huge amounts of grip, but even this doesn’t make the car quite as engaging as we’d like – particularly when you consider the AMG model has been designed specifically to provide driving thrills. It’s fast and fun, and the obvious choice if you want out-and-out speed, but its price, particularly once you’ve picked a few desirable options, means it starts to compete with proper sports cars like the Porsche 718 Cayman, which is simply a better driver’s car.

Mercedes CLA petrol engines

The entry-level Mercedes CLA 121bhp CLA 180 petrol model offers reasonable straight-line performance, managing the 0-62mph sprint in nine seconds (or 8.7 with the automatic gearbox fitted).

Advertisement - Article continues below

Move up to the CLA 250 or AMG CLA 45 and you get a car with a bigger 2.0-litre engine and the increased performance that goes with it. In the CLA 250, the engine produces 215bhp and will get the car from 0-62mph in a very brisk 6.5 seconds.

The CLA 45 AMG isn't for the faint-hearted: its engine has been tuned to deliver 376bhp and its 0-62mph time of 4.2 seconds is faster than some sports cars that cost twice as much – an Aston Martin V8 Vantage takes longer to do 0-62mph, for example.

Diesel engines

Although the CLA 200d and CLA 220d use the same 2.1-litre diesel engine, it’s been tuned to deliver 134bhp in the CLA 200d and 175bhp in the CLA 220d. This means the CLA 220d gets to 62mph from a standstill in 7.7 seconds, rather than the nine seconds taken by the CLA 200d, and is noticeably punchier during day-to-day driving.

We think the CLA 220d diesel is the best all-rounder, offering plenty of power and strong acceleration. The main downside of this engine, however, is that it's quite noisy, while the seven-speed automatic gearbox can be quite frustrating sometimes because of delays between gearchanges.

Skip advert
Advertisement

Richard is a former editor of Carbuyer, as well as sister site DrivingElectric.com, and he's now Deputy Editor at Auto Express. Having spent a decade working in the automotive industry, he understands exactly what makes new car buyers tick.

Skip advert
Advertisement

Recommended

Mercedes CLA review - are looks everything?
Mercedes CLA review
In-depth reviews
15 Nov 2023

Mercedes CLA review - are looks everything?

Most Popular

New Polestar 4 coupe SUV – how is the £60k EV shaping up?
Polestar 4 Prototype drive front quarter
News
22 Mar 2024

New Polestar 4 coupe SUV – how is the £60k EV shaping up?

Best new car deals 2024: this week’s top car offers
Carbuyer best new car deals hero
Deals
28 Mar 2024

Best new car deals 2024: this week’s top car offers

Average speed cameras: how do they work?
Average speed cameras: how do they work?
Tips and advice
21 Mar 2024

Average speed cameras: how do they work?

Tips & advice

View All
Car dashboard warning lights: the complete guide
Car dashboard symbols and meanings
Tips and advice
26 Mar 2024

Car dashboard warning lights: the complete guide

Electric car charging stations: a complete guide
Public EV charge point
Tips and advice
11 Jan 2023

Electric car charging stations: a complete guide

PCP vs HP – which type of car finance is right for you?
PCP vs HP
Tips and advice
17 May 2022

PCP vs HP – which type of car finance is right for you?

Average speed cameras: how do they work?
Average speed cameras: how do they work?
Tips and advice
21 Mar 2024

Average speed cameras: how do they work?

Best cars

View All
Top 10 best car interiors
Peugeot 208 hatchback
Best cars
25 Jun 2021

Top 10 best car interiors

Top 10 best electric cars 2024
best electric cars
Best cars
28 Mar 2024

Top 10 best electric cars 2024

Top 10 best cheap-to-run cars 2024
The best cheap-to-run cars 2023
Best cars
2 Jan 2024

Top 10 best cheap-to-run cars 2024

The UK's top 10 fastest hot hatchbacks 2024
Fastest hot hatchbacks hero
Best cars
2 Jan 2024

The UK's top 10 fastest hot hatchbacks 2024