Mercedes CLA 250 review, the car I thought i'd hate!

[max225]

but instead I kind of love it...
Frankly this thing is a grown up GTI...

I have no idea who complained about lack of refinement or shitty cabin in this car. It is a very premium experience, on par or better than the A3.

I will post pics once I take better ones but frankly this is an AWESOME CAR. Yes shoot me, I love the baby dick benz but it is better than the C class that I drove for an extended period of time.

Here is what is great about it.
1. Great lights
2. Great moon roof
3. Great seats
4. Most of the interior is super premium
5. Very good steering, it is pretty heavy and responsive similar to Mk6 GTI/TDI/R
6. Nice suspension over 90% of pavement
7. Tons of refinement, no windnoise, almost no road noise etc.
8. Decent trunk
9. Very decent stereo.
10. Engine has a great punch especially from 2500-6k rpm
11. Insane turning radius, you can easily park this thing anywhere.
12. high 20s in terms of MPG

Here is what sucks...
1. Useless back seat, unless your passengers are 5'6" or shorter, and i seriously mean USELESS.
2. Back visibility is blah
3. EVERYTHING IS A GOD DAMN OPTION, this 32k car had 14k options and frankly they make the car great the base car would be absolute shit. This car is not worth 46k period, that's insanity. Is it a good car FUCK YES, is it a 46k car? No
4. The transmission refuses to shift, or shifts by itself even in manual mode, the DSGAY is better in that regard. however in sport mode it allows for very decent driving.
5. I hate the way it looks like a squished bug...

Here is a video of what the brakes looked like after i took it through the canyons for 5 min... and yes this is with the fancy "AMG" package

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Swd-CgBJP-Y

Honestly I would recommend this car over a C class to most ppl, it is a far far better driving experience and it is downright FUN. I wanted to hate it, I really did, but surprisingly I loved it. It is one awesome machine

[ChrisoftheNorth]

But to make it great, you have to option the hell out of it...so is it really that great considering it's so expensive?

[max225]

But to make it great, you have to option the hell out of it...so is it really that great considering it's so expensive?

You are correct, every single thing I loved about the car was in fact an option over the sticker
the seats, the nice nav, the amg wheels, the moon roof, the leather on the dash + doors, the lights and the stereo. That's 11k right there.
It is a tough call... there really isn't another car that is THIS nice and small for the money save for a A3. However, the A3 will be comparably priced if similarly equipped.

There really aren't many compact luxury cars that ride nicely... the 3 series is worse, the 2 series only comes in 2 door etc.

Everything else is some kind of compromise... in interior amenities or what not.

[ChrisoftheNorth]

I've got a very limited experience with recent stuff (sitting in at carshow, I know ), but I think a base A3 is nicer than the base CLA and would possibly require less options.

[max225]

Oh matter of fact... I just remembered another car that would compare... a Mini Pooper... however the CLA refinement and interiors are are over the mini except the JCWs... that would be a tough call, I'd think I'd go JCW for the money.

[ChrisoftheNorth]

Oh matter of fact... I just remembered another car that would compare... a Mini Pooper... however the CLA refinement and interiors are are over the mini except the JCWs... that would be a tough call, I'd think I'd go JCW for the money.

I don't think the MINI interior touches a CLA or A3.

They're nice, but not that nice.

JCW would be more fun for the money, for sure.

[razr390]

I think the C class looks way better than the CLA, but I can appreciate the CLA's role in the segment

[Davestr]

Nice review Max. That conflicted car sells well here. A friend of the frau has a loaded one and she paid 50k+. Nice but Im looking around at slightly used others that have more performance and or space. Say a lightly used Macan etc among others. Loaded Golf-R etc etc. They depreciate here terribly to be honest. Of course what doesnt now but If I had to go baby sedan from large maker I think S3 is the ticket.

[max225]

I think the C class looks way better than the CLA, but I can appreciate the CLA's role in the segment

Looks and certain interior aspects the c is worlds better. But the cla drives better ... much better

[max225]

Nice review Max. That conflicted car sells well here. A friend of the frau has a loaded one and she paid 50k+. Nice but Im looking around at slightly used others that have more performance and or space. Say a lightly used Macan etc among others. Loaded Golf-R etc etc. They depreciate here terribly to be honest. Of course what doesnt now but If I had to go baby sedan from large maker I think S3 is the ticket.

A used macan here is 50-60k a used cla just like
Mine for the weekend is 35-36k.

I really have to drive a newer egg r to see, but I'd pick this over a mk6 i think. Tough call really.

It is a very conflicting car

[ChrisoftheNorth]

Yea, but then you're in a baby bitch MB, and everyone knows it.

[Johnny_P]

I think they look pretty dopey

[max225]

Yea, but then you're in a baby bitch MB, and everyone knows it.

Exactly, ugh. Frankly I don't remember driving a car that was this great combo in a while.

[wap]

Got pics?

[max225]

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[ChrisoftheNorth]

Such poverty.

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[razr390]

Such poverty.

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[rockchops]

It's ugly doe?

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G930A using Tapatalk

[wap]

I don't think it's particularly ugly.

[ChrisoftheNorth]

I don't think it's particularly ugly.

Not particularly attractive either.

[rockchops]

There's something weird about its proportions that just doesn't sit right with me

[ChrisoftheNorth]

There's something weird about its proportions that just doesn't sit right with me

Looks too poor?

[Apex]

There's something weird about its proportions that just doesn't sit right with me

Looks too poor?

No panda nest.

[Johnny_P]

Looks too poor?

No panda nest.

This can be solved easily with trip to Marshalls as mentioned, or Target. Maybe Bed Bath and Beyond but I don't know if you'd have time.

[Apex]

No panda nest.

This can be solved easily with trip to Marshalls as mentioned, or Target. Maybe Bed Bath and Beyond but I don't know if you'd have time.

Nice.