Page 47 - MotorTrend (March 2020)

levels can get fairly loud on rough
pavement. The front seats are narrow,
and my passenger and I found ourselves
struggling to get comfortable the longer
we were in them. As expected from a
compact car, the rear seats remain tight
despite the 1-inch wheelbase stretch, and
its dramatic roofline restricts headroom.
As for minding manners, the intru-
sive digital assistant will interject any
time you utter the word “Mercedes,”
regardless of whether you’re addressing
the system. And unlike BMW’s similar 2020 Mercedes-AMG CLA 4S Coupe
assistant, you cannot silence the Benz’s
nd the new AMG models just keep
pushy virtual passenger.
on coming. The redesigned 2020
If you’re coming to the CLA for that
AMercedes-AMG CLA 45 Coupe
cool roofline, though, you won’t be sports new AMG family threads and a
disappointed (and if traditional sedans hand-built 2.0-liter turbocharged four-
are your thing, there’s now the A-Class cylinder engine that packs an impressive
sedan). The new styling is sharp and 382 hp and 354 lb-ft of punch.
sleek. The shark-nose profile up front is Funneling all that mumbo to terra firma
particularly notable, and the rear end no is an eight-speed AMG Speedshift dual-
longer sags. With all the improvements clutch transmission and the AMG Perfor-
and added features, it’s almost enough to mance 4Matic+ all-wheel-drive system. it doesn’t sound that sophisticated, with
make you forget the price has gone up The bottom line? A swoopy Corolla-sized a grumbly exhaust note in Comfort and
considerably. The outgoing CLA had four-door that AMG says will zing from 0 to Sport modes. But from 4,500 rpm onward
already climbed from its mainstream- 60 in about 4.0 seconds and reach a top in Sport+ mode, that transforms into Billy
adjacent $30,000 launch pricing to speed of 155 mph—168 if you order the AMG Idol gargling in the shower.
$34,000. Now relieved of its brand-entry Dynamic Plus package, which also gives In terms of handling, the CLA 45 Coupe
status by the A-Class, the 2020 CLA you bigger brakes and a Drift mode. is like a Subaru WRX in a straitjacket—same
It’s sporty, so the ride is very tight. basic dynamic responses but much more
added another $3,550 to the base price
Comfort mode generates a lot less noise, tightly controlled, with less corner-entry
just to get started. Our well-equipped
vibration, and harshness than we experi- understeer and more traction from the rear
tester came in at an eye-watering
enced in the A 220. But Sport+ mode insti- axle on the exits. The steering is a bit video
$54,700. And don’t get us started on the
gated a lot of sharp vertical motions, even gamey, without much feel or feedback, but
AMG version (see sidebar).
on the smooth German back roads on our the front end responds adroitly to inputs.
Yes, you are getting a lot of tech for
test route. In anything other than Comfort The CLA 45 Coupe is of course closely
your money. And the updated luxury
mode, the CLA 45 Coupe’s ride would be related to the A 220 sedan that drew
touches have improved the experience. unbearably busy on choppy U.S. freeways. criticism from judges during the 2020 Car
But that pricing is enough to make Our testers were all CLA 45 S Coupes, of the Year evaluations for its tinny ride and
you reassess those non-luxury brands powered by a 415-hp, 368-lb-ft version of obvious cost cutting. The CLA 45 Coupe
Mercedes is trying to lure you away the AMG-massaged four-banger that’s looks and feels more premium. It needs to:
from. Mercedes may now provide a far sadly not coming to the U.S. It’s a great No pricing has been announced yet, but
better car than before, but it still hasn’t engine in terms of power delivery—torquey the outgoing model stickers at just over
quite finished its to-do list. Scott Evans yet willing to spin freely to 7,000 rpm. But $53,000. Angus MacKenzie

2020 Mercedes-Benz CLA 250

BASE PRICE $37,645-$39,645
VEHICLE LAYOUT Front-engine, FWD/AWD,
5-pass, 4-door sedan

ENGINE 2.0L/221-hp/258-lb-ft
turbocharged DOHC
16-valve I-4
TRANSMISSION 7-speed twin-clutch auto
CURB WEIGHT 3,350-3,500 lb (mfr)

WHEELBASE 107.4 in
LENGTH X WIDTH 184.6 x 72.0 x 56.7 in
X HEIGHT
0-60 MPH 6.0-6.2 sec (MT est)
EPA CITY/HWY/ 23-25/33-35/27-28 mpg
COMB FUEL ECON

ENERGY 135-147/96-102 kW-
CONSUMPTION, hr/100 miles
CITY/HWY

CO2 EMISSIONS, 0.68-0.73 lb/mile
COMB
ON SALE IN U.S. Currently
MARCH 2020 MOTORTREND.COM 47