Likes to Go Fast - 2014 Mercedes-Benz CLA250 Long-Term Road Test

Edmunds.com

Likes to Go Fast - 2014 Mercedes-Benz CLA250 Long-Term Road Test

It's hard to tell how fast you're going in this well-insulated 2014 Mercedes-Benz CLA250.

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redskinsdmv

Glad I decided against this car. The price and performance was tempting, but too many compromises ultimately led me in another direction.

chol92594

The CLA just seems too half-baked to me. Yeah, it's their first FWD model ever sold in the states, but they've been making the A and B class models for years now, so that's no excuse.

I feel like MB just didn't know how to engineer a car that was up to their usual standards while maintaining a 30k price point, so they cut some corners in some places. Yeah, we do get the stiffer suspension setup in the US, but that might have been part of a cost-saving measure. Plus, the A3 has a lot more standard features (sunroof, bi-xenons, real leather, etc.), albeit with a little less power. Audi has the advantage of being able to source parts and components from VW, which probably helps keep costs down, but the whole car just appears more finished than the CLA. I saw one today that was similar to your long-term model and it just looks cheap with the base rims and halogen headlights.

I could definitely see MB taking a leaf out of Honda's book (like what they did with the Civic) and giving the CLA a major refresh in the next year or two.

linard76

Choi,

You've mentioned this a few times but if you configure the A3 and CLA as closely as possible, their as tested prices are within spitting distance of each other. There are also quite a few odd omissions with the A3 such as map lights.

http://www.truedelta.com/Audi-A3/features-8/vs-CLA-1219

bassracerx

i think that offering the "sport" trim with magic ride control as optional would be a great compromise. but its about but edmunds worked out that a 3 class with compareable featurese is only 7 grand more so this model is truly only for the Mercedes customer who can't afford a C class. I would love to think differently but the fact that the A hatchback is not sold in the states and is only sold as this sedan is what confirmed this opinion.