All-new CLA Models to Don the Showroom Floor in Late 2019
Updated compact four-door coupe Benz now larger and wider than previous model, packs a harder punch with new 2.0-liter turbo-four.
Back in 2013, Mercedes-Benz decided to launch a new class of vehicles to attract would-be buyers who’d love to have the three-pointed star on their car, but without paying the big bucks to enter the world of Teutonic luxury and performance: the CLA-Class. The new CLA was also the first Benz to roll upon the roads of the United States with front-wheel drive, and the first front-drive four-door coupe ever offered from Stuttgart.
Now that the A-Class is taking the CLA’s place as the entry-level Benz, the all-new CLA is heading slightly up market, front wheels first. But that’s just the tip of the iceberg for the second generation of M-B’s compact four-door coupe.
The 2020 CLA 250 and CLA 250 4MATIC are now longer and wider than before, with a redesigned exterior emphasizing sportiness. Those looks are backed up by an all-new 2.0-liter turbo-four, pumping out 221 horses and 258 lb-ft of torque through a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic to the 18-inch wheels. The new CLA’s top speed is electronically limited to 130 mph, more than enough to punch through traffic when needed.
Inside the 2020 CLA models is a revised interior with a seven-inch digital gauge cluster and a seven-inch infotainment touchscreen with access to M-B’s MBUX infotainment system, which can also be operated via voice commands. The interior package is tied together with ambient lighting and new air vents.
Behind the wheel, a heads-up display and augmented video make driving and navigating a breeze, as does the car’s first-ever semi-autonomous driving system (taken from the S-Class). The system’s array of cameras and radar allow the car to see up to 1,460 feet while handling a given situation.
Since the A-Class is now the entry-level Benz, the 2020 CLA-Class has moved up in price: $36,650 for the standard 250, $38,650 for the 250 4MATIC. That’s a long way from when the first-generation launched with a starting price of $29,900 in 2013, and over $3,000 over the 2019 CLA 250 and CLA 250 4MATIC models, but we suspect few fans will mind the price hike.
The all-new CLA will arrive in U.S. showrooms in late 2019.
Photos: Mercedes-Benz
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