2024 Mercedes-Benz CLA

The 2024 refresh added 48-volt mild-hybrid assist to the CLA 250's 2.0L turbo four, which makes 221 hp. The AMG CLA 35 and CLA 45 S raise the range's peak to 416 hp.

258 lb-ft from 1,800 rpm is strong for the base engine of an entry-luxury compact.

The manufacturer-quoted time for the FWD CLA 250 is used as the volume-trim figure. It is brisk for the class, and instrumented 4MATIC tests run quicker.

For 2024 the 48V starter-generator smooths stop/start restarts and fills low-rpm response. Reviewers still note some turbo-four coarseness and a less premium engine note than rivals.

The 8-speed dual-clutch shifts quickly on the move but can be hesitant and jerky at parking-lot speeds and when pulling away from a stop, a long-running CLA complaint.

4MATIC AWD is optional on the CLA 250 and standard on both AMG versions. It is a front-biased on-demand system without terrain modes, though the CLA 45 S adds torque-vectoring AMG Performance 4MATIC+.

There are three tunes of one 2.0L turbo four (221/302/416 hp), all with the same 8-speed DCT, and now 48V-assisted on the 250 and 35. There is no plug-in or EV version of this generation.

The EPA combined figure for the FWD CLA 250 mild hybrid is used as the volume configuration.

This is the EPA city rating for the volume trim.

This is the EPA highway rating for the volume trim.

Range is derived from EPA combined MPG and the 13.5-gallon tank. The small tank holds total range below the class norm.

This is the EPA annual fuel cost estimate. The premium-fuel requirement pushes it above mainstream compact sedans with similar MPG.

Every 2024 CLA, including the base CLA 250, is rated for premium gasoline.

NHTSA lists the 2024 CLA 4-door FWD and AWD but has never crash-tested them; every NCAP category reads Not Rated, and no earlier year of this C118 generation was rated either.

IIHS never tested the second-generation CLA, so there's no US crashworthiness data and no award. That's unlike the C-Class, which earned a 2024 TSP+. The score stays in the untested band. It sits near the top of that band because the car earned a strong Euro NCAP 5-star result (2019), and nothing suggests a structural weakness.

Standard equipment covers AEB with pedestrian detection, Blind Spot Assist, automatic high beams and Attention Assist. Adaptive cruise, active lane keeping and rear cross-traffic come only in the $1,700 Driver Assistance Package, so the car falls in the middle band.

Active Brake Assist with pedestrian and cyclist detection comes standard. IIHS never rated front crash prevention on this car, so there's no US day or night pedestrian result to confirm its quality. The score rests on Euro NCAP's 2019 AEB testing.

Standard Blind Spot Assist gives alerts and includes Exit Warning. Active Blind Spot Assist, which steers or brakes the car away from a hazard, and Rear Cross-Traffic Alert with braking both need the optional Driver Assistance Package.

Lane departure warning and lane keeping aren't standard. Active Steering Assist (lane centering) and Active Lane Keeping Assist come only in the package. Where fitted, reviewers describe Mercedes' system as competent.

Distronic works across the full speed range with stop-and-go, uses the maps to adjust speed on the route, and includes Active Emergency Stop Assist. It's a refined system, but it's optional rather than standard.

No hands-free option. Active Steering Assist requires the driver's hands on the wheel, and Drive Pilot was never offered on the CLA.

LED headlamps and automatic high beams are standard. IIHS never rated the CLA's headlights, so their quality is unverified; adaptive Multibeam LED is optional.

The four-door-coupé roofline brings thick C-pillars and a shallow rear window, which limits the view to the rear three-quarters. A rearview camera is standard, but the 360° camera is optional.

The low, sloping roof and small rear door openings make fitting a car seat awkward, and the compact rear bench realistically takes two seats, not three. There's no IIHS LATCH rating to go on.

Five-seat compact sedan, though the rear middle position is tight.

Adequate front headroom despite the coupe-like roofline.

Mid-pack front legroom for a compact sedan.

The sloping roof cuts rear headroom; reviewers say adults over 6 ft brush the headliner.

Among the tightest rear seats in the sedan class.

Small trunk, though the opening is wide and it still takes airport luggage.

For 2024 the touchpad was dropped for an open console tray with wireless charging, but reviewers still call interior storage limited.

Firm, well-bolstered front seats with memory are fine on long drives but narrow for larger adults; the rear seat is cramped.

A composed balance of control and comfort, but firmer than traditional Mercedes sedans, especially on 18-19 in AMG Line wheels.

Reasonably hushed for a compact, but road noise from low-profile tires and a coarse 2.0T under load keep it below larger luxury sedans.

Dual-zone climate and a panoramic roof are standard, but heated seats and heated wheel are extra-cost options and there are no rear vents or ventilated seats on the volume car.

The 2024 CLA 250 Coupe (FWD, 2.0T with new 48V mild hybrid for the refresh year) opens the lineup at $44,350 including destination — Mercedes' second-cheapest model, but pricey against mainstream-luxury compact rivals.

The CLA 250 4MATIC is the most common configuration ($45,200 + $1,150 destination = $46,350); typical option packages push a representative build to about $48K.

Mercedes Service A/B pricing makes the CLA costlier to maintain than mainstream compacts, though it's cheaper than the larger C-Class; KBB projects about $6,100 over five years for the 2024 model.

Mercedes vehicles average about 46% depreciation over five years, and the CLA tracks near the brand average at roughly half its value retained; the 2025 arrival of the all-new MMA-based CLA may weigh on the outgoing generation's residuals.

The standard Mercedes-Benz new-vehicle limited warranty runs 4 years/50,000 miles — typical of German luxury brands, behind Genesis and Lexus-adjacent rivals.

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

Mercedes provides roadside assistance for the warranty period and a Mercedes me connect trial, but no multi-year scheduled maintenance for the 2024 CLA — BMW's 3-yr/36k ultimate care and Genesis's plan beat it.

$48,000 volume-trim price minus its estimated resale value after 5 years (50% retained, or about $24,000) leaves about $24,000 in depreciation. Add the projected $6,069 in 5-year maintenance and repairs, and owning this vehicle for 5 years costs about $30,069 in total.

The sources disagree. J.D. Power rates the 2024 CLA 'Great' at 83/100, but Consumer Reports has historically rated the second-generation CLA below average, in line with its view of recent Mercedes models. The 2024 car is a mid-cycle update of a generation already in its fifth year, which removes launch-year risk, but the refresh brings new electronics that hold the score to mid-band.

Mercedes-Benz has sat below the industry average in J.D. Power's Vehicle Dependability Study and in the lower part of Consumer Reports' brand rankings for several years. It is a mid-to-low-pack brand, well behind Lexus and Toyota.

NHTSA shows no campaign covering the 2024 model year. The C118 generation's recalls are concentrated in the 2020-2021 launch years, plus one 2023 campaign, and none of them is a systemic powertrain or fire defect. Recall activity is typical and has improved for the later years.

The CLA 250 uses the M260 2.0L turbo four, shared with the Renault-Nissan alliance's small-car engine family and sold in the US since the 2019 A-Class. For 2024 it gains a 48V mild-hybrid starter-generator, and it keeps the dual-clutch automatic. The engine has no widespread failure pattern; the DCT's low-speed behavior and the new 48V hardware keep this score mid-band.

The dual-screen MBUX dashboard and turbine vents give the cabin a premium look. Reviewers note harder plastics in lower zones and a less rich feel than the C-Class, which is competitive for entry luxury but not class-leading.

Assembly on a mature generation is generally consistent. Owner complaints centre on electronics and infotainment glitches rather than panel gaps or rattles, and there are occasional reports of cabin squeaks.

Mercedes-Benz USA has roughly 380 dealers, which is dense coverage for a luxury brand, especially in metro areas. Service satisfaction is around the middle of the luxury pack.

The CLA shares its FWD MFA2 parts with the A/GLA/GLB family, so parts are plentiful. Mercedes labor and parts pricing is still well above mainstream brands, and electronics diagnostics lean on the dealer.

The 2024 refresh made the dual 10.25-in widescreen cockpit standard.

The latest-generation MBUX is quick and feature-rich, and the 2024 update runs it through the touchscreen, steering-wheel touch controls and voice after dropping the touchpad; haptic wheel buttons draw criticism.

Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard on every 2024 CLA, new for the refresh.

The 'Hey Mercedes' natural-language assistant is among the better systems, and navigation is standard.

The base system is adequate, and the optional Burmester surround system with Dolby Atmos is an inexpensive upgrade.

The 10.25-in configurable digital cluster is standard on all 2024 trims.

MBUX receives over-the-air infotainment and map updates, but not whole-vehicle updates that add features.

The Mercedes me app covers remote lock, locate and remote start/climate, but several features are subscription-gated after the trial.

Five USB-C ports and standard wireless charging, but no household outlet.

Push-button start and app remote start are available; full KEYLESS-GO proximity entry is packaged rather than standard on the base CLA 250.

A rear camera and Parktronic with active parking assist are standard; surround view is limited to the Pinnacle trim.

A HUD is offered, but only as part of the top Pinnacle trim.

Small rear door openings, a low roof and 33.9 in of rear legroom make rear-facing seats and daily kid loading a struggle; the 11.6 cu ft trunk barely fits a stroller.

Standard AEB and blind-spot monitoring, but there is no NHTSA or IIHS rating for the 2024 CLA and adaptive cruise and lane centering cost extra.

Fine for two up front, but the cramped rear, limited rear amenities and small trunk make four-adult road trips tight.

The mild hybrid smooths stop-start and fills gaps between shifts, but the DCT stays jerky at parking speeds.

30 MPG combined is good for a luxury sedan, but it requires premium fuel.

Compact footprint, a tight ~36 ft turning circle and standard Parktronic self-parking offset weaker rear sightlines.

No US tow rating and a small sedan trunk; not a work vehicle.

A luxury-oriented compact with no fleet or hard-use reputation.

No onboard power, bed or upfit ecosystem.

A ~400-mile range and optional Distronic help on the highway, but the firm ride and road noise limit long-haul comfort.

4MATIC AWD is available, but low ground clearance and no tow rating keep it on pavement.

A small 11.6 cu ft trunk; split-folding rear seats help with long items.

Crisp turn-in, minimal body roll and good corner control make it one of the more athletic entry-luxury compacts.

Well-weighted variable-effort steering that is precise but light on feedback.

Strong, fade-free stops with a linear pedal, though initial bite could be sharper.

The new 48V mild hybrid sharpens response and smooths shifts on the move, but the 8-speed DCT hesitates and lurches at low speed.

The 2.0T is audible and a little coarse when pushed, but quiet at cruise.

A tight turning circle for the class; the C118 chassis carries over for 2024.

A low, sporty seating position with memory seats; the low roof hampers entry and exit and the haptic steering-wheel controls are fiddly.

Nimble and eager with the mild-hybrid boost, but the CLA 250 is more stylish than thrilling next to the AMG versions.

The 2024 refresh made the dual 10.25-inch MBUX screens, 48V mild hybrid and LED headlamps standard, but many items rivals include (adaptive cruise, blind-spot on base builds, heated seats) sit in option packages.

At $44K–$48K the CLA 250 costs about as much as better-equipped, roomier rivals (Acura Integra Type S, Audi A3, BMW 228i) and KBB rates its value below average for the class; the badge carries much of the price.

Four well-spaced configurations — CLA 250 FWD, CLA 250 4MATIC, AMG CLA 35 and AMG CLA 45 S — span roughly $44K to $66K, with FWD/AWD choice and deep option packages, but only one body style in the US.

A steady entry-luxury seller whose volume recovered in 2024 as supply improved, though compact luxury sedans overall are a shrinking segment losing buyers to small crossovers like the GLA/GLB.

The three-pointed star is the CLA's main draw — an aspirational badge at the lowest Mercedes sedan price, though enthusiasts see the entry model as diluting the brand.

With the all-new CLA announced and inventory of outgoing 2024 models on lots, Mercedes lease specials and dealer discounts were commonly available, without fire-sale pricing.

The 2024 model year brought a mid-cycle refresh (restyled front, latest MBUX, 48V mild hybrid), but the second-generation C118 dates to 2020 and the all-new third-generation CLA was unveiled in March 2025, making this a late-cycle purchase.

Critics praise its styling, handling and cabin tech but knock the cramped rear seat, small trunk and stiff ride; ranked mid-pack in its class without major awards.