- sedan 70,203
- 5,551 below average
- 19,995 great
- Portsmouth, VA
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- autoshopper.com
- 5,551 below average sedan 70,203 blue manual
2014 mercedes-benz cla-class review this car review is specific to this model, not the actual vehicle for sale. New premium compact sedan with front-wheel drive. introductionthe mercedes-benz cla-class is a brand-new line of premium compact sedans that abandon the brand's classic rear-wheel drive for less expensive front-wheel drive. Rear-wheel drive is generally considered superior for sporty performance, and indeed we found the front-wheel-drive configuration in the cla250 makes for a comfortable, if not entirely competitive, driving experience. Cla250 models are priced in the low $30,000s. built on an all-new platform, the 2014 cla-class comes in two main variants: cla250 and cla45 amg. Cla250 comes standard with front-wheel drive; 4matic all-wheel drive will be available spring 2014. Cla45 amg comes standard with 4matic. we expect the majority of cars on the road will be the cla250, with a 2. 0-liter turbocharged engine good for 208 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque. It's paired with a new 7-speed dual-clutch transmission and steering-wheel-mounted shift paddles. Standard features include an eco engine start/stop system, designed to improve gas mileage. Fuel economy estimates from the epa for the 2014 mercedes-benz cla250 are an admirable 26/38 mpg city/highway. the hotrod is the cla45 amg, with a hand-built version of the 2. 0-liter turbocharged engine good for 355 hp and 332 lb.-ft. Of torque, a sport-tuned suspension, bigger brakes, more aggressive shift points and more direct steering, as well as unique exterior and interior styling. the styling is unique but in some views looks overdone. Mercedes-benz wants customers to consider the cla-class a baby version of the expensive cl-class coupe, and the cla-class does bear some resemblance, especially in the sloping roofline and in its curved rear decklid. Lines are a combination of sharp and curvy. Wood trim looks authentic and classy. Color combinations are tasteful. The housing for the standard color display also looks rather stuck-on. Still, we feel the interior is more luxurious than many similarly priced cars. performance is adequate in the cla250, and most won't notice the difference between the cla's front-wheel-drive setup and a sportier rear-wheel-drive vehicle. The cla45 amg has plenty of pep and sounds tough. It handles winding roads much better with its all-wheel-drive setup, but comes in at much pricier territory. there aren't many vehicles that go head-to-head with the cla-class. One close competitor would be the bmw 1 series, which is on hiatus for the 2014 model year and is rumored to return soon, fully redesigned. At a slightly lower price is the new acura ilx, which is available in a hybrid model, but it lacks the cla's performance. Options for cla250 include the sport package 2,000), which adds a sport suspension, upgraded brakes with perforated front discs, amg styling cues and 18-inch wheels. Of torque. 4matic all-wheel drive is standard. All features found on the cla250 are included, plus a firmer sport suspension, upgraded brakes and 18-inch wheels. options for both cla-class models include a premium package 2,100), which adds dual-zone climate control, heated front seats, an ipod/mp3 interface, auto-dimming mirrors, garage door opener, compass and premium harman/kardon audio with satellite radio capability. The multimedia package 2,370) adds navigation, a 7-inch high resolution display screen with 3d map views, real-time weather and traffic, a 6-cd changer, hard drive storage with 10gb for music, sd card slot and rearview camera. An interior package 1,500) comes with leather upholstery and unique interior trim. safety features include front-seat side thorax airbags, front-seat side pelvic airbags, full-length side curtain airbags, a driver knee airbag, electronic stability control, traction control, antilock brakes and mercedes-benz's mbrace2 emergency telematics. On the cla45 amg, drivers can select from three modes that adjust the invasiveness of the stability control. Also standard is mercedes-benz's collision prevention assist, which will automatically cause the car to brake if the system deems a collision to be imminent, as well as attention assist, which monitors the driver's level of drowsiness. Optional safety features include a driver assistance package 2,500), which includes blind spot assist, lane keeping assist and adaptive cruise control. Rear-seat side-impact airbags 420) are also available. walkaroundmercedes-benz bills the cla-class as a baby version of the uber-expensive cl-class coupe, and the cla-class does bear some resemblance, especially in the sloping roofline and in its curved rear decklid. Lines are a combination of sharp and curvy. in front, there's the mercedes three-pointed star integrated into a large front grille covered with mesh that's trimmed with oval accents at each intersection that resemble tiny droplets. Cla250 comes standard with an all-black grille, while sport package and amg models have chrome accents. Wraparound headlamp housings are lined with led accent lamps. Two sharp vertical creases give the hood an athletic shape. from the side, lines are sharp and distinct. One flows seamlessly from the headlamp housing, over the front fender and into the rear door in a graceful arc a la the cls. On the bottom, a deeply sculpted reverse arc rises from the front wheel to the back. Dual horizontal stripes across the sideview mirrors are integrated turn signal indicators. Wheel designs vary by style; the base cla250 gets 17 inch wheels, while the sport package and cla 45 amg gets 18s. in the rear, the swoopy tail lamps almost resemble a sideways water drop, like they're dripping over the rear fenders, a la a salvador dali painting. While the shape is unique, from straight on it also gives the cla-class the appearance of a droopy behind. Dual exhaust tips are tucked nearly beneath the rear bumper, creating a symmetrical look. interiorinterior materials for the most part live up to mercedes benz's reputation, with soft-touch materials on the dash and doors. Standard silver-toned trim is attractive and fine for the price point. Optional burl walnut wood trim looks classy, and all interior color combinations are tasteful. As in all mercedes benz models, drivers can toggle through a variety of information on the display screen. The steering wheel feels good in-hand, and is substantial, but not overly stuffed. This is especially nice on the cla45 amg, which is partially wrapped in suede-like material for extra grip, which we prefer over the ridiculously thick bmw m sport steering wheel. while seats in most cars keep getting bigger, those in the cla250 and cla45 amg are relatively svelte and fit us nicely. Those of smaller stature fit comfortably, without the long seat cushions found in larger cars that prevent knees from bending. Six footers fit without complaint as well, though there is less headroom in the cla-class than in the bmw 3 series or cadillac ats. The seat design uses integrated headrests, which look good (and are presumably also less expensive to manufacture). While they will carry passengers in a pinch, they aren't roomy enough to be comfortable. Rear legroom measures a paltry 27. 1 inches, compared with 35. 1 inches in the bmw 320i and 33. 5 inches in the ca. Cruise Control✔ Climate Control✔ Anti-lock Brakes✔ CD Changer✔ CD Player✔ Bluetooth✔ Sport Package✔ Air Conditioning✔ Alloy Wheels
19,995 Portsmouth, VAPortsmouth, VA at autoshopper.com