Though no substantial changes were made to the body, engine, transmission, or design of the car, Mercedes did include a few interior updates for the 2015 edition. All of the changes are listed below.
1. Interior ambient lighting added as part of the Interior Package
2. KEYLESS-GO added as part of Premium Package
3. Larger 7” display with Multimedia Package
4. New steering wheel design
“Do you like luxury?” Is the question that echoes in my head every time I climb into the cabin of the Mercedes-Benz CLA.
It’s the question posed by Will Farrell to Maya Rudolph in the “Luxury Spy” sketch from Saturday Night Live. Farrell slowly saunters up to a bar in a cream-colored suit – wearing an eye patch – and asks Maya Rudolph, in a lame British accent, “Do you like luxury?”
Although Farrell goes onto talk about his Jaguar being the “finest motorcar in the world,” the connection makes sense. By building the CLA, Mercedes has effectively looked to Generation Y, the “Millennials”, and asked, “Do you like luxury?”
And as a member of the Millennial generation, I can say that, “Yes, yes I certainly do.”
Outward statement
There’s no denying that the CLA is a wonderful thing to behold; it looks like a mini CLS-Class. Although its size is diminutive, it has huge presence. Unlike other entry-level luxury cars on the road, the CLA doesn’t fly under the radar.
Take the Acura ILX, which is effectively a Civic in a suit – and a major competitor of the CLA. It’s just sort of “blah.” If you didn’t look for the ILX, you’d never notice it. Which, to me, sort of misses the point of buying an entry-level luxury car.
Full-bore luxury can blend in, sure, but entry-level can’t. If you’re spending extra money for a compact car simply because it’s super nice or because of the logo on the grille, people better as hell notice it when you drive around. Otherwise, you might as well just get a Volkswagen Golf, pocket the $10,000 difference, and call it a day.
In this way, the CLA certainly succeeds. I had the opportunity to tool around Georgia last week in the CLA and it received attention everywhere I went. Mostly, people asked me what it was. They knew it was a Mercedes but thought it was a CLS … but knew it couldn’t be somehow.
Although my CLA tester was only $35,000, it attracted attention and admiration from passersby. So, in this way, it aced my first entry-level luxury test.
Inside
If you read my review of the CLA45 AMG, you’ll know that I thought its major downfall was the interior. For around $50,000, it just felt way too cheap.
The dash is gorgeous to behold – especially with the dark wood trim. I love the floating infotainment screen and the retro-style round air vents. Everything is laid out intuitively and feels remarkably sturdy and well crafted.
The front seats are shaped into a single piece, without a separate headrest. I assumed that the seats, although great to look at, would leave me sore after any extended driving. Impressively, they remained comfortable during the four plus hours between Atlanta and Savannah.
The interior is quiet and unquestionably luxurious. It isn’t just a cheap version of a Mercedes interior. It’s a next-gen Mercedes interior for cheap. Frankly, I almost feel bad for folks who will buy the 2015 C-Class because it’ll be just as nice for a lot more money.
On the road
Although I love the looks of the CLA, it’s the front-wheel drive powertrain configuration that concerned me.
Front-wheel drive Mercs are commonplace around the globe. The CLA, though, marks the first front-driver to ever reach American soil. So it had to really prove itself.
Conclusion
Looks aside, I was really worried about the CLA. I worried that Mercedes might have sold itself short in order to appeal to a younger generation, oversimplifying a winning recipe.
And while I have my niggling complaints with the drivetrain, if someone is simply looking for a spot of compact luxury with a big ol’ Mercedes tri-star on the grille, the CLA is a knockout.
Before I drove the CLA250, entry-level luxury never made sense to me. It always felt like carmakers were asking buyers to pay for something they ultimately didn’t actually get. If you can get out of the dealership with a CLA for under $37,000, there’s almost no reason not to get it.
So to sum it all up: Yes, Mr. Farrell, I do like luxury. And I also like the CLA250.
Highs
Gorgeous and distinctive exterior design
Premium interior look and feel
On-road confidence
Exceptional value for price
Lows
Not so sure-footed off the line
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