Let's talk about a new car that was released this week

"KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time" (kngt)
01/09/2019 at 21:15 • Filed to: Mercedes, Mercedes-Benz, cla class, cla, mercedes benz cla

What do you think of the 2020 CLA? I hated the old one but this looks good in the exterior IMO and seems to have decent performance. But it won’t look like the one in this pic in the US version, more like these red and white examples below.

This version with the orange accents is not for the US

How about that interior eh? There’s no way around those screens with any new MB product these days

“When it goes on sale in the U.S., the little four-door is only available as the CLA250 with a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder and seven-speed dual-clutch automatic. Buyers can choose between front- or all-wheel drive. The mill produces 221 horsepower (165 kilowatts) and 258 pound-feet (350 Newton-meters) of torque, which is quite an upgrade over the turbo 2.0-liter in !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! with 188 hp (140 kW) and 221 lb-ft (299 Nm). For now, Mercedes isn’t offering many performance details for the 2020 CLA beyond its electronically limited top speed of 130 miles per hour (209 kilometers per hour).

The latest CLA-Class grows a little over the previous generation. Overall length is up 1.9 inches (48 millimeters) to 184.6 inches (4,688 mm), and the wheelbase increases by 1.1 inches (30 mm) to 107.4 inches (2,729 mm). The company also pushes out the wheel tracks by stretching them 2.5 inches (63 mm) at the front and 2.2 inches (55 mm) at the rear. The greater size doesn’t translate to big boosts in cabin space because front legroom decreases by 0.04 inches (1 mm) and rear legroom grows by 1 mm. In the trunk, cargo capacity decreases by 0.35 cubic feet (10 liters) to a total of 16.24 cubic feet (460 liters).”

Would you take one over an !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! or !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! ?

DISCUSSION (37)

Spanfeller is a twat > KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time
01/09/2019 at 21:16

Personal opinion?

It’s stupid. Get an A class.

The A class is much better than the A3, but the ILX is Civic without a CVT ... so it wins by default.

CB > KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time
01/09/2019 at 21:17

I have no strong feelings one way or the other about it. It’s just... there? I’m sure it’s perfectly adequate, but it doesn’t really do anything for me other than say “I’m a Mercedes”.

RPM esq. > KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time
01/09/2019 at 21:18

It’s fine. I don’t like the current CLA at all but this seems like an improvement. I still probably wouldn’t buy one, but it seems like a reasonably competitive entry to the segment.

interstate366, now In The Industry > KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time
01/09/2019 at 21:19

The exterior looks exactly the same. I’ve yet to have an ILX loaner, so I can’t comment on how it is, but the ones before the 2019 facelift had complaints about the Civic-grade NVH.

interstate366, now In The Industry > Spanfeller is a twat
01/09/2019 at 21:20

The ILX’s problem, which may have been fixed with the 2019 update (now an 8-year-old chassis!), is that it still had Civic levels of NVH. But I have yet to drive one so I can’t speak from personal experience.

Supreme Chancellor and Glorious Leader SaveTheIntegras > KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time
01/09/2019 at 21:22

*hides under his bed*

Ive always wanted and liked the CLA AMG

Spanfeller is a twat > interstate366, now In The Industry
01/09/2019 at 21:22

That is certainly an issue, I'm more worried about the age of the chasis though.

KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time > interstate366, now In The Industry
01/09/2019 at 21:23

Are you talking about the CLA when saying it looks exactly the same? it doesn’t except for the overall profile. The old one had a melty look with huge headlights. This one is much sleeker inspired by the new CLS

interstate366, now In The Industry > Spanfeller is a twat
01/09/2019 at 21:23

I like that you can still buy an Acura with a real parking brake in 2019, at least.

interstate366, now In The Industry > KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time
01/09/2019 at 21:24

Yeah. The general shape is the same, at least.

KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time > Supreme Chancellor and Glorious Leader SaveTheIntegras
01/09/2019 at 21:24

CLA45 AMG is given a pass because it’s an AMG

E90M3 > KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time
01/09/2019 at 21:24

I’m upset that the A-class won’t be sold here with a hatch or as a manual. I loved the B-class I had as a rental in Europe so much that I would buy a brand new A-class with a stick. Actually, I’m kind of glad the manual A-class isn’t a thing here because it’ll save me some money.

syaieya > KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time
01/09/2019 at 21:25

If they can give any more rear entry space and headroom and make the touch materials better than before theyll have a sales winner. It was almost comical getting out of the back of the old one.

Sadly i gotta agree that id prefer the A class proper still. But we dont get those.

Spanfeller is a twat > interstate366, now In The Industry
01/09/2019 at 21:26

I see a few issues with the ILX here, the 2.4 motor, and that bonkers infotainment and it costs virtually the same as a Golf GTI, which might be an issue for marketability.

K-Roll-PorscheTamer > Supreme Chancellor and Glorious Leader SaveTheIntegras
01/09/2019 at 21:26

Me too. If the next one can be had in manual............MMMMMFF

KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time > E90M3
01/09/2019 at 21:27

Manual is a pipe-dream but at least Canada gets the hatch, but still no 250 version with the engine in the CLA, only a 220 version.

interstate366, now In The Industry > Spanfeller is a twat
01/09/2019 at 21:30

There are those among us who would rather walk on foot than have a GTI, and the K24 is a great motor.

Spanfeller is a twat > interstate366, now In The Industry
01/09/2019 at 21:34

I’m not saying it’s bad... I’m just saying it has 20hp less than the golf does...

But I really like the ILX on principle, we don't get any manual Civics here except for the CTR, and the ILX is the only one without a CVT, which is a relief.

interstate366, now In The Industry > Spanfeller is a twat
01/09/2019 at 21:36

And it breaks down far less than the Golf does. Though if you really need that extra 20 HP the K-series has almost 20 years of aftermarket history going for it.

I’m surprised you don’t at least get the Si down there.

E90M3 > KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time
01/09/2019 at 21:37

A boy can dream.

Supreme Chancellor and Glorious Leader SaveTheIntegras > K-Roll-PorscheTamer
01/09/2019 at 21:39

But thats called a Subaru WRX

Spanfeller is a twat > interstate366, now In The Industry
01/09/2019 at 21:43

Don’t even remind me we don’t get the Si here anymore.

I’m sure the K24 is great, and maybe better than the EA888, but to a regular buyer, the cost vs hp analysis might be off. That’s what I meant with marketability. Specially since the A-spec is very “sporty” and only has 201 hp. Though I agree the aftermarket might fix that.

I n the end, a civic based entry-luxury car is probably a great proposition. But at least get a better infotainment in!

K-Roll-PorscheTamer > Supreme Chancellor and Glorious Leader SaveTheIntegras
01/09/2019 at 21:43

With a more reliable engine within warranty. That’s more than worth it. Also less vape.

wafflesnfalafel > KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time
01/09/2019 at 21:49

Interior is gorgeous and I really like the front half of the exterior - but that droopy benz butt on the sedan still bugs me... Plus headroom is tight..

gmporschenut also a fan of hondas > interstate366, now In The Industry
01/09/2019 at 21:51

“ (now an 8-year-old chassis!)“ can’t be...(looks up) holy cow.

The chassis is even older than that as the 9th gen was held up due to the fin acial crisis.

gmporschenut also a fan of hondas > KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time
01/09/2019 at 21:56

I like the looks more than the previous one. I have a bit of a problem with the just under 30k trio. Personally I’d rather have an Accord with a bunch of options.

Spamfeller Loves Nazi Clicks > KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time
01/09/2019 at 22:01

Meh cedes-Benz.

interstate366, now In The Industry > gmporschenut also a fan of hondas
01/09/2019 at 22:13

And there’s probably some stuff on it that goes back to the 8th gen.

gmporschenut also a fan of hondas > interstate366, now In The Industry
01/09/2019 at 22:18

Wasn’t the critism that t he 2012 was really a soft refresh?

AMGtech - now with more recalls! > KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time
01/09/2019 at 22:41

Looks better. Same drivetrain. Probably same chassis. So basically a facelift. I’m 5'11" and in a comfortable seating position I have to lean forward to see past the B-pillar. Rear headroom is non-existent unless you're more than a few inches shorter than me, but getting in the back is dangerous for your head unless you're only 4 feet tall because that C-pillar roof/sail panel thing is huge and drops right into the area where your head should be passing to get into the back seat.

His Stigness > KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time
01/09/2019 at 22:43

Kinja'd!!!

IT’S NOT A MOTHERFUCKING COUPE!!!!!!

Car and Driver is correct as Mercedes calls it a four dour coupe. It’s a thing they made. But it’s not a coupe.

KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time > His Stigness
01/09/2019 at 23:05

Next thing you know they’re going to start calling wagons as Four Door shooting brakes....oh wait, they already did that

Kinja'd!!!

His Stigness > KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time
01/09/2019 at 23:18

I can forgive that since no one knows what is.

WilliamsSW > KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time
01/09/2019 at 23:37

Not a fan of the screen - and the exterior looks little changed to me. Which is a bad thing.

Btw you can still get the E class with analog gauges - unless it changed for 2019, the screen IP was optional.

interstate366, now In The Industry > gmporschenut also a fan of hondas
01/09/2019 at 23:38

Yeah, and then the 2013 and 2014 each had their own updates. The Si, to its credit, doesn’t look much different from 2012 to 2013.

Svart Smart, traded in his Smart > KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time
01/10/2019 at 01:41

I’m still trying to see the rationale for having the ( 2020+) CLA and the ( 2019+) A-Class sedan in the same lineup because they look so very similar . I know that the CLA is supposed to be the ‘coupe’ version, but I don’t think the average American consumer would intuit that distinction , and a number of non-enthusiasts might confuse the two models.

With that out of the way, I think the new CLA is a significant improvement over the prior generation, but I prefer the slightly more formal styling of the A-Class sedan.

KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time > Svart Smart, traded in his Smart
01/10/2019 at 08:06

The rationale is “ Because BMW does a dozen variations of the same car, so we should do it ad well”

I like this over the A class sedan however , only becuase the A class hatch is not available in the US, and that would beat out all versions for me.