Name: Mercedes-Benz CLA (2019 – present) | Expert Rating | The Car Expert
Item: Mercedes-Benz CLA
Rating: 69

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. Overall, it currently has an Expert Rating score of 69% (as of July 2023), which is identical to the A-Class.

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 is set to arrive in the UK in Autumn 2023. This consists of a collection of minor updates to the existing car, rather than a major upgrade.

Key specifications

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

Launched: Summer 2019
Last updated: Spring 2020
Next update due: Autumn 2023

Image gallery

Media reviews

Reviews, road test 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: Range overview
Score: 7 / 10
“The Mercedes CLA is the best-looking, best-driving version of the A-Class family – but outright practicality is sacrificed.”
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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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Autocar+

Model reviewed: 2.0-litre diesel automatic 220d Shooting Brake
Score: 7 / 10
“With Shooting Brake prices starting at £1000 more than the Coupe, we can certainly see the appeal if you like the CLA, but need a little more practicality. But while the 2.0-litre diesel impresses, it shares the same underdamped and unengaging feel of the regular CLA.”
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Model reviewed: Saloon range
Score: 6 / 10
“The CLA’s cabin has all the material and technical razzmatazz of its compact Mercedes contemporaries, so it makes a strong first impression as you settle in to its neon-lit, luxurious-feeling ambience.”
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Model reviewed: 2.0-litre petrol automatic CLA 250 AMG Line Premium Plus saloon
Score: 8 / 10
“New-generation four-door coupé combines sporting performance and refinement in an attractive compact saloon.”
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Model reviewed: CLA 220 d AMG Line
“If you like the way it looks and can live with the over-eager electronics, you’ll find the Mercedes-Benz CLA not just a highly competent everyday car but a rather satisfying one, too.”
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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: 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.”
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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.”
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What Car?+

Model reviewed: Estate range
Score: 6 / 10
“Although on paper the Mercedes-Benz CLA Shooting Brake has a pretty big boot, a high load lip and narrow aperture hurt its practicality. But although we could point out a Superb Estate is far bigger for the money, the CLA’s attractive interior, strong engines and decent driving experience hold plenty of appeal.”
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Model reviewed: Saloon range
Score: 8 / 10
“Like the related A-Class, the Mercedes-Benz CLA is much improved over its predecessor. With tidy handling and a largely comfortable ride, it’s a classy alternative to the Audi A3 saloon.”
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Which?+

Model reviewed: Shooting brake (estate) range
“Most estate-car buyers are looking for practicality; but that’s not the case with the Mercedes-Benz CLA Shooting Brake, which sacrifices a certain amount of space for style. The boot may be a decent size but it’s hard to access, as are the rear seats. If you can live with the compromises, this is a comfortable, high-specification choice that’s great to drive and to sit in.”
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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 July 2023, the Mercedes-Benz CLA has not been lab tested by Green NCAP.

Reliability rating

Reliability data provided exclusively for The Car Expert by MotorEasy

Total claims: 37
Average repair cost: £1063.3
Last updated: October 2022

Reliability score

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

As of November 2022, the Mercedes-Benz CLA has a woeful reliability score of just 4%, according to warranty data provided exclusively to The Car Expert by our partner MotorEasy. However, this score is based on a relatively small number of vehicles compared to other models, so is subject to significant swings. This score and data cover both the current CLA and previous (pre-2019) models.

The average repair cost of more than £1,000 is also very high for a mid-sized car and considerably more than the cost of a used car warranty, which is worth bearing in mind if you own a CLA or are considering buying a used one.

The most commonly reported faults to date have been with the car’s electrical system, which is quite an expensive fix at more than than £700 (for comparison, the average repair cost for an A-Class electrical repair was less than £300). Gearbox faults have been the most expensive issues, with an average repair bill of more than £3,000. Thankfully these appear to be relatively rare.

If you’re considering a used Mercedes-Benz CLA, make sure that any used car warranty you buy covers all of these problem areas.

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 – 47 mpg	C – D
Diesel models	54 mpg	B	51 – 57 mpg	B – B
Plug-in hybrid models	248 mpg	A	217 – 283 mpg	A – A

CO₂ output	Average	Score	Variation	Score
Petrol models	143 g/km	B	138 – 159 g/km	B – C
Diesel models	136 g/km	B	129 – 144 g/km	A – B
Plug-in hybrid models	26 g/km	A	22 – 30 g/km	A – A

Battery range	Average	Score	Variation	Score
Plug-in hybrid models	42 miles	D	39 – 44 miles	D – D

Insurance group	Average	Score	Variation	Score
All models	31	C	27 – 50	B – F

Service and maintenance	Cost	Score
Year 1	£248	B
Year 2	£607	B
Year 3	£1,136	C
Year 4	£1,317	C
Year 5	£1,770	C
Overall	£5,078	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 are quite good for the first couple of years, but start getting more expensive after that.