Merc pops the bubbly for 2015 with the CLA

Worldwide, Mercedes-Benz has had a fantastic 2014, with its new models bringing it back into the race for the top slot in the luxury car market. In India too, the company has witnessed strong growth, with sales for 2014 at a historic 10,200 plus cars.

But, the best is yet to come according to Mercedes-Benz India’s top officials. 15 new models are due out this year and the car that starts out 2015 with a bang will be the new CLA-Class. The model is due to be launched two weeks from now. Earlier this week, we travelled to sunny Goa to test drive the CLA.

The CLA must look familiar due to many reasons – the CLA 45 AMG is already here with a killer price tag and of course, the CLA, like the A-Class, B-Class and the GLA-Class, is also based on the same MFA platform of Mercedes-Benz.

The new CLA’s launch has been delayed, but when it does make it to showrooms this month, it will have followed the AMG version of the model – a bit like buyers being given a taste of dessert before the main course arrives. The CLA’s design has a number of elements that can be traced back to the A-Class and even the B-Class, but Merc designers have ensured that it still has a strong character of its own. In fact, the CLA is probably the best looking, most distinctive compact luxury sedan in the market.

With a coupé-like profile, balanced front and rear proportions and a strong front design, the CLA manages to pull at our heart strings easily, even more so in its red livery that you see in these images. Merc officials also claim that the CLA has set a new world record with an extremely low co-efficient of drag of 0.25 for a series production car.

The CLA’s story for the Indian market is going to be scripted on its luxury features and value proposition. So, LED daytime running lights and LED signatures in its headlamps and tail-lights, a black tinted panoramic sunroof and a dual exhaust at the rear with chrome finisher manage to boost its exterior design and appeal.

A different take on the bonnet grille which would otherwise seem like a lift from the A-Class, the crome three-pointed star in the middle and the large airdam in the front fender give it a sporty character. The bonnet ridges, which Merc officials call the power bulge, also manages to add to its muscular proportions.

Viewed from the side, it is obvious that the India-spec CLA has been raised to give it higher ground clearance. The body side lines are characteristically MFA and merge into the rear creating prominent haunches. Chrome-lining for the windows highlight the brush-stroke like curved roofline and crates a more dramatic introduction to the frameless doors. A rear spoiler lip integrated into the boot lid and the five-spoked alloy wheels are the other features that stand out in the CLA’s exterior design.

With the wheels pushed out to the extremes, the CLA has the longest wheelbase amongst all the compact luxury sedans. That essentially translates into more space in the cabin and we discovered that the CLA manages to liberate a surprising amount of legroom and kneeroom at the rear - surprising because the CLA seems to offer more than the B-Class, which has the same wheelbase. There is also 470 litres of boot space available in the CLA.

The cabin also feels familiar due to its MFA connection, with a number of dashboard elements shared and borrowed from the other models built on the same platform. Features like the aircraft-turbine style aircon vents, the centre stack configuration and the steering wheel with its multiple controls are immediately recognisable. The panoramic sunroof, the large infotainment screen and the LED ambient lighting in the cabin boost the luxury quotient of the CLA. The cabin features a dual-tone finish with additional chrome and metal inserts depending on the variant. The CLA’s leather seats are extremely comfy and supportive. The rear seats are also built like the front sport bucket seats, but the centre seat will mostly be unusable for an adult due to the tall transmission tunnel on the floor. Rear seat headrests are adjustable unlike the integrated headrests in the front seats. Visibility for the driver will be affected if the rear centre headrest is used.

The other highlights of the cabin are the dual barrel sportscar style instrument cluster, the Harman Kardon 12-speaker music system, the pre-loaded navigation system and raft of occupant protection systems. The diesel variant we test drove also had automatic climate control and rear floor-mounted aircon vents. The petrol variant however didn’t have these two features.

Speaking of engines, the CLA 200 petrol variant gets a new, larger two-litre, four-cylinder motor compared to the smaller engine in the A-Class. This turbocharged, 1,991cc engine generates about 135kW or 183.5PS at 5,500rpm. The engine is also extremely torquey managing to generate 300Nm between 1,200rpm to 1,400rpm. The engine is refined and fairly quiet, and delivers loads of low-end torque with almost no turbolag. Acceleration is a healthy 7.8 seconds for the 0-100kmph sprint.

The other engine on offer is the turbocharged, four-cylinder 2,143cc diesel mill (also badged as the CLA 200 CDI). This engine puts out a peak power of 136PS between 3,600rpm to 4,000rpm and a peak torque also of 300Nm between 1,600rpm to 3,000rpm. Similar to the petrol, this diesel mill also performs with no hint of turbolag making it seem lazy. But, it does seem to miss a bit more power especially at the lower rev band. And it is a bit noisy like a few other Merc diesels. In-cabin noise level was also a bit above average during our test drive.

Both the engines are mated to the 7G-DCT automatic transmission with an option to choose between three drive modes – Economy, Sport or Manual. Both the CLA engine versions also get steering mounted paddles for manual gear selection. The transmission is precise and gear shifts are crisp, though with a bit slower reaction times compared to some of the other cars in the Merc line-up. But, the powertrains are apparently extremely efficient with claimed mileages of 15.04 kmpl for the petrol and 17.9 kmpl for the diesel.

The CLA’s suspension set up has also been tuned for Indian conditions and we are happy to note that the ride quality is particularly good when compared to the other MFA models. The long wheelbase improves ride comfort and the higher ground clearance helps it handle even large speed-breakers and potholes easily. The steering is nicely weighed and precise. Handling is also praiseworthy, with excellent straight-line stability and good cornering ability.

The CLA will be an excellent addition to the Merc line-up in India. Loaded with high-tech and luxury features the CLA will be a strong contender for the top-slot in the entry luxury segment. For a change, the petrol might be the one to choose for buyers looking to enjoy the car themselves, at least during the weekends. Expect prices to range between ₹28 lakhs to ₹32 lakhs (ex-showroom).

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