Used 2022 Mercedes-Benz CLA

To be clear from the get-go, every 2022 Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class model has four doors. Although the company describes it as a coupe, there aren’t two body styles. Just this one — a premium subcompact sedan with a roof that slopes a little more dramatically than a typical 4-door car.

Before the A-Class came along, the CLA was the gateway to owning a new Mercedes-Benz. They’re both based on the same foundation. The A-Class is a more conventional small sedan, while the CLA is sleeker.

This second generation of CLA-Class debuted for 2020, so the tech is up to date — for comfort, convenience, and safety. It’s a true Mercedes-Benz, just in a subcompact body.

Negotiating city streets and slotting easily into tight parking spaces are a couple of the joys of owning a smaller new Mercedes-Benz. The 2022 CLA-Class is an uptown car, but if drivers had to take an 8-hour journey, it would be something to relish.

Naturally, the bigger the engine, the greater the fun. The 2022 Mercedes-AMG CLA 35 makes a great introduction to the high-performance thrills of the AMG division with 302 horsepower and an AMG-tuned sport suspension. It can sprint from standstill to 60 mph in a fleeting 4.8 seconds. For those who’d like to get there 0.8 of a second quicker, the CLA 45 will oblige.

Developing 382 horsepower, the CLA 45 has one of the world’s most potent turbocharged 2.0-liter 4-cylinder production engines. It’s expensive, but it’s awesome.

Many of the features that make Mercedes-Benz cabins so special are here in the 2022 CLA-Class — such as the turbine-like vents on the dashboard, the freestanding double-screen unit, and the powered front seat adjusters on the doors.

Occupant space up front is fine for most people. Rear passenger space isn’t so expansive. As well as the roof being no respecter of heads, legroom of 33.9 inches is tight. It would be wrong to criticize the CLA too much for this aspect, though. This isn’t meant to be a family car.

We’ll save our main gripe for the rear three-quarter vision, impeded by wide rear pillars on either side of a small rear window. It’s a good thing that blind-spot monitoring is standard, yet consider optional driver aids like the 360-degree camera system and parking assistance feature as well.

At 11.6 cubic feet, the CLA’s trunk is three cubes larger than the one in the A-Class.

For a moment, let’s forget about rear headroom, limited over-the-shoulder vision and the lax interpretation of the coupe form by Mercedes-Benz, and enjoy the harmonious proportions of the 2022 CLA-Class. It has a premium-car presence, in spite of its subcompact dimensions.

AMG versions have vertical grille slats, as opposed to the horizontal louvres in the CLA 250’s grille. The AMG cars also have larger air intakes up front.

White, black, or (oddly) yellow are the no-cost paint choices. Most others cost $720, but one special grey is $2,500. This year sees Rose Gold join the options for CLA-Class AMG models. These cars are also eligible for a new AMG Night Package Plus that adds black grille slats and black badges.

Even the relatively humble 2022 CLA 250 can still be ordered with an AMG body styling package, as well as AMG-design wheels, plus front/rear spoilers and side mirror housings finished with a carbon fiber look.

MBUX
Or Mercedes-Benz User Experience. It’s the name given to the CLA’s infotainment system, which is smarter than the average stereo. It recognizes and carries out voice commands given in natural speech. Just say: “Hey, Mercedes” to activate it, then say something like: “I’m cold” and the system raises the climate control’s temperature. It’s like Apple’s Siri, only in a car, and actually learns things over time.

BURMESTER SURROUND-SOUND SYSTEM
This is an option across the 2022 CLA-Class range and the best part of $1,000, but every luxury car deserves an equally high-grade audio system. It’s a 12-speaker/590-watt setup that’s an absolute treat for the ears, regardless of whether their tastes run to Billie Eilish or Bach.

Despite being at the lower end of Mercedes-Benz prices, the 2022 CLA 250 comes with a decent inventory of standard equipment. This includes 18-inch alloy wheels, LED headlights/taillights, rain-sensing wipers. panoramic roof, keyless entry/ignition, simulated leather upholstery (that’s actually pretty good), leather-wrapped steering wheel, power-adjustable front seats with memory settings, dual-zone automatic climate control, two 7-inch displays (one for driver information, the other is the infotainment system’s touchscreen), selectable driving modes, Apple CarPlay/Android Auto smartphone integration, and 64-color ambient lighting.

Active Brake Assist is the company’s term for forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking, which is standard in the CLA 250, along with blind-spot monitoring.

The CLA 250 is available with the 4Matic all-wheel-drive system, as well as many tempting extras. Among them are twin 10.25-inch screens (part of the Premium pack that also includes self-dimming rearview and driver’s-side mirrors), navigation with augmented video, heated/ventilated front seats, heated steering wheel, wireless charging, and a Burmester surround-sound system.

We would, however, recommend concentrating first on things like the Driver Assistance package, which adds adaptive cruise control, evasive steering assistance, cross-traffic braking, and active blind-spot assistance. And then consider the Parking Assistance package for a self-parking feature and a 360-degree camera system.

Most of those additions apply to the AMG models (the larger screens are standard), which also offer Multicontour front seats, special steering wheels wrapped in Nappa leather and/or simulated suede, and a head-up display. The CLA 45 is eligible for an AMG Dynamic Plus package that includes a track data recorder, stronger brakes, sport-tuned adaptive suspension, Race/Drift driving modes, and a higher top speed of 167 mph.

CLA 250 models employ a turbocharged 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine developing 221 horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque. This is connected to a 7-speed automatic transmission. The regular CLA 250 has front-wheel drive (FWD), and the CLA 250 4Matic has all-wheel drive (AWD).

Both AMG versions also use a turbocharged 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine. In the CLA 35, it generates 302 horsepower and 295 lb-ft of torque. An AMG-tuned 7-speed automatic transmission sends that power to all four wheels as standard.

The CLA 45’s engine is hand-built and signed by the AMG technician who assembled it. It produces a remarkable 382 horsepower and 354 lb-ft of torque, which goes to a special AMG-tuned 4Matic all-wheel-drive system through a similarly special AMG-tuned 8-speed automatic transmission.

Premium gasoline is required across the range. These fuel economy estimates from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) relate to 2021, but we don’t expect any changes for 2022.

2.0-liter turbocharged inline-4 (CLA 250)
221 horsepower @ 5,800 rpm
258 lb-ft of torque @ 1,800-4,000 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 25/35 mpg (FWD); 24/33 mpg (AWD)

2.0-liter turbocharged inline-4 (AMG CLA 35)
302 horsepower @ 5,800 rpm
295 lb-ft of torque @ 3,000-4,000 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 22/29 mpg

2.0-liter turbocharged inline-4 (AMG CLA 45)
382 horsepower @ 6,500 rpm
354 lb-ft of torque @ 4,750-5,000 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 20/29 mpg