 "Inner peace with the new Mercedes-Benz")
Mercedes-Benz has come a long a way in India. From being the undisputed luxury car manufacturer in country to losing its crown, first to BMW and then to Audi, the Stuttgart-based company has received its fair share of criticism for not evolving with time. Suddenly, the once-prestigious ‘three-pointed star’ brand was looked at as an uncleji product; the younger buyers would only consider its two Bavarian rivals.
It took careful strategising for Mercedes-Benz to record an incredible 2014. For the first time, the company broke the 10,000-units barrier in sales even as it launched 10 new cars. The new calendar starts with a bang: the radical looking CLA was launched on January 22.
I had driven the AMG version of the CLA, and the four-wheel drive was a lot of fun, but the AMG badging denotes a model with enhanced performance parameters and looks. But how is this regular front-wheel drive sedan? I could not have found a better place than Goa and the winding roads along the Arabian Sea to drive this sinister looking car.
There is no doubt that the CLA’s trump card is its striking good looks. The four-door coupe is designed to appear like it is in motion, and has a dramatic silhouette. The CLA is more like a piece of art that has been sculpted to showcase prominent creases and shoulder lines that run across the side.
Another designing masterstroke is the use of frameless windows that impart an air of luxury. From the front, the CLA recalls to mind the sporty A-Class, though the bumper and the headlamps betray the CLA’s own paradigm. The front grille has the same diamond nose of the A-Class, but it has black pins instead of silver. The bi-Xenon headlamps and the LED rear lights highlight the CLA’s exquisiteness.
The cabin now comes in two options: all black and, my favourite, the beige-black combo. The layout is a mirror image of the A-Class and comes with SLS-inspired air vents, while the dashboard has a silver finished panel across it. The car maker has cleverly used soft plastic on the dashboard, leaving the rest in hard plastic, giving the interiors an uber feel. The car is equipped with the latest COMMAND infotainment system. The display is now bigger in size, sleeker and has a higher resolution, though it still doesn’t support a touch screen.
At best, a child may be able to sit in the middle seat, that too not very comfortably. There is enough knee room for rear passengers so long they are aren’t 6 feet or more in height. With the sweeping C-pillar, the headroom is drastically reduced, making entering and exiting a bit of a task. Also the rear feels cramped due to limited shoulder space and small windows.
The CLA comes in two engine options: a 181-bhp, 2-litre petrol engine and a 2.2-litre diesel with 134 bhp output. The more enthusiastic power plant is obviously the petrol one. It is responsive from the moment you step on the pedal and is complemented by the effortless work of the 7-speed transmission. It exhibited strong pulling power in the low and mid ranges, making it perfect for overtaking slow traffic.
The CLA has steering-mounted paddle shifters as standard features, so you have the option to push the rev needle all the way. Unfortunately, by the time it reaches the 6,000 rpm mark, the power starts to quickly fizzle away.
The diesel engine, on the other hand, throws out the typical clatter that gets more audible as the rev needle hits the high rpms. I found it best to cruise in the 2,500-3,000 rpm range where the noise levels are low. Frustratingly, there is initial lag, but once you pedal past the 1,500 rpm mark, you can feel the engine becoming more energetic.
Mercedes-Benz was criticised for making the A-Class’ suspensions too stiff for Indian roads. It has avoided the mistake in the CLA, where the ride is slightly stiff only at slow speeds. Unlike its AMG avatar, the CLA does not kiss the speed breakers due to its significantly higher ground clearance.
The Mercedes-Benz CLA starts a new chapter for the German carmaker. It will not only be the most affordable sedan in its portfolio, but also one of the boldest and most flamboyant of the family. It makes you feel like a million dollars and though it is not the most powerful around, it has adequate muscle for regular needs.
I only wish the diesel engine had been a bit more powerful and a tad refined. The sedan comes with all the bells and whistles, including a rear parking camera that makes parking an easy enough task even for the spatially challenged. Its new Harmon Kardon music system has 12 speakers and a boom bass that transforms the cabin into your personal sound-proof meditation centre.
The new telematic system comes with Garmin maps, with 2.1 million road tracks and over 10 million points of interest. As for the safety aspects, the CLA recently got a five-star rating from Euro NCAP, the organisation that had given zero-star ratings to Suzuki-Maruti Alto 800, Tata Nano, Ford Figo, Hyundai i10 and Volkswagen Polo.
The only drawback is the CLA’s cabin space. It is only ideal for four adults. The CLA’s main rival will be the Audi A3, which is priced lower. But the CLA offers more quality features, so given its premium value, its looks and its high points, the CLA should attract a lot of first time Mercedes-Benz buyers.
Arup Das is Features Editor at AutoX
Specs
MERCEDES-BENZ CLA 200
Engine: 1,991 / 4 cylinders/ petrol
Transmission: 7-speed automatic / front-wheel drive
Power: 181 bhp @ 5,500rpm
Torque: 300 Nm @ 1,400rpm
0-100 kmph: 7.8 seconds
Economy: 15.04 km/l (ARAI)
Price: Rs 35 lakh (Ex-showroom, Delhi)
MERCEDES-BENZ CLA 200 CDI
Engine: 2,143 / 4 cylinders/ diesel
Transmission: 7-speed automatic / front-wheel drive
Power: 134 bhp @ 4,400rpm
Torque: 300 Nm @ 3,000rpm
0-100 kmph: 9.8 seconds
Economy: 17.9 km/l (ARAI)
Price: Rs 31.5 lakh (Ex-showroom, Delhi)
It took careful strategising for Mercedes-Benz to record an incredible 2014. For the first time, the company broke the 10,000-units barrier in sales even as it launched 10 new cars. The new calendar starts with a bang: the radical looking CLA was launched on January 22.
I had driven the AMG version of the CLA, and the four-wheel drive was a lot of fun, but the AMG badging denotes a model with enhanced performance parameters and looks. But how is this regular front-wheel drive sedan? I could not have found a better place than Goa and the winding roads along the Arabian Sea to drive this sinister looking car.
There is no doubt that the CLA’s trump card is its striking good looks. The four-door coupe is designed to appear like it is in motion, and has a dramatic silhouette. The CLA is more like a piece of art that has been sculpted to showcase prominent creases and shoulder lines that run across the side.
Another designing masterstroke is the use of frameless windows that impart an air of luxury. From the front, the CLA recalls to mind the sporty A-Class, though the bumper and the headlamps betray the CLA’s own paradigm. The front grille has the same diamond nose of the A-Class, but it has black pins instead of silver. The bi-Xenon headlamps and the LED rear lights highlight the CLA’s exquisiteness.
The cabin now comes in two options: all black and, my favourite, the beige-black combo. The layout is a mirror image of the A-Class and comes with SLS-inspired air vents, while the dashboard has a silver finished panel across it. The car maker has cleverly used soft plastic on the dashboard, leaving the rest in hard plastic, giving the interiors an uber feel. The car is equipped with the latest COMMAND infotainment system. The display is now bigger in size, sleeker and has a higher resolution, though it still doesn’t support a touch screen.
At best, a child may be able to sit in the middle seat, that too not very comfortably. There is enough knee room for rear passengers so long they are aren’t 6 feet or more in height. With the sweeping C-pillar, the headroom is drastically reduced, making entering and exiting a bit of a task. Also the rear feels cramped due to limited shoulder space and small windows.
The CLA comes in two engine options: a 181-bhp, 2-litre petrol engine and a 2.2-litre diesel with 134 bhp output. The more enthusiastic power plant is obviously the petrol one. It is responsive from the moment you step on the pedal and is complemented by the effortless work of the 7-speed transmission. It exhibited strong pulling power in the low and mid ranges, making it perfect for overtaking slow traffic.
The CLA has steering-mounted paddle shifters as standard features, so you have the option to push the rev needle all the way. Unfortunately, by the time it reaches the 6,000 rpm mark, the power starts to quickly fizzle away.
The diesel engine, on the other hand, throws out the typical clatter that gets more audible as the rev needle hits the high rpms. I found it best to cruise in the 2,500-3,000 rpm range where the noise levels are low. Frustratingly, there is initial lag, but once you pedal past the 1,500 rpm mark, you can feel the engine becoming more energetic.
Mercedes-Benz was criticised for making the A-Class’ suspensions too stiff for Indian roads. It has avoided the mistake in the CLA, where the ride is slightly stiff only at slow speeds. Unlike its AMG avatar, the CLA does not kiss the speed breakers due to its significantly higher ground clearance.
The Mercedes-Benz CLA starts a new chapter for the German carmaker. It will not only be the most affordable sedan in its portfolio, but also one of the boldest and most flamboyant of the family. It makes you feel like a million dollars and though it is not the most powerful around, it has adequate muscle for regular needs.
I only wish the diesel engine had been a bit more powerful and a tad refined. The sedan comes with all the bells and whistles, including a rear parking camera that makes parking an easy enough task even for the spatially challenged. Its new Harmon Kardon music system has 12 speakers and a boom bass that transforms the cabin into your personal sound-proof meditation centre.
The new telematic system comes with Garmin maps, with 2.1 million road tracks and over 10 million points of interest. As for the safety aspects, the CLA recently got a five-star rating from Euro NCAP, the organisation that had given zero-star ratings to Suzuki-Maruti Alto 800, Tata Nano, Ford Figo, Hyundai i10 and Volkswagen Polo.
The only drawback is the CLA’s cabin space. It is only ideal for four adults. The CLA’s main rival will be the Audi A3, which is priced lower. But the CLA offers more quality features, so given its premium value, its looks and its high points, the CLA should attract a lot of first time Mercedes-Benz buyers.
Arup Das is Features Editor at AutoX
Specs
MERCEDES-BENZ CLA 200
Engine: 1,991 / 4 cylinders/ petrol
Transmission: 7-speed automatic / front-wheel drive
Power: 181 bhp @ 5,500rpm
Torque: 300 Nm @ 1,400rpm
0-100 kmph: 7.8 seconds
Economy: 15.04 km/l (ARAI)
Price: Rs 35 lakh (Ex-showroom, Delhi)
MERCEDES-BENZ CLA 200 CDI
Engine: 2,143 / 4 cylinders/ diesel
Transmission: 7-speed automatic / front-wheel drive
Power: 134 bhp @ 4,400rpm
Torque: 300 Nm @ 3,000rpm
0-100 kmph: 9.8 seconds
Economy: 17.9 km/l (ARAI)
Price: Rs 31.5 lakh (Ex-showroom, Delhi)