Introduction

When they’re both the Mercedes-Benz CLA is a car that takes the A-Class hatch as a basis for creating a four-door 'coupe' and a five-door ‘Shooting Brake’ estate. Compact, classy and really quite attractive, the CLA is a just-about affordable way to land some premium German desirability on your driveway.

Did you know? Mercedes claims that the CLA has the most aerodynamically slippery body in current production.

Verdict | Design | Interior | Technology | Performance | Safety | Specs | Running Costs | Pricing

Verdict: ★★★★★★★☆☆☆ (7.2/10)

The CLA is a slightly odd concoction, but a generally likeable one. The four-door ‘coupe’ version looks mostly very good (although there are one or two angles from which you can tell it’s a hatch with a bolted-on boot) and it’s just about practical enough to pass muster. It’s decent to drive and really well put together, but you need to be careful with the alloy wheel size if you’re going to maintain a decent ride quality. The Shooting Brake’s looks are beguiling, but don’t be fooled into thinking it’s practical.