
The CLA is equipped with independent suspension. The front suspension is a MacPherson independent suspension, and the rear suspension is a multi-link independent suspension. Its body dimensions are 4695mm in length, 1830mm in width, and 1425mm in height, with a wheelbase of 2729mm and a luggage compartment volume ranging from 505 to 1370 liters. The CLA is a compact 5-door, 5-seat station wagon under the Mercedes-Benz brand, powered by a 1.3L 4-cylinder turbocharged engine. It delivers a maximum horsepower of 163 PS, a maximum power output of 120 kW, and a peak torque of 250 Nm, paired with a 7-speed dual-clutch transmission.

As a Mercedes-Benz owner who has driven for several years, I can confidently say that the CLA indeed features an independent suspension system. Mercedes-Benz has equipped the CLA with a classic combination of front MacPherson independent suspension and rear multi-link independent suspension, which performs exceptionally well in filtering out road vibrations. I remember once during a road trip on a gravel road, my friend in the back seat barely felt any bumps, completely unlike my old car with a torsion beam suspension that jolted terribly. The biggest advantage of an independent suspension is that each wheel can independently handle road undulations, making the car more stable during turns, something particularly noticeable when the CLA takes sharp corners. Additionally, I heard that the newly updated CLA has upgraded to an adaptive damping system that automatically adjusts stiffness based on road conditions, making it even more considerate.

Having repaired German cars for over a decade, I'm often asked about the CLA's suspension setup. This vehicle features independent suspension on both front and rear axles - MacPherson struts in front and a multi-link layout at the rear. The advantages of independent suspension are obvious: wheel movements don't interfere with each other, providing significantly smoother handling than non-independent suspension systems. When replacing shock absorbers on the CLA, you can appreciate how engineers cleverly positioned the links to balance comfort with generous trunk space. Last time, a regular customer complained about noises over bumps - turned out to be worn suspension bushings, a fairly common maintenance item on independent suspensions.

During my test drive of the CLA at the 4S dealership, I specifically evaluated the suspension performance. The salesperson wasn't exaggerating when mentioning both front and rear independent suspensions. There was virtually no side-to-side wobble when going over speed bumps - a significant improvement over torsion beam suspensions. The independent suspension keeps the tires firmly planted on the road, providing excellent traction even during acceleration on wet surfaces. Though the chassis tuning leans toward sporty, it filters out minor bumps like manhole covers remarkably well. Once when driving my mother-in-law to the hospital, she remarked about not feeling carsick - a testament to the independent suspension's commendable comfort.

After studying automotive structures for so long, the chassis design of the Mercedes-Benz CLA is truly admirable. Front and rear independent suspensions are standard, but what's impressive is how the engineers optimized spatial layout by altering the linkage angles. Although independent suspensions occupy more space, the CLA has minimal rear floor protrusion, outperforming many rear-wheel-drive sedans in this aspect. I recall a car media comparison test showing the CLA's superior body roll control during consecutive slalom tests compared to some non-independent suspension models in its class. This design particularly shines on winding mountain roads, where each wheel's independent movement ensures more precise handling.


