What level of car is the CLA?

[VonAlaina]

The CLA belongs to Mercedes-Benz's A-Class vehicles. Below are specific details about the CLA: Body dimensions: The CLA measures 465417771417mm in length, width, and height. Powertrain: The CLA offers a choice between a 1.6-liter turbocharged engine and a 2.0-liter turbocharged engine. The 1.6-liter low-power version delivers a maximum horsepower of 122 hp, while the high-power version reaches 156 hp. The 2.0-liter low-power version produces 184 hp, and the high-power version achieves 211 hp.

[OEden]

Most of my friends who bought the CLA basically treat it as an entry-level luxury brand coupe. Mercedes positions this car between the C-Class and A-Class—you can think of it as a four-door sports car with a more stylish vibe than a regular A-Class sedan. The body lines are particularly fastback, and frameless doors come standard. The interior features that massive dual-screen setup, which looks super cool. However, the rear seat space is indeed a bit tight, making it a bit tricky to install a child safety seat. It’s perfect for young buyers with a budget of around 300,000 RMB who want a luxury brand with personality. It’s great for city commuting and turns heads, though the chassis feedback feels a bit stiff on long drives.

[AlexanderMarie]

As someone who has experienced the CLA, I feel it sits half a level above the A-Class in the Mercedes-Benz family but doesn't quite reach the C-Class. It's about 4.7 meters in length with a wheelbase just over 2.7 meters, positioned as a compact luxury coupe. The most noticeable features are the frameless doors and hatchback design, which give it more prestige than the A-Class when driving out, while being more affordable than the C-Class coupe version. The driving feel is tuned to be quite sporty, with good support in corners but the rear seats can be bumpy. The trunk opening is ridiculously large—last week I helped a friend transport camping gear, fitting in two tents and still having room for three folding chairs.

[SanJason]

From an automotive media perspective, the CLA is classified as a luxury brand compact coupe. Mercedes-Benz officially designates it as 'Coupe-Like Automobile' in English, meaning it's a four-door sedan with coupe-like styling. It shares chassis codes like W117/X118 variants, costing approximately 100,000 RMB more than the standard A-Class but featuring frameless doors, a hatchback-style trunk, and more aggressive exterior styling. The powertrain options include a 1.3T or 2.0T engine paired with a 7-speed dual-clutch transmission, providing nimble urban maneuverability. Notably, the new 48V mild-hybrid equipped models exhibit significantly reduced vibrations during start-stop operations, making traffic light stops much more comfortable.

[ORuby]

After driving the CLA260 for two years, I concluded: This car falls into the category of a light luxury sports model within the premium brand. It's half a level above the GLA but doesn't reach the C-Class Coupe's standards. The rear seats are only comfortable for people under 1.7 meters tall for extended periods. Its main selling points are the coupe styling paired with a practical hatchback design—the rear tailgate opens wide, making it much more convenient for loading and unloading a stroller compared to a sedan. The 2.0T engine delivers strong acceleration, with noticeable kickback during gear shifts in Sport mode. Maintenance costs are about 20% higher than the A-Class, and a single tire replacement can cost over 2,000 yuan.