- The 2024 Mercedes-Benz CLA Coupe melds luxury and style
- Pricing starts at $44,350, including destination fee | Price it your way
- On sale now | See Mercedes CLA models for sale near you
The Mercedes-Benz CLA Coupe is the gateway into the German luxury brand’s lineup of sedans. Wait… doesn’t the CLA have “coupe” in its name? Well, this isn’t a coupe in the traditional sense of having two doors but is rather a 4-door sedan with a coupe-like roofline.
Whatever you call it, the 2024 CLA proves you don’t need to be a CEO to drive a Mercedes-Benz. If you’re an up-and-coming account executive, this might just be your next ride. And that saying about dressing for the job you want, not the one you have? We’ll say drive the car toward the job you want. Even as Mercedes’ smallest and least expensive sedan, the CLA Coupe is still every bit a Mercedes-Benz with a cadre of creature comforts, willing powertrains, and slick technology that would have looked equally impressive in a flagship S-Class sedan not that long ago – because it did.
The Mercedes-Benz CLA has been freshened for 2024 with styling revisions front and back, new choices in paint colors and wheel styles, and more standard equipment, such as dual 10.25-inch displays in the cockpit. The CLA can be had in front-wheel drive (FWD) or Mercedes’ 4Matic all-wheel drive (AWD) and offers a choice of three turbocharged engines that range in potency from 221 horsepower in the CLA 250 to a shocking 416 hp in the Mercedes-AMG CLA 45. We’re particularly fond of splitting the difference with the 302-hp Mercedes-AMG CLA 35.
Passenger Room and Comfort
The Mercedes CLA Coupe can seat up to five passengers, but they’d best be on good terms, at least those sitting in the back. Rear legroom of 33.9 inches is tolerable for adults, but just remember that this is a subcompact sedan, not an S-Class.
The driver and front passenger will have little to quibble about. We’ve found the front seats comfortable, and like other Mercedes-Benz luxury vehicles, they have those recognizable adjustment buttons high in the door panel. Sometimes, it’s the small, useful touches that make a car special, and that’s the case here.
Features and Tech
We love that the CLA’s freshening for 2024 has brought standard 10.25-inch digital displays. One acts as a digital instrument cluster, while the other serves as the infotainment screen to handle audio, navigation, and phone integration. Wireless Apple CarPlay and wireless Android Auto come standard.
There are also multiple USB-C ports, it’s ready for over-the-air update software updates, and it has the ability to sound amazing. If you appreciate listening to music while driving as much as we do, take a listen to the optional Burmester audio system with Dolby Atmos compatibility. We think it’s well worth the extra $970.
Materials and Design
Another aspect we applaud with the CLA – and Mercedes-Benz vehicles in general – is the wide palette of upholstery colors and materials available. It’s not just black or gray here. Also available are Macchiato Beige, deep brown, and a striking black and red combination. If you’re a Louboutin lover, you’ll be smitten by the latter.
The standard upholstery is Mercedes’ MB-Tex synthetic leather. Genuine leather is also available. Trim choices range from brushed aluminum to natural wood grains. We must mention the standard, 64-color ambient LED lighting that lets you instantly change the mood of the cabin. Cool!
Cargo Room and Flexibility
There’s a reason drummers and Costco members drive SUVs, not subcompact sedans. But if you’re more into flutes and quick jaunts to Whole Foods, the CLA should suit you just fine. Massive cargo space is not among the CLA’s strengths. Its trunk has 11.6 cubic feet of cargo room, which is on the small side. But all is not lost if you impulsively buy a TV or a new set of skis, as the rear seats fold in a convenient 40/20/40 split, allowing some cargo flexibility even in Mercedes’ smallest sedan.
Build and price your own version of the 2024 Mercedes-Benz CLA Coupe to see this week’s Kelley Blue Book Fair Purchase Price, or check out Mercedes CLA models for sale near you.
