Mercedes-Benz CLA Coupe Review 2023
The Mercedes-Benz CLA Coupe is perfect for those who can't choose between a coupe or saloon car. Although labelled a coupe, it's the perfect balance between the two, coming with a practical and luxurious interior with a sportier exterior design.
Rivals to the CLA Coupe include the Audi A5 Coupe, BMW 2 Series Coupe, and Volkswagen Arteon.
Our Mercedes-Benz CLA Coupe review covers:
- Sleek exterior with sloping roofline
- Premium interior with a dual-screen layout
- 460 litre boot as standard, decreases to 395 litres on PHEV
- Two petrol engines, a diesel, and a plug-in hybrid, are available
- Four trim levels
Pros:
- Stylish exterior design
- Premium interior with dual screen setup
- Comfortable drive
Cons:
- Rear headroom is limited
- Some rivals are more engaging to drive
- Quite expensive
The CLA Coupe is a sleek and stylish-looking car that looks a bit like an A-Class's edgier younger brother. It has a wide black front grille, angular brake lights, and a sloping roofline that merges into a rounded rear end.
Despite focusing on style, the CLA still has enough room to accommodate a family. In the front, there's plenty of leg and headroom, and children have more than enough space in the rear. If you're a tall family, those in the rear will have their heads close to the roof, but it's all in the name of good looks. If you need more space, the CLA Shooting Brake is an estate version.
The entry-level diesel has a boot space of 460 litres, which is more than the Audi A5 Sportback but much less than the Volkswagen Arteon's 563 litres. However, luggage space decreases to 395 litres on the plug-in hybrid version. To extend boot space, you can fold the rear seats in a 40/20/40 configuration.
As you'd expect with a Merc, the interior of the CLA Coupe is smart and looks fantastic. The dashboard features flashy air vents, wood or metal finishes, and a range of soft-touch plastics that are lovely to touch. It exceeds the Volkswagen Arteon in terms of style, however, the Audi A5 Sportback feels studier.
You're certainly not left wanting for tech in the CLA Coupe. You get dual 10-inch screens as standard, one for the infotainment system and the other for the digital instrument display. The infotainment system has integrated sat-nav, smartphone mirroring, and voice control. The latter can be a bit tricky to use, but fortunately, there's a row of physical controls below the air vents.
The digital driver display shows two big dials for your speed and revs, which is incredibly easy to read when driving.
Four trims are available for the CLA Coupe: Sport Executive, AMG Line Executive, AMG Line Premium, and AMG Line Premium Plus.
Sport Executive has 18-inch alloy wheels, LED headlamps, a multifunction leather sports steering wheel, automatic climate control, attention assist, a parking package with a reversing camera, and speed limit assist.
AMG Line Executive has 18-inch five-twin spoke alloy wheels, keyless go, ambient lighting, a Nappa leather steering wheel, and wireless phone charging.
AMG Line Premium has 19-inch multi-spoke alloy wheels, dual-zone climate control, augmented reality for navigation, and an advanced sound system.
AMG Line Premium Plus adds multi-beam LED headlamps, a panoramic sunroof, a night package, a leather interior, a parking package with a 360-degree camera, and traffic sign assist.
Two petrols, a diesel, and a plug-in hybrid make up the engine range for the CLA Coupe. Both the petrols come with a seven-speed automatic gearbox, while the plug-in and diesel have an eight-speed.
Let's start with the petrol engines. The entry-level and weakest version is the CLA 180, which has 136hp and goes from 0-62mph in 9.4 seconds. We'd avoid the entry-level unit as it returns mediocre performance, so if you're looking for a petrol engine, go for the CLA 200.
Coming with a power output of 163hp and achieving 0-62mph in 8.4 seconds, it provides nippy performance around town and has the legs required for longer journeys. You have to work hard when overtaking, but it shouldn't be too much of an issue.
The next option is the plug-in hybrid CLA 250e, which combines a 1.6-litre petrol engine with a 109hp electric motor to return a combined 218hp. It'll do between 46 - 53 miles in all-electric range, and can stay in all-electric mode up to speeds of 87mph. You’ll also be able to charge using an 11kW charger in 1 hour and 15 minutes or 3 hours and 45 minutes using a 7.4kW charger.
The CLA Coupe is good to drive and more engaging than the A-Class, but it falls short of some of its rivals, like the Audi A5 Sportback.
Around town, the CLA is smooth to drive, thanks to the automatic gearbox. It takes the strain out of top-start traffic, and if you need to accelerate quickly, it's responsive and accurate when shifting through the gears. As the CLA is sporty, it comes with a fairly firm suspension, which means you'll feel bumps in the road much more than in the A-Class.
All the engines will get up to motorway speeds with ease, and once you're there, the firm suspension works well and keeps you stable. Both the diesel and petrol engines have a bit of road noise, but it's not unbearable.
On a country road, the CLA Coupe comes into its own. It handles well and has good road grip in all conditions, and even if you head into a corner a bit too quickly, it keeps its composure. You'll also find that the suspension is at its best on a twisty road, making the CLA Coupe good fun to drive.
Prices for the new Mercedes-Benz CLA Coupe start from £31,330.00 OTR* or to lease from £282.11 per month.
Looking to get behind the wheel of the Mercedes-Benz CLA Coupe? Nationwide Vehicle Contracts is one of the UK's largest car leasing brokers and offers a range of leasing deals to suit your every need.
Leasing may be cheaper than an outright purchase, thanks to a low initial deposit and fixed monthly rentals.
*' On the road' price correct at time of publication and includes one year's road fund license, DVLA first registration fee and number plate fee. Prices are subject to change; always check with your nearest retailer.
