74 Mercedes-Benz CLA

The Mercedes-AMG CLA 45 S 4MATIC+ develops some of the most impressive numbers of any production vehicle. Jonathan Crouch reports.

Ten Second Review

Handsome, efficient, capable and devastatingly rapid thanks to all-wheel drive and a 421hp power output, the Mercedes-AMG CLA 45 S 4MATIC+ offers the proper AMG package condensed into a more compact four-door coupe or Shooting Brake body shape. It does look fairly expensive though.

Background

A decade or so back, few would have predicted that AMG would be selling a compact four-wheel drive, 2.0-litre model built on the chassis of a Mercedes A-Class and that it would be entirely credible, yet that's exactly what we have in the rather handsome shape of the CLA 45 S 4MATIC+. The products from Affalterbach have never been in better shape. Want the most powerful series-production four-cylinder engine in the world? Step right up. There's a choice here of two body shapes, either a four-door Coupe or a Shooting Brake estate. That's if you don't want exactly the same powertrain plumbed into a GLA crossover or an A-Class small hatch. The CLA offers this recipe with a bit more pavement presence.

Driving Experience

Naturally, putting 421hp to the tarmac through the four wheels of a Mercedes-Benz CLA makes for some impressive performance figures. Mercedes claims a sprint to 62mph in just 4.1 seconds before running onto an electronically limited top end of 168mph. You'll be able to replicate this if you like, thanks to the 'race start' launch control system. The AMG 4MATIC all-wheel drive system has torque control in the rear axle differential allowing drive torque to be separately distributed to both rear wheels. There's also drift mode for track use and six AMG DYNAMIC SELECT driving modes - Slippery, Comfort, Sport, Sport+, Individual and RACE. Adaptive AMG RIDE CONTROL suspension is included too. Under the skin it's much the same as the A 45 AMG hatch, tacking on a little more weight on but keeping the 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine, the same accurate electric power steering, an identical eight-speed AMG SPEEDSHIFT DCT 8G twin-clutch automatic gearbox, even the same spring rates for its strut and multi-link suspension. The only difference between the cars are the damper settings, the CLA's being a little more accommodating. This engine possesses none of the off-boost lethargy that you'd normally associate with such a highly-boosted turbo installation. It even manages to sound like a proper AMG powerplant too, with a delightfully woofly exhaust note.

Design and Build

The CLA was already a good looking car but this top 45 AMG version ups the aggression by several notches, offered in either four-door Coupe or Shooting Brake estate body styles. You'd certainly know at a glance that this was a different kind of CLA. You might even be able to distinguish this 45 model from its lesser 35 AMG stablemate. Via features like the jet-like external air inlets and the 19-inch 5-twin-spoke tantalum grey wheels, which feature red-painted 6-piston brake callipers with black AMG lettering. The front splitter transitions seamlessly into the side air curtains ahead of the front wheels, which optimise the airflow to improve aero-performance and the Cd figure. Viewed from the side, the wider AMG side skirts visually lower the car so that it appears to hug the road more closely. The exterior mirrors are mounted on the door muscle, echoing the look of Mercedes-AMG coupes and sportscars. The rear view is characterised by two round twin tailpipes (82 mm diameter) and the wide rear apron. The driver and front passenger are seated in contoured sport seats trimmed in black ARTICO man-made leather and DINAMICA microfibre, with double topstitching in red and red designo seat belts. The chromed air vents are likewise upgraded with a red ring. Also included is an AMG Performance steering wheel in nappa leather/DINAMICA microfibre with contrasting yellow topstitching, a yellow 12 o'clock marking, AMG steering wheel buttons and AMG logo, plus ambience lighting. In the rear, two adults will just about fit. Out back, there's a 460-litre boot, but if that's not enough, talk to your dealer about the CLA-Class Shooting Brake estate variant. Here, there's a 505-litre boot.

Market and Model

Now here's the potential sticking point. The RRP of this car is just north of £68,000, with £1,000 more needed if you want the more practical Shooting Brake model. Yes, you do get a bigger boot when all the seats are in place than the A Class but can the CLA really justify that price differential? Still, you do at least get plenty for your not-inconsiderable outlay. Aside from everything we've so far mentioned, there are three bespoke AMG display styles ("Classic", "Sport" and "Supersport") for the instrument cluster. The "Supersport" mode is particularly striking with a central, round rev counter and additional information presented in the form of bars to the left and right of the rev counter: with a three-dimensional perspective, they reach far into the background to an artificial horizon.  We also love the standard AMG exhaust system. Depending on the choice of drive program, its sound signature ranges from harmonious and discreet (in the programs Slippery, Comfort and Sport) to emotive and sporty (in Sport+ and RACE). The sound characteristics are controlled by an exhaust gas flap, depending on engine speed and load. AMG Real Performance Sound is available as an option.

Cost of Ownership

Mercedes claims a combined fuel economy figure of 31.4mpg for the CLA 45 in Coupe form (with 204g/km of CO2) - or 31.0mpg (and 207g/km) in Shooting Brake guise. Clearly this figure will head south if you use the throttle pedal as intended. Of course, you will have to budget for some pretty hefty insurance premiums but that will be offset by what are predicted to be strong residual values. With all-wheel drive, tyre bills will also likely be slightly easier on the pocket too. Mercedes is quite upfront about how it's making the efficiency numbers here. The combination of multiple fuel injection and multiple spark ignition improves fuel economy and significantly increases the thermodynamic efficiency, leading to low exhaust emissions. The injection system's outstanding flexibility also ensures a high degree of freedom in terms of application. There are up to five injections per combustion cycle in the cold-start and warm-up phase, which is so crucial for emissions. Residual values are bound to be sturdy, as the A and GLA-Class 45 models have already proved. The promise of an uber-hot Mercedes coupe or estate with low running costs and high build values isn't going to be lost on used buyers.

Summary

There are elements of the Mercedes-AMG CLA 45 S 4MATIC+ that just sound wrong. Throw a few options at it and you could conceivably drive out of a Mercedes dealership having spent around seventy five grand on a car based on an A-Class. That really does take a bit for the brain to process. Having said that, it's time to clear down the memory banks of what the A-Class family used to represent and get to grips with the here and now. Buying a beautifully-built 421hp Mercedes that's sledgehammer quick, can seat four in comfort, returns better than 30mpg and looks extremely good suddenly doesn't seem such an extravagance. The CLA's biggest problem is, strangely, its A-Class sibling. The A 45 AMG is just as quick, a bit sharper to drive and costs a slug less. It looks to be the pick of the pair. Having said that, if you prefer the more elegant styling of the CLA and like the idea of having a generously-sized boot at your disposal, this AMG CLA 45 has little in the way of direct rivals.