Mercedes-Benz CLA 200 she says, he says review

He: Mercedes-Benz has been giving its smallest models a freshen up in recent months. First it was the A-Class hatch and now comes the CLA 'Coupe', the swooping roofed four-door sedan. Mercedes has found an audience for this shape of car, both this and the larger CLS. Personally though, I'm still not a fan of the looks; I can still see a lot of Ford Falcon AU in it. But what were your first impressions, Dani?

She: I actually think this is a beautiful looking car. It's striking and looks sportier than your classic Merc, even though the long bonnet maintains that trademark Mercedes feel to it. I know you weren't a fan of the sweeping roofline at the back but I liked it. The rear lights are quite stylish too. The interior is neat and the round air-con vents look quite funky. However, the infotainment screen looks a bit out of place and there are some parts that look cheap. There are a few hard plastics. The seats aren't made of real leather, but Artico (which stands for artificial cow). For me, that takes a bit of the gloss off. What did you think of the inside?

He: You certainly feel like you're in the entry-level of the Mercedes range, there's no power seats for example. But the big problem I have with the exterior design is how much it compromises the interior space. It is hard to get in and out of the back seats, and once you're in there isn't much in the way of head-room and knee-room.

She: I was also surprised the front seats had to be manually adjusted. And like you mentioned, the back seat is extremely cramped, even for a short person like me. It's not that roomy for little ones either. I struggled putting in a baby seat. How did you find the ride?

He: This is where you get your money's worth. It feels solid on the road but with a more comfortable and compliant ride than the old model. The engine does a decent job once the turbo comes on boost. The recent upgrades have also improved a few aspects of the CLA/A-Class range, in my books. The gearbox is now much smoother at low speeds but still quick and smooth on the move. How did you find the experience?

She: This is the first time I've driven a Merc so I had big expectations. It was comfortable but the steering felt a bit light for my tastes. There's a bit of a lag upon initial acceleration and it's quite sensitive to bumps on the road.  It drives better in 'Sport' and 'Manual' modes than 'Comfort', which is what the car defaults to. The fuel economy is also impressive.

He: Yeah, the claim is 5.6-litres per 100km and I didn't get too far away from that. Certainly from a driving perspective the CLA 200 lives up to the Mercedes badge. But what about being a luxury car. Did it pamper you enough?

She: It covers all the basics - six-speaker stereo, digital radio, navigation, keyless ignition - and in terms of safety features, it's premium. There are nine airbags, adaptive braking, forward collision alert and blind spot assist to name a few. Other safety technology includes attention assist, which alerts drivers showing signs of fatigue. The reverse camera is really good. The entry-level CLA200 is priced from $52,500. Our test car was over $56k. How do you rate that, Steve?

He: It's a tempting proposition, especially for those looking to get into their first luxury car. But you can get more car for less money if you're willing to sacrifice the badge. For example, a Volkswagen Passat is larger, drives well and costs $10k less. So you have to be willing to pay for the three-pointed star on the front but you won't be unhappy.

She: In some respects, this Mercedes probably does rely on its badge too heavily. But it is a very classy looking car, which does turn heads. I think this may appeal more to discerning drivers, where looks and safety may rate higher than power or performance. If you're planning to carry rear seat passengers however, the C-Class may be more ideal.

2016 Mercedes-Benz CLA 200 pricing and specifications

Price: $52,500 plus on-road costs

Engine: 1.6-litre four-cylinder turbocharged petrol

Power: 115kW at 5300rpm

Torque: 250Nm at 1250-4000rpm

Transmission: Seven-speed dual-clutch automatic, front-wheel drive

Fuel use: 5.6L/100km

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