Like a girl you’re not quite sure you should bring home to mama, Mercedes-Benz is bringing a new member to its lineup with the all-new CLA-class for 2014. This four-door coupe is a “style rebel,” according to Mercedes, and the CLA250 seems to make no attempts at hiding that.
Borrowing cues from its big brother the CLS, the CLA pushes the design envelop further than the larger CLS to an even sportier and edgier place, yet still keeping those fluid and graceful lines.
Looking beyond skin-deep beauty, the new CLA sits on a chassis currently used for the A-Class hatchback in foreign markets and uses a turbocharged 2.0-liter I-4 making 208 hp and 258 lb-ft of torque. Power is routed through a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic.
All the electronic gadgetry expected of a Mercedes cabin is there – and in spades. Buyers choose either the standard 5.8-inch infotainment display, or the 7-inch screen with Mercedes’ Command Infotainment software as an option. Other options include satellite radio, a harman/kardon sound system, heated front seats, and a myriad of safety features including collision avoidance assist, brake assist, and lane-departure assist.
Undoubtedly the biggest option available on the CLA250 is Mercedes’ 4MATIC all-wheel-drive system. Output for the 2.0-liter I-4 doesn’t change, but traction is sent to all four wheels, not just the front two.
Overall the Mercedes CLA250 and CLA250 4MATIC are feature-laden and sporty “coupes” who shed their constraints and rebel against the typical Mercedes design. The design might be too edgy for some, but just right for others. It all depends on what your mother will think when you bring the new girl home.
The CLA250 goes on sale Fall 2013. Prices have not yet been announced.
