Ten Second Review

Mercedes-Benz certainly hasn't played safe with the CLA Shooting Brake, giving it the sort of bold, exciting styling that has forged the reputation of its four-door stablemate. Look a little closer and you'll realise that the slinky roofline is a clever slight of hand from the stylists and there's real practicality on offer. Plus, with a 74mpg diesel model offered, the Shooting Brake delivers efficiency as well as style and substance.

Background

This takes a bit of getting used to. For as long as most of us can remember, the C-Class marked the point where Mercedes got serious. Yes, there were A and B-Class models and they've got a lot better in recent years, but if you wanted a Merc that felt like an Merc, you started with the C-Class, available in saloon, coupe and estate bodies. Not any more. The CLA, introduced back in 2013, demonstrated that there was space for a proper four-door saloon at a price point below that of the C-Class. Now that range has been fleshed out still further with the introduction of the CLA Shooting Brake estate. Are you keeping up at the back?

Driving Experience

Like its four-door saloon counterpart, the five-door CLA Shooting Brake is offered with a choice of eight engines. At the top of the range is a fire-breathing CLA 45 4MATIC model with an uprated 381bhp turbo petrol 2.0-litre engine and a four-wheel drive layout - quite a car. More conventional CLA models are powered by engines borrowed from A and B-Class models. Diesel drivers get a 1.5-litre engine used with either 109 or 136bhp in the CLA 180d or CLA 200d variants. We tried the 2.1-litre 177bhp diesel unit offered in the CLA 220d. Petrol people get a 1.6-litre turbo unit offered in 122 or 156bhp guises in the CLA 180 and CLA 200 variants - or there's a 2.0-litre powerplant with 184bhp in the CLA 220 4MATIC 4WD model that only comes with 7-speed 7G-DCT automatic transmission. This same 2.0-litre unit comes in a 211bhp state of tune in the CLA 250 variant that can also be ordered with 4WD. The chassis of all these models features a MacPherson front axle and an independent multilink rear suspension, with a clever flexible decoupling of the rear axle carrier, which improves ride comfort. Wheel carriers and spring links consist of aluminium in order to reduce unsprung weight. Two chassis and suspension set-ups are available: the comfort suspension - and a sports suspension for sporty yet comfortable handling. The latter entails lowering of the body by 20 mm (at the front) and 15 mm (at the rear). Irrespective of the selected chassis, all CLA variants come with the Direct Steer system. This electromechanical power steering set-up enables various steering assistance functions which are activated by the ESP stability control unit. These include counter-steering in case of oversteering, corrective steering when braking on road surfaces offering different levels of grip (known as split-friction braking), mitigation of the extent to which the front-wheel drive influences the steering and compensation of crosswind and road gradients. It's all very clever stuff.

Design and Build

It's always a bit of a surprise when it dawns on you that a car you love the look of isn't loved by everybody else. Such was the case with the CLA saloon which I thought was lovely, but others thought looked as if it had been left in the sun too long. The CLA Shooting Brake has also divided opinion, with some loving the swooping curves of the rear end while others thinking it still looks a bit droopy. One undeniable benefit of the Shooting Brake shape is 4cm more headroom in the rear. Access to the second row of seats is also much easier. The load compartment offers a capacity that ranges from 495 to 1354-litres. If the rear seats are moved into the more steeply raked "cargo" position, the load capacity increases to 595-litres while still leaving space for five occupants. The width of the luggage compartment, at up to 1328mm, is the class best and there are some thoughtful details such as the magnetic catch on the through-loading flap in the rear-seat backrest for long items, such as skis.

Market and Model

Mercedes is targeting the CLA at a typically younger group of buyers than C-Class customers and the interior of the car reflects this, with a more extrovert look and feel and some bold colour options. Pricing starts at around £1,000 over the four-door, which means that you'll pay around £26,000 for a CLA 200 and, if you prefer diesel, you'll need around £28,000 before your Mercedes dealer looks interested. Safety features include a radar-based collision warning system. Working with adaptive Brake Assist, which lowers the risk of rear-end collisions, the Collision Prevention Assist system gives a visual and acoustic warning to alert a distracted driver to identified obstacles, and prepares Brake Assist for the most precise braking response possible. This is initiated as soon as the driver steps firmly on the brake pedal. The Pre-Safe preventive occupant protection system comprises reversible belt tensioning, the closing of side windows and sliding sunroof and adjustment of the fully electric front passenger seat. Other features fitted as standard include Attention Assist, which monitors the duration and style of your driving and makes recommendations when you may well be driving in a fatigued state, Brake Hold function and Hill Start Assist. Options include Blind Spot Assist, Lane Keeping Assist, Speed Limit Assist, Active Parking Assist and a reversing camera. Trim levels run from Sport to AMG Sport before topping out with the standalone CLA 45 4MATIC model. Shooting Brake-specific bits include the addition of an electric tailgate and the option of a load compartment package, which includes a lockable boot floor, 12V socket and aluminium load rails.

Cost of Ownership

The CLA Shooting Brake almost replicates the economy and emissions figures of the saloon, which means it's very, very good indeed. The kerb weight goes up slightly and, rather surprisingly, the drag coefficent of the Shooting Brake isn't quite as good. Still, it's hard to complain when you have a practical and stylish Mercedes-Benz estate that can return around 75mpg, as is the case of the CLA 200d. Look elsewhere in the range and the news is also good. Even the CLA 250 petrol model with all-wheel drive, 211bhp and a turbocharger to feed manages 148g/km which equates to around 45mpg. Only the range-topping CLA 45 4MATIC is a bit wince-inducing on fuel, but then you're buying a car that gets to 62mph in 4.4 seconds. Of course it's going to drink a bit when pressed.

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Specification

Body Glass
Privacy glass
Automatic rain sensing wipers
Heated rear window with timer
Front and rear electric windows
Brakes
ESP with ASR
Brake calipers in red
Electronic parking brake
Hill start assist
Brake pad warning light
ABS with Brake Assist
AMG high performance braking system
Adaptive brake system
Communication
Bluetooth system
Driver Aids
Dynamic drive mode selector
Attention assist
AMG speed sensitive sports steering
Reversing camera
Driver Information
8" colour display screen
Outside temperature gauge
Trip computer
Low fluid warning light
Service indicator (ASSYST)
AMG instrument cluster
Driving Mirrors
Electric adjustable heated door mirrors
Embellishment Trims
black air vent surrounds with red insert
High gloss black front and rear apron trim strip
Entertainment
Media interface
USB Connection
Mercedes Audio 20 radio/single CD
Exterior Body Features
AMG Performance exhaust
AMG radiator grille with twin louvre
Body colour door handles
Body colour bumpers
AMG body styling
Body colour side skirt
Black high gloss beltline
Exterior Lights
LED headlights with LED daytime running lights
Automatic headlights
LED tail lights
Adaptive high beam assist
Adaptive brake lights
Heating/Cooling/Ventilation
Dual zone climate control
Interior Features
Illuminated glovebox
Black roof lining
Luggage compartment cover
Leather gear knob
Centre console with cupholders
Height/reach adjustable steering column
Aluminium effect gearshift paddles
Illuminated storage compartment
Easy-pack tailgate - Powered opening/closing automatically
Front centre armrest with storage box
Artico leather/Dinamica upholstery
Sports pedals with rubber studs
Load securing rings in luggage compartment
Interior Lights
12 colour Ambient lighting
Rear footwell lights
Reading lights
Front footwell lights
Door sill illumination
Packs
Mirror pack - CLA
Safety
Warning triangle and first aid kit
Dual stage Driver/Passenger Airbags
Tyre pressure monitoring system
Drivers knee airbag
Front side airbags
Occupancy sensor for passenger seat
Active bonnet
Front and rear seatbelt reminder
Front passenger airbag deactivation
3x3 point rear seatbelts
Child proof door locks
Crash responsive emergency lighting
Window airbags
Seats
AMG performance seats
Isofix rear child seat fastenings
Front sports seats
Heated front seats
Rear head restraints
Height adjustable front seats
1/3 to 2/3 split folding rear seats
Auto Mercedes-Benz child seat recognition sensor
Front head restraints
Security
Immobiliser
Remote central locking
Keyless Start
Anti theft alarm system
Vanity Mirrors
Sunvisors with illuminated vanity mirrors
Wheels - Spare
Tirefit

Options

Entertainment
6 speakers	Standard
Packs
AMG Ride Control sports suspension	£595.00
Lane tracking pack - CLA	£595.00
AMG DINAMICA Cockpit - CLA 45	£195.00
AMG Aerodynamics pack - CLA 45	£735.00
Driving assistance package - CLA	£1,695.00
Audio pack - CLA	£995.00
AMG Driver's Package - CLA AMG	£1,940.00
Load compartment package - CLA	£545.00
AMG Dynamic Plus Pack - CLA	£1,995.00
Paint - Metallic
Metallic - Polar silver	£660.00
Metallic - Cosmos Black	£660.00
Metallic - Mountain grey	£660.00
Metallic - Cavansite Blue	£660.00
Metallic - Orient bronze	£660.00
Paint - Solid
Solid - Jupiter Red	Standard
Solid - Polar white	Standard
Seats
Black seat belts	Standard
Exterior Body Features
AMG spoiler lip	Standard
Designo Magno Paint	£1,795.00
Metallic paint	£660.00
Solid paint	Standard
Chassis/Suspension
AMG sports suspension	Standard
Interior Features
Designo seat belts in red	Standard
Dividing net - rear	£390.00
AMG performance dinamica/nappa leather steering wheel	Standard
Driver Information
Garmin Map pilot navigation system with SD Card	Standard
Mercedes connect me with remote online	£150.00
COMAND Online navigation with radio/CD/MP3/HDD, SD card slot, media interface and smartphone integration	£1,870.00
Driver Aids
Cruise control + speed limiter	Standard
Driving Mirrors
High gloss black door mirror housing	Standard
AMG carbon-fibre exterior mirror housings	£1,230.00
Paint - Special
Designo Magno - Polar silver	£1,795.00
Embellishment Trims
AMG carbon fibre trim	£920.00
Dinamica microfibre trim in black	Standard
AMG black/red design interior trim	Standard
Wheels - Alloy
19" AMG multi spoke alloy wheels painted in black with high sheen finish	£995.00
18" AMG 10 spoke alloy wheels in titanium grey with High sheen finish	Standard
Trim - Part Leather
Artico leather/Dinamica - Black with red stitching	Standard

Performance

Performance
0 to 60 mph (secs)
0 to 62 mph (secs)	4.3
Engine Power - BHP	381
Engine Power - KW	280
Engine Power - PS
Engine Power - RPM	6000
Engine Torque - LBS.FT	350
Engine Torque - NM	475
Engine Torque - RPM	2250
Top Speed	155