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
Rear wiper
Front and rear electric windows
Heated rear window with timer
Automatic rain sensing wipers
Brakes
ABS with Brake Assist
ESP with ASR
Electronic parking brake
Hill start assist
Adaptive brake system
AMG high performance braking system
Brake pad warning light
Chassis/Suspension
Comfort suspension
Communication
Bluetooth system
Driver Aids
Cruise control + speed limiter
Direct steering
Attention assist
Active park assist with parktronic system
Collision prevention assist plus
Driver Information
Outside temperature gauge
Trip computer
Low fluid warning light
Service indicator (ASSYST)
Garmin Map pilot navigation system with SD Card
Smartphone integration with Apple CarPlay and Android auto
Driving Mirrors
Body coloured door mirrors
Electric adjustable heated door mirrors
Embellishment Trims
Chrome air vent surrounds
Entertainment
Mercedes Audio 20 radio/single CD
USB Connection
Media interface
Exterior Body Features
Body colour door handles
Body colour bumpers
Body colour side skirt
Chrome beltline
Dual stainless steel exhaust tailpipes
Diamond grille with pins in high-gloss black and single silver painted louvre with chrome inserts
Exterior Lights
Automatic headlights
Adaptive brake lights
LED tail lights
Heating/Cooling/Ventilation
Dual zone climate control
Interior Features
Illuminated glovebox
Height/reach adjustable steering column
Front centre armrest with storage box
3 spoke leather steering wheel
Luggage compartment cover
Twin console mounted cup holders
Easy-pack tailgate - Powered opening/closing automatically
Load securing rings in luggage compartment
Illuminated storage compartment
Multifunction steering wheel
Interior Lights
Reading lights
Front footwell lights
Door sill illumination
Rear footwell lights
Safety
Front side airbags
Child proof door locks
Warning triangle and first aid kit
Dual stage Driver/Passenger Airbags
Tyre pressure monitoring system
Drivers knee airbag
Front passenger airbag deactivation
3x3 point rear seatbelts
Window airbags
Front and rear seatbelt reminder
Crash responsive emergency lighting
Seats
Front sports seats
Rear head restraints
1/3 to 2/3 split folding rear seats
Auto Mercedes-Benz child seat recognition sensor
Front head restraints
Isofix rear child seat fastenings
Security
Immobiliser
Remote central locking
Anti theft alarm system
Vanity Mirrors
Sunvisors with illuminated vanity mirrors
Wheels - Spare
Tirefit

Options

Entertainment
6 speakers	Standard
DAB Digital radio	£420.00
Harman/Kardon logic 7 surround sound system + 11 speakers	£680.00
Packs
Load compartment package - CLA	£545.00
Lane tracking pack - CLA	£595.00
Mirror pack - CLA	£310.00
Stowage pack - CLA	£170.00
Exclusive Pack - CLA	£1,970.00
Memory pack - CLA	£790.00
Memory pack in conjunction with Exclusive pack - CLA	£630.00
Paint - Metallic
Metallic - Orient bronze	£660.00
Metallic - Polar silver	£660.00
Metallic - Cosmos Black	£660.00
Metallic - Mountain grey	£660.00
Metallic - Cavansite Blue	£660.00
Paint - Solid
Solid - Jupiter Red	Standard
Solid - Polar white	Standard
Security
Keyless Start	£425.00
Keyless ignition	Standard
Seats
Heated front seats	£300.00
Height adjustable front seats	Standard
4 way adjustable lumbar support	£160.00
Exterior Body Features
Metallic paint	£660.00
Electric panoramic sliding sunroof	£960.00
Omission of model designation on boot lid	Standard
Solid paint	Standard
Designo Magno Paint	£1,795.00
Interior Features
ARTICO leather/Maringa cloth upholstery	Standard
Dividing net - rear	£145.00
Black roof lining	Standard
Grey roof lining	Standard
Rear armrest with 2 cupholders and load through provision	£170.00
Body Glass
Privacy glass	£295.00
Heated windscreen wash system	£120.00
Driver Information
7" tablet style colour display	Standard
Mercedes connect me with remote online	£150.00
8" colour display screen	£200.00
Driver Aids
Dynamic drive mode selector	£80.00
Reversing camera	£300.00
Interior Lights
12 colour Ambient lighting	£125.00
Ambient Lighting	Standard
Exterior Lights
LED high performance headlamps with LED day time running lights and headlight washers	£765.00
Daytime running lights	Standard
Adaptive high beam assist	£160.00
LED headlights with LED daytime running lights	£765.00
Paint - Special
Designo Magno - Polar silver	£1,795.00
Safety
Rear side airbags	£390.00
Towing
Trailer coupling	£810.00
Trim - Leather
Exclusive pack - Leather - Sahara beige/black	£1,970.00
Exclusive pack - Leather - Lava black	£1,970.00
Exclusive pack - Leather - Hazelnut brown	£1,970.00
Embellishment Trims
Sail pattern dash trim	Standard
Wheels - Alloy
18" 5 twin spoke alloy wheels in high sheen finish	£60.00
18" 5 twin spoke design alloy wheels in himalaya grey	Standard
Trim - Part Leather
ARTICO leather/Maringa -Black with blue highlights	Standard
ARTICO leather/Maringa -Black with white highlights	Standard
ARTICO leather/Maringa - Crystal grey with white highlights	Standard

Performance

Performance
0 to 60 mph (secs)
0 to 62 mph (secs)	9.1
Engine Power - BHP	122
Engine Power - KW	90
Engine Power - PS
Engine Power - RPM	5000
Engine Torque - LBS.FT	148
Engine Torque - NM	200
Engine Torque - RPM	1250
Top Speed	130