2021 Mercedes-Benz CLA 250
Take a Mercedes A-Class, add a rakish streak to the roofline, mix in a few swoops and curves, and there you have it-the 2021 Mercedes CLA. This sleek small sedan puts style at the forefront, but there's enough luxury here to make it worthy of the Mercedes badge. The CLA name has been around for close to a decade now, though the current generation only hit showrooms last year. Updates to the 2021 model are limited to standard blind-spot monitors and ambient interior lighting.
The standard CLA250 generates 221 hp from a turbo-4. Moving into the CLA35 AMG cranks up the turbo-4 to 302 hp; the top-dog CLA45 AMG doles out 382 hp from the same turbo-4. The lesser two versions share a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic, while the top AMG edition has an 8-speed dual-clutch.
The CLA250 scores 25 mpg city, 35 highway, 29 combined on EPA tests in front-drive form, and all-wheel-drive reduces that to 24/33/27 mpg. AMG models are inevitably less efficient, but considering their power they put up a decent showing. The CLA35 AMG is good for 22/29/25 mpg; the CLA45, 20/29/23 mpg.
Blind-spot monitors now join automatic emergency braking on the short list of standard active-safety features. Features like adaptive cruise control and an automatic lane-change system are included in a worthwhile $1,700 package.
The current generation of CLA hasn't been crash-tested.
Full Review
Full Review
The CLA name has been around for close to a decade now, though the current generation only hit showrooms last year. Updates to the 2021 model are limited to standard blind-spot monitors and ambient interior lighting.
The standard CLA250 generates 221 hp from a turbo-4. Moving into the CLA35 AMG cranks up the turbo-4 to 302 hp; the top-dog CLA45 AMG doles out 382 hp from the same turbo-4. The lesser two versions share a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic, while the top AMG edition has an 8-speed dual-clutch.
The CLA250 scores 25 mpg city, 35 highway, 29 combined on EPA tests in front-drive form, and all-wheel-drive reduces that to 24/33/27 mpg. AMG models are inevitably less efficient, but considering their power they put up a decent showing. The CLA35 AMG is good for 22/29/25 mpg; the CLA45, 20/29/23 mpg.
Blind-spot monitors now join automatic emergency braking on the short list of standard active-safety features. Features like adaptive cruise control and an automatic lane-change system are included in a worthwhile $1,700 package.
The current generation of CLA hasn't been crash-tested.
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| Engine | 2.0L I-4 |
| MPG | Up to 25 city / 35 highway |
| Seating | 5 Passengers |
| Transmission | 7-spd auto-shift man w/OD |
| Power | 221 @ 5800 rpm |
| Drivetrain | 4MATIC all wheel, front-wheel |
| Curb Weight | 3,362 - 3,483 lbs |
