2023 Mercedes-Benz CLA

The volume CLA 250 (second generation, C118, 2020–2025 US model years) uses the M260 2.0L turbo I4 at 221 hp with no mild-hybrid assist in 2023; AMG CLA 35 and CLA 45 extend the range.

The CLA 250's turbo four makes 258 lb-ft, a solid figure for the compact luxury class.

Mercedes quotes 6.3 s to 60 mph for the CLA 250, which is competitive but not quick among luxury compacts.

The M260 turbo four pulls well through the mid-range but reviewers note some turbo lag off the line and a coarse, unremarkable engine note for a luxury badge; the pre-facelift 2023 lacks the later 48V mild-hybrid smoothing.

The 7-speed dual-clutch (7G-DCT) shifts quickly once moving but is criticized for jerky, hesitant low-speed and stop-and-go behavior typical of DCTs.

4MATIC AWD is an option on the CLA 250 and standard on both AMG models, with the CLA 45's 4MATIC+ adding rear torque vectoring; base car is FWD.

Three turbo-four outputs (CLA 250, AMG CLA 35, AMG CLA 45) span mainstream to high-performance, but there is no hybrid, PHEV, or EV option in the 2023 US lineup.

The front-drive CLA 250 is rated 29 mpg combined, about average for a gas luxury compact; 4MATIC drops to 27.

EPA city rating of 25 mpg for the FWD CLA 250.

Strong 36 mpg highway figure thanks to the 7-speed DCT and sleek body.

A small 13.5-gallon tank limits range despite decent economy; derived from EPA combined rating times tank capacity.

Premium fuel requirement pushes the EPA annual fuel cost high relative to mainstream sedans.

Every 2023 CLA trim calls for premium unleaded, adding meaningful running cost versus regular-fuel rivals.

NHTSA never crash-tested the second-generation (C118) CLA: every 2020–2023 CLA-Class variant in the NCAP database is listed 'Not Rated' for overall, frontal, side and rollover, so the item scores 0 per the framework's never-rated rule.

IIHS has not crash-tested the 2020-on CLA, so there is no award and no US crashworthiness data. That puts it in the low band, but not deep in it: the car has no known structural concerns, and Euro NCAP gave the same body 5 stars in 2019.

The 2023 CLA 250 comes standard with Active Brake Assist (AEB), Blind Spot Assist, forward-collision and lane-departure warning, and a rear camera. Adaptive cruise, active lane keeping/centering and evasive steering all cost extra via the Driver Assistance Package, which is below luxury-segment norms.

IIHS has published no front-crash-prevention result for this generation. Euro NCAP's 2019 test of the same car scored its AEB and vulnerable-road-user protection well, but those tests were run on the European spec and there is no US night-pedestrian data.

Blind Spot Assist (alert-only, with exit warning) is standard. Active Blind Spot Assist, which brakes to intervene, and cross-traffic braking come only with the Driver Assistance Package.

Base cars get only lane-departure warning. With the Driver Assistance Package, Active Steering Assist and Active Lane Keeping Assist give smooth highway centering, a system reviewers rate among the better hands-on setups, but volume buyers must option it.

Active Distance Assist DISTRONIC with stop-and-go, Route-Based Speed Adaptation and Active Lane Change Assist is a refined, well-integrated system. It is optional rather than standard on the CLA 250, which keeps it out of the top band.

No hands-free driving system was offered on the 2023 CLA; the Driver Assistance Package needs hands on the wheel. Mercedes' Drive Pilot was limited to the S-Class and EQS.

LED headlamps are standard. Active LED headlamps with Adaptive Highbeam Assist cost extra ($900 Exterior Lighting Package). IIHS never rated this generation's headlights, so beam quality is unverified.

The four-door-coupe roofline gives thick C-pillars, a shallow rear window and a high beltline, so rear-quarter sightlines are poor. Only a rear camera is standard; the surround-view camera is optional.

Two outboard LATCH positions are provided, but the small rear doors, low sloping roofline and tight rear legroom make loading and fitting rear-facing seats awkward. IIHS has not rated LATCH on this generation.

The C118 CLA sedan is a five-seater with a 40/20/40 split-folding rear bench; the middle rear seat is tight under the sloping roof.

Front headroom is competitive for a compact luxury sedan despite the coupe-like roofline.

Front legroom is adequate; reviewers call front space fine for the car's size.

The fastback roofline cuts rear headroom; taller adults brush the headliner.

Rear legroom is among the smallest in the segment, which is the CLA's main packaging weakness.

The trunk is small for the class, though the split-folding rear seat helps with long items.

There is ordinary console, cupholder and door-pocket storage and a 40/20/40 pass-through, but nothing clever, and bins are small in a tight cabin.

The power sport front seats with memory are supportive, but the cramped rear bench drags the item down.

The ride is firm on city streets, especially with the optional 19-inch wheels or AMG Line; body control is good.

Wind noise is well suppressed, but road and tire noise and a buzzy four-cylinder under load keep it short of the class leaders.

Dual-zone automatic climate is standard. Heated and ventilated front seats and a heated wheel are optional extras, not standard on a ~$40K luxury car.

The 2023 CLA 250 (second-generation C118, pre-facelift) opens the range at $39,350 before destination — among the cheapest ways into a German luxury sedan, a few thousand under the C-Class.

The typical US build is a CLA 250 4MATIC with the Premium Package (10.25-in dual screens, keyless-go) that reviewers recommend, landing around $45.5K; KBB's CarEdge-style average new price for the CLA 250 runs ~$46.9K.

Estimates diverge widely: CarEdge projects $3,708 for the first five years while Edmunds' TCO for the 2023 (a used-car horizon) runs far higher; a Mercedes Service A/B schedule plus brakes and tires puts a realistic new-car figure near $6K.

A 2023 CLA 250 now brings ~$27K private party on a ~$42–46K original sticker (~60% at three years), which projects to roughly 48% at five — typical of German compact luxury sedans; CarEdge's 63% projection looks optimistic.

Mercedes-Benz's new-vehicle limited warranty runs 4 years or 50,000 miles — par for German luxury, behind Genesis (5/60k).

There is no separate longer powertrain warranty — powertrain coverage ends with the 4-yr/50k basic warranty, well short of Lexus/Acura (6/70k) and Genesis (10/100k).

No included scheduled maintenance for 2023 US buyers (prepaid plans cost extra); owners get roadside assistance for the warranty term and a Mercedes me connect trial — basic perks only, behind BMW's then-included 3-yr/36k maintenance and Genesis Complete Care.

$45,500 volume-trim price minus its estimated resale value after 5 years (48% retained, or about $21,840) leaves about $23,660 in depreciation. Add the projected $6,000 in 5-year maintenance and repairs, and owning this vehicle for 5 years costs about $29,660 in total.

The 2023 CLA 250 is a carry-over year of the second-generation (C118, 2020–2025 US) CLA, so it has several years of owner data behind it. The two main sources disagree: J.D. Power rates it well, while Consumer Reports rates the 2019–2023 CLA fair to poor, mainly for its complex electronics and turbo powertrain. Mixed signals put it in the lower-middle of the band.

Around the 2023 model year, Mercedes-Benz sat in the bottom half of Consumer Reports' brand reliability rankings and near or below the industry average in J.D. Power's Vehicle Dependability Study. That is mid-pack at best and well behind Lexus and Toyota.

NHTSA shows almost no recall activity specific to the 2023 CLA. The only 2023 campaign covers 3 AMG CLA 45 cars with leaking tires, and the generation-wide campaigns (door-lock micro-switch, brake-pad gauge, eCall software, sunroof roof panel) stop at the 2020–2022 model years. TSB chatter centers on DCT low-speed behavior and MBUX software, not on safety-critical systems.

The M260 2.0L turbo four is shared widely across the A-Class, GLA and GLB and has no systemic failure pattern, so it counts as reasonably proven. The 7G-DCT dual-clutch has a mixed record: owners report low-speed judder and some mechatronic/clutch-pack repairs. No red flags, but not a high-mileage benchmark either.

The dual-screen MBUX dash and turbine vents give the cabin real showroom appeal, but reviewers note hard plastics on the lower doors and console and some cost-cutting that shows at this entry-luxury price. It is competitive with the Audi A3 and BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe, not ahead of them.

Assembly is generally tight, and by 2023 the generation was mature, past its launch-year niggles. Owner reviews still report scattered interior rattles and trim creaks, typical of the compact Mercedes range.

Mercedes-Benz USA has about 380 dealers, giving dense coverage in metro areas but thinner rural presence. Service satisfaction is around the luxury-segment average, behind Lexus.

Parts are plentiful because the MFA2 platform is shared across the high-volume A/CLA/GLA/GLB family. Repair and maintenance pricing is still luxury-brand expensive, though, and electronics and DCT work mostly go through the dealer.

The base CLA 250 gets a 7-inch MBUX touchscreen. The widescreen 10.25-inch pair came in the Premium Package, which most buyers took.

First-generation MBUX (NTG6) is fast and attractive with redundant touchscreen, touchpad and steering-wheel touch controls. The redundancy and the haptic wheel pads add complexity.

Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard but wired on the pre-facelift NTG6 MBUX. Wireless projection arrived with the MY2024 update, and aftermarket wireless kits are sold for 2019–2023 cars.

The 'Hey Mercedes' natural-language assistant is a genuine strength. Native navigation with augmented-video guidance is an option, not standard.

The standard 8-speaker system is ordinary. The optional Burmester surround system is well regarded.

A fully digital cluster is standard, in the 7-inch size on the base car, and grows to a crisp, highly configurable 10.25-inch widescreen with the Premium Package.

NTG6 MBUX receives over-the-air map and infotainment updates via Mercedes me connect. Whole-vehicle feature OTA is not offered on this platform.

The Mercedes me app offers remote start, lock/unlock and vehicle location, but most services become subscription-gated after the trial.

The C118 uses USB-C ports up front, with rear charging ports. Wireless charging is an option (Premium Package), and there is no AC outlet.

Push-button start and remote start through the app are standard. Full proximity KEYLESS-GO entry is tied to the Premium Package on many builds, and there is no phone-as-key.

A rear camera is standard. PARKTRONIC sensors, Active Parking Assist and the surround-view camera cost extra through the $1,090 Parking Assistance Package.

A head-up display was an available option on the C118 CLA, not standard or in a common package, and reviewers note it washes out with polarized sunglasses.

Small rear door openings under a sloping roof, 33.9 in of rear legroom and an 11.6 cu ft trunk make daily car-seat and stroller duty a chore.

There are no NHTSA or IIHS ratings for 2020–2023. Blind-spot and AEB are standard, but adaptive cruise and lane centering sit in $1,300–$1,700 packages.

The tight rear seat and small trunk limit four-adult road trips, and the firm ride compounds it. Rear amenities are thin beyond vents and USB-C.

The CLA is small and zippy in traffic, but the 7-speed dual-clutch can be jerky at low speed with hesitation from a stop, and the ride is firm over city streets.

29 MPG combined is good for a luxury car, but premium fuel and Mercedes service costs push per-mile cost above mainstream compacts.

A compact footprint and a 36.1-ft turning circle help in town. The pinched rear view means the optional sensors and 360 camera are worthwhile.

There is no US tow rating, and the 11.6 cu ft trunk is small, so it is not a work vehicle.

A luxury-oriented compact with low-profile tires and MB-Tex/leather trim is not built for abuse, and it has no fleet or work reputation.

It has no onboard power, no hitch provision and no upfit ecosystem.

It is a decent highway cruiser with 36 MPG highway, ~390 miles of range and good front seats, but the firm ride, road noise, and ADAS that costs extra limit it.

Available 4MATIC helps in bad weather, but low ground clearance, no tow rating and sedan-only access keep it pavement-bound.

The 40/20/40 split rear seat adds flexibility, but the small trunk and narrow sedan opening restrict bulky gear.

It is nimble and composed with good body control; reviewers find it 'reasonably entertaining' in corners, though a FWD-based chassis trails the RWD BMW 3 Series.

Steering is quick and accurate but light and filtered, with little feedback.

Brakes are strong and progressive for a ~3,300-lb compact, with no fade complaints in reviews. No instrumented 2023-specific figure was retrieved.

The 221-hp turbo four has strong mid-range, but launch hesitation and low-speed dual-clutch jerkiness spoil stop-and-go smoothness.

The four-cylinder sounds buzzy under load, which is less refined than the Mercedes badge implies.

A tidy turning circle for the segment aids urban maneuvering.

The power sport seats with memory give a good low driving position, but the rear view is poor through the sloping roof, the touch-sensitive controls are fussy, and the low roofline hampers getting in and out.

The CLA 250 is zippy and stylish and pleasant to drive. The AMG CLA 35/45 variants are the genuinely fun ones.

The $39K base car has MBUX and LED lighting, but the larger 10.25-in dual screens, keyless-go and auto-dimming mirrors need the Premium Package, and adaptive cruise/active blind-spot/lane-keep are in the extra-cost Driver Assistance Package.

A low entry price for a three-pointed star and a nicely finished cabin, but option creep takes a well-equipped CLA 250 into C-Class and Acura Integra A-Spec/TLX territory without matching their space or content.

One core CLA 250 trim in FWD or 4MATIC, plus AMG CLA 35 and AMG CLA 45 — a clear ladder from $39K to $58K with deep package/option flexibility, but no hybrid or shooting brake in the US.

The CLA is one of Mercedes' higher-volume US cars and a common entry into the brand, but the subcompact-luxury sedan class was shrinking in 2023 as buyers moved to the GLA/GLB and the A-Class sedan had already been dropped.

The three-pointed star is among the most aspirational badges in the US and the CLA's coupe-like styling is its main draw, though as the entry model it carries some 'budget Benz' perception.

Mercedes-Benz Financial ran regular CLA lease specials and loyalty/conquest offers through 2023, though post-pandemic inventory limited deep discounting early in the model year.

MY2023 is the fourth year of the second generation (launched for 2020) and the last before the MY2024 facelift that added 48V mild-hybrid assist and updated MBUX — buyers were purchasing a car about to be refreshed.

Reviewers like the styling, cabin and handling but ding rear-seat space, the DCT and the price once optioned; the CLA rarely wins comparison tests against the BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe or Acura Integra.