CLA 180 CDI

STORY

The CLA arrived in 2013 as a four-door "coupe" on Mercedes' front-drive MFA platform. It brought the flowing, sensual styling of the larger CLS to a compact, affordable class and drew a younger audience to the brand. The first generation (C117) included the CLA 200 and 250, a practical Shooting Brake estate and the hot CLA 45 AMG. Its turbo four was among the most powerful production four-cylinders of its era. A 2016 facelift sharpened the look and raised the 45's output to 381 PS. The second generation (C118), launched in 2019 on MFA2, grew up: it had MBUX, a body with low drag, and the AMG 35 and 45 S 4MATIC+ (the latter making 310 kW). A 2023 update added mild-hybrid petrol engines, a longer-range plug-in hybrid and the grille with stars from the new C-Class. The CLA was long the entry point to Mercedes, and it is now moving to a fully electric successor on the dedicated MMA platform.