Mercedes Benz CLA 200 Launch Review
MERCEDES CLA REVIEW
What’s hot: Mercedes quality, but affordable, and a super drive
What’s not: The length of the waiting list might be a killer…
X-FACTOR: Not just an affordable Mercedes Benz, but one with edgy lines and space inside for the modern family
Vehicle style: Compact Sedan
Price: $49,990
Engine/trans: 115kW/250Nm 1.6 turbo petrol | 7spd twin-clutch auto
Fuel consumption listed: 5.7 l/100km | tested: 7.9 l/100km
OVERVIEW
Here’s the next salvo in Mercedes Benz’ “compact car offensive”: its CLA 200 sedan.
It gate-crashes the Australian market at just under $50,000. It is spookily quiet on road, beautifully finished inside and drives superbly.
It’s also a tad longer (about a centimetre) than the more conservative C-Class sedan and its swoopy coupe-like lines give it real ‘carpark presence’.
But is the new CLA going to sell? Spend a day in the saddle and you won’t even bother ask.
This, the CLA 200, the “A-Class sedan”, is one very compelling car. With that three-pointed-star on the nose, and a price within reach of ‘ordinary’ buyers, it will sell its buns off.
There’s a bank of orders already on the books. The only question in this market will be the length of the waiting list, and how long it will be before you can get your mitts on one.
INTERIOR
The interior look and feel will be familiar to Mercedes A-Class hatch buyers. The interior style, layout, controls and material quality are essentially the same.
Settle in behind the grippy sports wheel and there is no mistaking the feel of a premium interior.
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