THOSE with style uppermost in their minds when scouring for a premium-brand compact executive car need to take a look at the CLA AMG Sport offering from Mercedes- Benz.
The company’s ability to innovate – whether it be in technology, design, safety or in creating new market sectors – was brought once more to the fore with the introduction of the CLA-Class fourdoor coupe.
The third model in the Mercedes- Benz family of compact transverseengined cars, after the A-Class and B-Class, the CLA is a looker – and this AMG version gives you all the trimmings too.
That means you get AMG front and rear bumpers and sill extensions, 18-inch AMG five-twinspoke alloy wheels, sport suspension, a flat-bottomed threespoke steering wheel trimmed in nappa leather, silver pin grille with black louvre, sports seats with red stitching highlights, AMG floor mats and the so-called night package, consisting of bi-xenon headlights with washers, privacy glass, black door mirrors and a gloss black beltline.
Mercedes needs to tap into a younger audience and this car is a further demonstration of the direction the company is taking to woo them. AMG registrations are up by about 60 per cent this year.
On the downside, the suspension might be a little too firm for some, although the handling is as sharp as the looks, and six-footers in the rear seats will have to adjust their sitting position to avoid a brush with the ceiling I tested the 1.6-litre turbo petrol version, which gives excellent fuel economy at about 50mpg but fails to get the heart racing. It needs to be worked hard to eke out performance to match the stunning looks.
There are alternatives – a brutal 355bhp 2.0-litre turbo engine that outguns the Porsche 911 Carrera and a168bhp 2.1-litre diesel that will probably find most buyers.
Inspired by the original CLS, the CLA established a new market segment.
The most aerodynamic production car in the world, all versions are equipped with a comprehensive range of active and passive safety measures. Collision Prevention Assist, the radar-based braking system which warns drivers of an obstacle ahead and initiates precise braking as soon as they touch the brake pedal, is standard, but it can now offer protection against rearend collisions from speeds of only 4 mph.
Attention Assist, which warns potentially tired drivers to take a break, is also standard, as is Adaptive Brake Assist, which primes the brakes for an emergency stop when the driver releases the accelerator pedal suddenly. The system includes brake drying in wet weather, prevents the car from rolling backwards when setting off uphill, and automatically prevents it from creeping forwards or rolling backwards when stationary.
To protect other road users, the CLA is fitted with an Active Bonnet, which is raised by 65 mm when sensors detect an impact with a pedestrian. This provides additional space between the bonnet and the hard components in the engine compartment, minimising the risk of head injury to the pedestrian.
In the four-door coupe market Mercedes has form, of course.
When it was launched, the original CLS proved to be a winning formula. Put simply, The CLA is a smaller version of that car with a remit to add some glamour to the brand.
Rakish looks and the CLA’s coupelike profile aside, the car is different mechanically from your average Mercedes C-Class in that it’s frontwheel drive. This bucking of the premium market trend continues with power coming exclusively from four-cylinder engines – petrol and diesel – including the four-wheel drive AMG version.
Although it’s a fraction longer than a C-Class, the CLA feels surprisingly compact on the road.
Nevertheless, in the back it’s not quite the compromise you might first imagine. Headroom is modest, but there’s enough legroom for adults. Space isn’t an issue in the boot – all 470 litres of it – and there’s the double bonus of folding rear seats.
Despite the firm’s focus on exterior design and delivering a coupe-like four-door profile, the everyday compromise is minimal.
Mercedes has got the mix of style and substance just right. Whether you opt for the AMG Sport or a more comfortable model will be a personal choice. The CLA’s engine range will also not leave you wanting, and even with the lowerpowered petrol engine you will still feel you are driving something special.
The admiring glances told their own story
Fact file
Mercedes-Benz Cla 180 Amg Sport
PRICE: from £26,550
ENGINE: 1.6-litre 4-cylinder turbo-charged petrol producing 122bhp
TRANSMISSION: six-speed manual driving all four wheels
PERFORMANCE: 0 to 62mph in 9.3 seconds
ECONOMY: 50.4mpg combined
CO2 RATING: 130g/km
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