Name: Mercedes-Benz CLA (2019 – present) | Expert Rating | The Car Expert
Item: Mercedes-Benz CLA
Rating: 74.0

Summary

The Mercedes-Benz CLA is a compact saloon and estate model, based on the 2018 Mercedes-Benz A-Class. The current model is the second generation CLA, which was launched in 2019.

Mercedes-Benz refers to the saloon model as a ‘four-door coupé’ and the estate model as a ‘shooting brake’, however neither is correct and it’s simply marketing spin based on the CLA being lower and sleeker (and more expensive) than the A-Class models that it’s based on. There are higher-performance models called the Mercedes-AMG CLA 35 and CLA 45, which are not covered here. We are building separate pages for these models, so check back soon.

The Mercedes-Benz CLA has received generally positive reviews from the UK motoring media. It has received praise for its styling and high levels of advanced technology. However, its sleek compromises its space and general practicality, and consumer titles have marked the CLA more harshly than its A-Class siblings as a result. The CLA is available with a choice of petrol, diesel or plug-in hybrid powertrains. The petrol and diesel engines were available from launch in 2019, with the plug-in hybrid version added in early 2020.

A facelifted version of the Mercedes-Benz CLA arrived in the UK in Autumn 2023. This consists of a collection of minor updates to the existing car, rather than a major upgrade.

As of December 2024, the Mercedes-Benz CLA has a New Car Expert Rating of A, with a score of 74%. That’s a few points behind the A-Class hatchback and saloon range, but an A-grade in our Index is always a very good score.

Key specifications

Body style: Saloon and estate
Engines: petrol, diesel, plug-in hybrid
Price: From £35,245 on-road

Launched: Summer 2019
Last updated: Autumn 2023
Next update due: TBA

Image gallery

Media reviews

Reviews, road tests and comparisons from across the UK automotive media. Click any of the boxes to view.

The Car Expert+

Model reviewed: (range review)
“The Mercedes-Benz CLA is handsome, good to drive and packed with premium kit. If you want a sleek-looking coupe-esque saloon, this is a fine choice and a rarity in its segment.”
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Auto Express+

Model reviewed: 1.3-litre petrol automatic AMG Line Premium Plus
Score: 7 / 10
“Updates to the Mercedes-Benz CLA have boosted it in some places but spoiled it in others. Ditching the central control panel is the biggest frustration, because not everybody can get along with touchscreens or voice controls, while the touch-sensitive steering wheel buttons are variable in their response. In other respects the CLA still holds appeal – it looks smart, comes with plenty of kit and on the whole is a pleasant and relaxing car to drive.”
Author: Pete Baiden
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Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 7 / 10
“The Mercedes-Benz CLA is arguably the best-looking A-Class model you can buy, with a beautifully finished interior and plenty of kerb appeal.”
Author: Paul Adam
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Model reviewed: 250 AMG Line
Score: 7 / 10
“The new Mercedes-Benz CLA should sit well with buyers looking for a style-focussed alternative to the A-Class. While the retail price is higher than the hatchback for almost no mechanical benefit, the swoopy styling should help to tempt some buyers.”
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Model reviewed: (range review)
Score: 8 / 10
“The latest Mercedes CLA is so much more than a rebodied A-Class hatch. Its wider track means it’s genuinely engaging to drive, while its achingly cool design should turn plenty of heads in the company car park.”
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Auto Trader+

Model reviewed: Shooting Brake (estate) range
Score: 8 / 10
“The Mercedes-Benz CLA Shooting Brake is a low-slung and sporty looking estate car that – unusually – puts style ahead of space and practicality. Like the other cars in the family, it has a great interior, drives nicely and is packed with tech.”
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Model reviewed: Saloon range
Score: 8 / 10
“The Mercedes-Benz CLA Coupe is a more stylish alternative to the A-Class Saloon, and sacrifices a bit of the saloon’s practicality in favour of eye-catching looks that make it seem like a mini CLS. It goes head-to-head with the BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe and the Mazda 3 Saloon.”
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Business Car+

Model reviewed: Plug-in hybrid
Score: 9 / 10
“Mercedes-Benz is rolling out PHEV power across its compact car range and this CLA might be the pick of the bunch.”
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Car+

Model reviewed: Saloon range
Score: 8 / 10
“But in this segment, there is no nicer car to be in, and no cooler four-door coupé to be seen in.”
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Car Keys+

Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 8 / 10
“The Mercedes-Benz CLA is everything you expect from a stylish and classier version of the A-Class. It’s loaded with tech, refined and good to drive. It’s very similar to its hatchback sibling, but there’s nothing wrong with that.”
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Carbuyer+

Model reviewed: Saloon range
Score: 8 / 10
“The latest Mercedes CLA is better to drive and more stylish than its predecessor.” (Ben Custard)
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Model reviewed: Estate range
Score: 8.4 / 10
“The Mercedes CLA Shooting Brake favours style over practicality but it’s still more versatile than the saloon”
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Carwow+

Model reviewed: Estate range
“The Mercedes CLA Shooting Brake is a very stylish small estate car with a futuristic interior and bags of high-tech infotainment technology.”
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Model reviewed: Saloon range
Score: 8 / 10
“The Mercedes CLA Coupe is a sleek four-door alternative to the high-tech A-Class hatchback. It’s every bit a tech-laden, but sacrifices space in the name of style.”
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Company Car Today+

Model reviewed: CLA 200 AMG Premium Plus saloon
“Style will win the Mercedes-Benz CLA favour over more sensible rivals, but it comes at a financial and practical price.”
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Daily Mirror+

Model reviewed: 1.3-litre petrol automatic 200 AMG Line
“You’ll buy the Mercedes-Benz CLA because its styling appeals and probably because you don’t have a family, or at least not one that includes lanky teenagers. The diesel engine and its better gearbox would be my choice. The CLA is not a sports car so a diesel engine wouldn’t be sacrilegious.”
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Heycar+

Model reviewed: Saloon range
Score: 8 / 10
“The Mercedes-Benz CLA is not a cheap option, with prices similar to those of bigger rivals like the Audi A5 Sportback and Volkswagen Arteon. Even so, a very appealing choice that’s well worthy of your consideration.”
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Model reviewed: Shooting Brake range
Score: 8 / 10
“Answering a question that seemingly few people have asked, the Mercedes-Benz CLA Shooting Brake actually makes a good case for itself. If you like the look, it’s comfortably the most stylish estate that this kind of money can buy, and it manages to do so whilst still being pretty practical. It has a strong engine range, fancy tech that makes it feel thoroughly modern and is decent to drive.”
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Honest John+

Model reviewed: Range overview
“Intended to cater for younger buyers than the typical Mercedes-Benz audience, the CLA is packed with all of the technology that recently made its debut on the A-Class. This includes the A-Class’s trick MBUX multimedia system and ‘Hey Mercedes’ voice control.”
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Parkers+

Model reviewed: Estate (Shooting Brake) range
Score: 5.6 / 10
“Of all the Mercedes based on the A-Class platform, the CLA is the most effective blend of upmarket style with usability. If you’d rather not have the GLA or GLB SUVs, it’s the one to go for if you want a family car.”
Author: Graham King
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Model reviewed: Saloon range
Score: 8.2 / 10
“Stylish alternative to a boring saloon or hatchback”
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The Sun+

Model reviewed: 2.0-litre petrol automatic CLA 250 AMG Line
“The Mercedes CLA is essentially an A-Class but a little bit too clever and complicated”
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The Telegraph+

Model reviewed: Shooting Brake
Score: 8 / 10
“If you need a dose more practicality than you’ll get in a hatchback or coupe, but don’t want to resort to a full-blown estate, the slinky CLA Shooting Brake might be an ideal half-way house.”
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Model reviewed: 2.0-litre petrol automatic CLA 220 4Matic
Score: 8 / 10
“A good-looking, family-sized coupé with few rivals, a terrific interior and a properly premium badge. The CLA will sell well, but it’s expensive once you’ve specified a “proper” Mercedes engine. Also there are more focussed, if less practical, machines in the market.”
Read review

Top Gear+

Model reviewed: Shooting Brake (estate) range
Score: 7 / 10
“Much better to drive than the A-Class it’s based on, plus it’s more useful than the saloon. Buy one of these, not a crossover.”
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Model reviewed: Saloon range
Score: 7 / 10
“It’s certainly a massive improvement on the last CLA, and that alone will make a lot of people very happy indeed.”
Read review

Safety rating

Independent crash test and safety ratings from Euro NCAP

Overall score: 5 stars
Date tested: September 2019
Read the full Euro NCAP review

Adult protection: 96%
Child protection: 91%
Vulnerable road users: 91%
Safety assist: 75%

Eco rating

Independent economy and emissions ratings from Green NCAP

No eco rating

As of January 2024, the Mercedes-Benz CLA has not been assessed by Green NCAP.

Reliability rating

Reliability data provided exclusively for The Car Expert by MotorEasy

Total claims: 100
Average repair cost: £710.45
Last updated: October 2024

Reliability score

All data based on MotorEasy average workshop costs for extended car warranty claims

As of October 2024, the Mercedes-Benz CLA has a below-average reliability score of 61%, according to workshop and extended warranty data from our partner, MotorEasy, sourced from both official dealerships and independent workshops. This rating covers both this generation (2019 onwards) and the previous model (2012 to 2019).

The average repair costs to date is also fairly high for this size of car, at more than £700. The most expensive bills so far have been for gearbox repairs, with an eye-watering average bill of more than £3,000. Fortunately, they have not been common.

Engine problems, however, have been both common and expensive with an average bill of about £800.

If you’re thinking about buying a used car warranty for your CLA, make sure that it covers all of the problem areas shown above.

Running cost rating

Monthly cost of ownership data provided exclusively for The Car Expert by Clear Vehicle Data

Fuel consumption	Average	Score	Variation	Score
Petrol models	45 mpg	C	40 – 48 mpg	C – D
Diesel models	54 mpg	B	51 – 57 mpg	B – B
Plug-in hybrid models	316 mpg	A	217 – 353 mpg	A – A

CO₂ output	Average	Score	Variation	Score
Petrol models	141 g/km	B	135 – 159 g/km	A – C
Diesel models	138 g/km	B	129 – 144 g/km	A – B
Plug-in hybrid models	20 g/km	A	17 – 30 g/km	A – A

Battery range	Average	Score	Variation	Score
Plug-in hybrid models	49 miles	D	39 – 53 miles	C – D

Insurance group	Average	Score	Variation	Score
All models	32	C	27 – 50	B – F

Service and maintenance	Cost	Score
Year 1	£266	C
Year 2	£647	C
Year 3	£1,203	C
Year 4	£1,387	C
Year 5	£1,861	C
Overall	£5,364	C

Running costs for the Mercedes-Benz CLA are slightly higher than for its A-Class sibling, according to numbers provided exclusively to The Car Expert by our data partner, Clear Vehicle Data.

Fuel consumption for petrol models is average, although diesels are better. The plug-in hybrid looks good on paper, but this is deceptive – every plug-in hybrid looks great in theory, but this is because of rubbish EU/UK government lab testing. You certainly won’t get 248 miles of driving from one gallon (4.5 litres) of fuel and a bit of electricity…

The battery range of the plug-in hybrid is reasonably good, at 42 miles according to the official tests. That’s better than most plug-in hybrids, but you’ll still need to charge it almost daily to get best use out of the electric motor and battery. By comparison, an equivalent mid-size full EV would get more than 200 miles out of its battery so most households would only need to charge it once a week.

Scheduled servicing costs have become more expensive in the last year or so, with our latest data showing that costs are now average over the first five years – having slipped from a B to a C grade.