Mercedes-Benz CLA Shooting Brake first drive review

[Express]

Mercedes-Benz CLA Shooting Brake first drive review

Date: June 12, 2015
David Morley
Freelance Motoring Writer


Benz's baby station wagon is a stylish and practical SUV alternative.


Make: Mercedes-Benz
Family: CLA200
Series: X117
Year: 2015
Badge Description: Shooting Brake DCT
Doors: 5

You can't accuse Mercedes-Benz of not making the most of its current compact-car platform.

As well as the original A-Class hatchback, the B-Class, CLA Coupe and GLA small SUV, there's now another variant.

The CLA Shooting Brake (a two-dollar term for station-wagon) is based on the swoopy CLA but features an extended rear section which allows for higher, longer loads as well as a full 40mm more headroom in the rear seat.



Mercedes-Benz has launched its Wagon or Shooting Brake version of its little CLA coupe.


The range starts with the CLA 200 version of the Shooting Brake which gets the 1.6-litre turbocharged petrol engine, an official fuel-consumption figure of 5.7 litres per 100km and 115kW of power.

The CLA 200 with a diesel engine is next and is, in fact, the only diesel in the line-up, in this case a 2.1-litre, turbocharged unit good for 100kW of power and, crucially, 300Nm of torque as well as 4.3 litres per 100km fuel economy.

The CLA 250 Sport is next with a 155kW 2.0-litre turbo petrol engine and 6.9 litres per 100km.

Significantly, the 250 Sport also gets Mercedes' 4Matic all-wheel-drive system for extra grip on loose or wet surfaces.

Knowing the Australian market's love of all things with an AMG badge, Benz will also offer the CLA 45 AMG, again with all-wheel-drive and a 265kW version of the 2.0-litre engine.

Fuel consumption for the AMG version rises to a still commendable (given the performance) 7.2 litres per 100km and, like all CLAs, runs the excellent seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission.

All Australian CLA Shooting Brakes get a long list of standard kit including keyless entry and start, eight-inch information screen, full media connectivity, navigation, reversing camera, dual-zone climate-control and rain-sensing wipers.

Safety is also comprehensively covered off on all CLAs with autonomous emergency braking, nine air-bags, an active bonnet for pedestrian protection and Mercedes' Pre-Safe which prepares the car for a crash if conditions suggest the shunt has become inevitable.

Drive managed to sample all four engine variants this week, starting with the CLA 250 version which is expected to be the volume seller.

Given that it's only really bodywork that is different from the CLA with all-wheel-drive, there's no wholesale variation in the way the Shooting Brake drives and steers.

But the AMG-calibrated dampers do a marvellous job of defining the body control without ruining the ride and there's a distinctly classy air about the way the Shooting Brake carries itself.

Our only complaint would be the gearbox's eagerness to shift into each successive higher gear with the result that you often find yourself in seventh gear at a fairly low road speed with a slight grumble form the engine at this treatment.

Shift the gearbox into Sport and the reverse becomes the case; now the transmission holds each gear too long, making the car feel overly busy around the suburbs.

The diesel gets around that by having more torque at lower revs and the CLA 45 version with its monster AMG-tuned engine seems to have its gearbox calibrated differently and, likewise, doesn't suffer the same feeling of being slightly over-geared.

Which brings us to the pick of the bunch, the base-model CLA 200.

The gearbox calibration on the entry-level car is still too aggressive in Sport, but left in Economy, the shift points seem to suit the 1.6-litre engine better.

And the smaller engine itself seems a little sweeter and smoother to us, making it the happiest package, yet still packing enough punch to be more than just adequate.

The new tailgate opens electrically and there's plenty of space for gear of all shapes and sizes, even if the roofline means some boxier wagons will swallow more.

But fold the rear seats forward and the accommodation for bikes, dogs and skis gets even better.

Throw in the fact that the Shooting Brake is probably the looker of the CLA bunch, and it begins to put up a pretty convincing argument for short-listing it.

Pricing starts at $52,400 (plus on-road costs) for the CLA 200 while the turbo-diesel option adds just $500.

The CLA 250 lists at $66,400 and the AMG heavy-hitter will lighten your wallet by $89,000.

Mercedes-Benz CLA 200 Shooting Brake pricing and specifications

On-sale: Now

Price: from $52,400 (plus on-road costs)

Engine: 1.6-litre 4-cyl turbo (CLA 200), 2.1-litre 4-cyl turbo diesel (CLA 200), 2.0-litre 4-cyl turbo (CLA250 and CLA45)

Power: 115kW, 100kW, 155kW, 265kW

Torque: 250Nm, 300Nm, 350Nm, 450Nm

Transmission: 7-spd dual-clutch automatic, FWD (CLA 200), AWD (CLA250, CLA45)

Consumption: 5.7L/100km / 4.3L/100km / 6.9L/100km / 7.2L/100km

http://www.drive.com.au/new-car-revi...11-ghkopb.html

[fps_grandma]

NSW drive away prices according to the MB Australia website:

https://www.driveaway.mercedes-benz....-Brake/CLA-200

CLA200 - $57,577.39
CLA200 CDI - $58,251.39
CLA250 Sport 4MATIC - $72,426.39
CLA45 AMG 4MATIC - $99,182.46 (Coupay version is $97,606.86)

Yet to see one in person and at least it isn't another SUV.
Driven the non-shooting brake AMG version and it was one quick boy racer 4WD.

Too bad I have a serious OCD against anything that doesn't drive the rear wheels only.

[Pub247]

an extra 110kw from what im guessing is the same engine is impressive 255kw from a 2lt is pretty impressive.
Im actually quite a fan of the new look mercedes there some duds in the range but overall a nice looking car especially the wagons