A Week With 2024 Mercedes-Benz CLA250

While it’s easy to dismiss sedans as an outdated body style, there’s still a sizable share of U.S. buyers committed to “three-box” designs. That’s especially true in the luxury segment. And while Mercedes-Benz has paired back its line a bit over the last several years, it remains committed to offer buyers at least a few key options, starting with the 2024 CLA250. Here’s our review.

The whole idea of a subcompact luxury sedan seems like an oxymoron. After all, space is a luxury. So, your car not having much seems to negate the whole idea. There was a time when the Mercedes-Benz C-Class was the brand’s American entry-point. Now, it’s the CLA-Class, a diminutive swoopy subcompact sedan that takes its style from the late, lamented CLS-Class four-door.

Offered in base Premium, mid-level Exclusive and top-of-the-line Pinnacle trim with front-wheel drive or 4Matic all-wheel drive. For 2024, the Mercedes-Benz CLA receives a tuck front and rear cosmetic nip along with redesigned LED lighting, two new shades of blue paint and a choice of three 19-inch wheel designs.

MORE STANDARD GEAR

Climb inside, and you’ll find the 2024 Mercedes-Benz CLA250 now features a standard 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster and a 10.25-inch multimedia display with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The steering wheel now comes standard with a Nappa leather skin, while a heated steering wheel is finally available, but only in AMG Line models. Given you can get it on a Kia, this hardly adds to this model’s luxury image.

However, Mercedes-Benz is now adding the Parking Package, which includes a 360-degree camera and electronic parking assistance, and the Mirror Package, which includes electrically folding exterior mirrors and automatic dimming mirrors, as standard equipment. And while you get such niceties as 12-way power-adjustable front seats, USB ports and pushbutton start, the tilt-and telescopic steering wheel is manually adjustable, rather than power operated.

Powertrain

Power comes courtesy of a 2.0-literturbocharged four-cylinder mild hybrid driveline that produces 221 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque through a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission. That’s good for a 0-60 mph time of 6.3 seconds, according to Mercedes-Benz.

Acceleration is the same regardless of whether you choose front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive. You can also modify the car’s performance to fit your mood using its Eco, Comfort, Sport, and Individual driving modes. The EPA rates the front-wheel-drive CLA250 at 26 mpg city and 36 mpg highway. You’ll lose one mpg by opting for all-wheel drive.

More Mercedes-Benz News

• A Week With All-Electric Mercedes EQE 500 4Matic
• Mercedes Set to Tackle Tesla with Electric CLA
• Mercedes Pumping New Life into its Gas Engines

BEHIND THE WHEEL

Given its 185-inch length, you wouldn’t expect acres of space given its design. Front seat space is a very accommodating. Rear seat headroom is somewhat lacking due to its sloping roofline, while leg space is dependent on the kindness of those up front. And when it comes to carrying stuff, you’ll find the trunk holds 13.1 cubic feet of stuff.

The CLA250’s ambience fits its place at the low end of the lineup, as Mercedes-Benz designers try their best to offset the cheap hard plastic trim with interesting textures to the cabin of their least-expensive sedan. Yet its instrument panel design, with its round jet turbine style air vents, is very much in keeping with the rest of the Mercedes-Benz lineup. There’s little doubt as to the brand of car you’re sitting in.

There’s also little doubt once underway. The CLA250’s stiff suspension delivers the firm ride you’d expect from a. Mercedes-Benz, with the tradeoff being agile handling that confidently tackles any situation. Steering is well-weighted and it remains flat in corners. Yes, there’s noise here, despite being a luxury car, but it settles down while cruising.

Wrap-Up

Where Mercedes goes with the CLA in the future remains uncertain. The automaker is developing a new, all-electric versionthat adopts a more crossover-style design to take on the likes of the Tesla Model Y. But Mercedes also has confirmed it isn’t walking away from internal combustion engines as quickly as once expected.

With prices start at $44,440, the 2024 CLA250 may not the best value in its segment, given that others outperform it. Yet it makes a compelling fashion statement as the least-expensive sedan in the Mercedes-Benz lineup, something none of its competitors can match.