2019 Mercedes-Benz CLA250 First Test

2019 Mercedes-Benz CLA250 First Test

Value is paramount at this level, so you'll also see things such as power seats, folding second-row seats with trunk access, Collision Prevention Assist, and Attention Assist on the equipment lineup. The lesson from all this: Pick -- err, special order -- a base, no-option CLA and you'll be happy as a clam. If you find a dealer with such a miracle specification, consider it a unicorn. My first taste of the CLA occurred in a Washington, D.C. Spending any time in D.C. 14-hour international flight. It's painful. In the stop-and-go world, the CLA's start/stop-equipped 2.0-liter turbo four-cylinder died and resurrected as quickly and smoothly as its bigger six- and eight-cylinder siblings. Eco Mode further enhances the sedan's fuel-sipping behaviors by recalibrating the responsiveness of the engine, throttle, and silky smooth seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox. There's a bit of lag between driver command and car reaction, but it's all in the name of maximizing mpg, which the EPA says is 26 mpg (38 on the highway). Need a little more gusto when the traffic gaps grow? Comfort mode will suffice. The standard sport suspension absorbs plenty of nastiness, yet it also transmits the harshest imperfections.

It's taut, not stiff, and while out and about in Georgetown, our heads bobbed and our bellies jiggled more than we'd like in a luxury car. Thankfully, we found miles and miles of Virginia pavement that were devoid of people and potholes. Sport mode was the ticket, sharpening the systems that Eco mode dulled. The suspension loved it. The CLA stayed controllable, was "tossable," and didn't suffered from torque-steer when pegging the rev limiter from a corner exit. Sure, it'll push like any front-drive ride when prodded intensely, and the electromechanical power steering is a low on feel (not weightiness), but CLA in its entirety feels every bit a Benz -- controllable, stable, solid, and, yes, nimble. Torque from the little mill comes on strong: All 258 pound-feet come into play at just 1250 rpm. Shifts are nearly instantaneous from the CLA-specific dual-clutch. Flap the paddles at the 6250 rpm red zone to get every one of the 208 horses going. Our test crew needed 6.2 seconds to get the CLA to 60 mph from a standstill; the quarter-mile came in 14.7 seconds at 95.5 mph. The acceleration isn't brutally fast, but it is highly entertaining.

While my copilot nabbed a Slim Jim during one of our rest stops, I contorted my way into the rear seat. No joke: If you're taller than a koala, you'll be hitting your head on the sweeping, declining roofline. The seats are flat and lack any lateral support, and headroom is tight. But there was enough legroom for all sorts. The CLA's styling drew much controversy among the staff. A few disliked this newest "four-door coupe" wholeheartedly, saying it looks like two designers penned it and didn't talk to each other, or that it's fine from the B-pillar forward and that's about it. Descriptors including "saggy" and "messy" came up in notes when speaking about the back end. Yet there were those who loved it. It's eye-catching, and that's the point. The masses that Mercedes hopes to lure don't care if bodylines or symmetry are perfect. A few auto journalists label the CLA a cheap rendition of a Benz for those who can't afford a "real" Mercedes-Benz. To which I say, but of course it is! The characterization and value paradigms of the brand in America are shifting -- they need to, says Cannon. They're starting to match those of Europe. Across the Atlantic, the C-Class is one of the most popular taxis. There's an A-Class and a B-Class there too. They're still Mercedes-Benzes. Their drivers are happy. The American repositioning of Mercedes begins with the CLA. Soon, the movement will include the GLA crossover. With the CLA250, engineers have put together a vehicle that melds technology, style, fuel frugalness, and sportiness seamlessly, and a build quality that new brand buyers -- both young and old -- will devour. Recalibration for Mercedes-Benz is definitely on the right track.

Comfort and safety are the arenas where the Verano swipes points from the CLA's side of the table. The Buick's seats are softly supportive, and easier to climb into, especially in back where room is more ample, period. The CLA's basic leatherette seats are good, but the roof is low and the back seat is only workable for medium-sized adults and anyone smaller. Its interior telegraphs "sporty," with plenty of plastic trim, while the Verano commands a more muted, more substantial look. As for safety, both of these models comes well-equipped, and while the picture isn't complete for either of them, the Verano does have an excellent record in the NHTSA's testing. The CLA is without crash-test data. Finally, both cars come with a solid set of features. The Verano has more standard features at the CLA's base price, but without some key upsides. 30,000 the Buick includes leather seating and 18-inch wheels, both options on the CLA. And yet, it doesn't offer the sporty handling of the Mercedes or anything close to the power. The CLA offers all-wheel drive, higher gas mileage, and the three-pointed star on the hood. Those assets all come at a price, whether you think they're worth the brisk upcharge or not. The CLA is a convincing package at a compelling price, which is still substantially higher than the Buick's no matter how it's parsed. The Verano takes the idea of a small Buick up the social ladder, but a short 2017 model year without the strong turbo engine limits its appeal. Now more than ever, the Buick also sidesteps the sporty vein that the compact luxury cars from Germany mine, the CLA first among them.

Last week I walked down to our office parking garage and jumped in our long-term 2014 Mercedes-Benz CLA250 only to be greeted by a low tire pressure warning light. That little illuminated yellow "U" with the exclamation point in its center is not exactly what you want to see after a long hard day. After a few curse words, questions started running through my mind. See full article and comment. Our 2014 Mercedes-Benz CLA250 continues to be a staff favorite. We've got about five weeks left on our long-term test and we're closing in on 20,000 miles. Will we make it? We put nearly 2,100 miles on the odometer in September. About half of those came during Josh Jacquot's round-trip to northern California, when he coaxed the CLA250 to its best fill of the test so far: 37.2 mpg over 405 miles. I asked Josh about it. He said he drove the speed limit.