2019 Mercedes A-Class Sedan Vs CLA: Just How Different Are They?

2019 Mercedes A-Class Sedan Vs CLA: Just How Different Are They?

Mercedes-Benz already has a compact saloon in its range: the CLA. So when it unveiled the new A-Class Sedan a few days ago in Beijing, we couldn鈥檛 help but wonder where it does fit in Merc鈥檚 ziggurat, given that it鈥檚 also a front-wheel drive saloon with compact dimensions. Before we embark on comparing the two, here鈥檚 a few words about the A-Class L Sedan. The 鈥淟鈥?is a China-only version, which means that once it arrives in other markets, it will likely drop the 鈥楲鈥?designation and shave a few inches off its wheelbase, too. Do we know this for sure? Well, no, but the current CLA and the previous-generation A-Class hatchback had identical wheelbases, measuring 2,699 mm (106.25 inches). We鈥檒l get into more measurements a little bit later on though. For now, let鈥檚 start with the first thing that comes to mind with regards to both the A-Class L Sedan as well as the CLA: their styling. Say what you will about the CLA, but there was no way you鈥檒l mistake it for anything else within Mercedes鈥?range.

Some called it a mini-CLS, but there are hardly any CLS design elements on it. Apart, that is, from the overall 4-door Coupe theme shared by both models. Sure, the CLA shared some of the previous-gen A-Class鈥?features, like the front grille, bonnet shape and interior, but it was otherwise a surprisingly original design for Mercedes-Benz, one that has proven very popular across the globe. Park it next to the all-new A-Class L Sedan, even virtually, and all the minor differences become instantly noticeable. The A-Class Sedan has a fresher styling, while its roof line isn鈥檛 as sloped, the shoulder line is more straight and the rear end design is more streamlined. It鈥檚 hard to argue against the A-Class Sedan鈥檚 floating infotainment display as being a lot better looking than anything you might get in a CLA as of right now. The latter doesn鈥檛 come with turbine-like air vents or up to 64-colors for the ambient lighting system, nor does it have the MBUX multimedia system with voice control, speech recognition and AI capabilities.

What the CLA does have is the dashboard design from the old A-Class, with a somewhat questionable built quality in certain areas, at least by Mercedes-Benz standards. After 2016, Mercedes did give the CLA new upholstery options and trims, as well as chrome-plated controls. Meanwhile, its freestanding 8-inch infotainment display was slimmer. Still, it doesn鈥檛 compare to what you get inside the A-Class Sedan. Another comparison involves all the new safety tech available on the A-Class Sedan. Outside of China, the A-Class Sedan should share most, if not all, of the hatchback鈥檚 powertrains. Chinese buyers will only be able to choose, at least at first, between a 1.33-liter four-pot with outputs of 136 PS (134 HP) and 163 PS (160 HP), the latter being designated as the A 200 L Sedan. The older CLA still gets by with slightly less efficient and generally bigger engines, at least with regards to diesels, as the CLA 200d and 220d鈥檚 unit has a 2.2-liter displacements. Remember how we told you that both the CLA as well as the old A-Class 5-door had an identical, 2,699 mm (106.25 in) wheelbase? In the new 5-door A-Class it has grown to 2,729 mm (107.4 in), which means that the regular Sedan model will get it too, resulting in more room for rear-seat passengers than in the CLA. We鈥檙e very curious to see if the next-generation CLA will share the same front fascia as the all-new A-Class and A-Class Sedan. At least we know the rear end styling will be different, and it might resemble the new CLS, but in any case the design will fit the four-door coupe formula.

Indeed. I was wondering if Tesla still exists in Gilead. Ditto for Ford and GM. IIRC, they had some BRoD0-class GM SUVs and some Fords besides the various Mercedes and a gen 3 Prius I recall seeing. Was very surprising to see a Tesla in the final ep of S2. I also wondered what Gilead produces besides foodstuffs. Do they still have an auto industry? What about other industries? What do they trade besides handmaids? What do most of the men and women do besides being guardians along w/the few commanders, Marthas, Aunts, wives, handmaids, etc.? It seems by then the entire planet is in population decline. The early stages were years of reduced births, how many years we don't know. But during season 1 it was revealed Mexico city hadn't had a single child birth in 6 years. I imagine the transition and turmoil before the Gilead takeover was preceded by a decade or more of significantly reduced birth rates. Every day more are killed and almost zero new children born to offset the losses.

But durable goods are just sitting around for the taking. Warehouses full of them, confiscated houses full of them, office buildings, garages, stores. All orderly plundered before or after the people that used to own it were killed or enslaved. Think of all the cars, houses, and such sitting around in the walking dead but with a more orderly reduction in population. They just harvest the best vehicles and when those get too old, they can import from Canadian and Mexican car plants or from Europe if needed to get new models. The amount of imports they would want would be very minimal. Most of the "citizens" of Gilead walk or take mass transportation. Assuming Tesla isn't still in operation in the western US there might be a Tesla plant in Europe by then and surely the one in China is still pumping out cars. With billions of workers that have a least 40 good years in them you can keep the factories going in China.