Mercedes-Benz CLA Shooting Brake 2016 car review

Instantly recognisable thanks to its rounded contours, the CLA 250 Sport 4MATIC Shooting Brake is striking to say the least from the very first glance. Frameless windows give it a coupé-like character, showcasing even more flare and a design concept that’s unique to its class, but it also offers the versatility and practicality of a sports wagon.

Diamonds galore

As part of their makeover, all models now come with a diamond radiator grille in black as standard, which contains precisely 232 chrome dots. They also have a new front bumper that contains either a silver, black or chrome trim strip. The tailpipe covers now sit flush with the bumper, enhancing the superior look of this Mercedes by visibly reducing gaps where the panels join.

The interior has new seat covers, trim parts and chrome-plated controls. The highlight is the infotainment system, which has a slimmer-looking, freestanding, 8” media display with a newly styled glass cover. The redesigned instrument dials and red needles add visual effect while also making the instruments easier to read.

Ever-evolving safety

Emergency braking functions are taken care of by the Active Brake Assist, formerly known as Collision Prevention Assist Plus. This system reduces the danger of rear-end collisions and is gradually being introduced in other model series, but here is comes as yet another standard feature in the CLA. Also included is Dynamic Select where the engine, transmission, steering and air conditioning can be changed from sporty to economic driving settings at the push of a button. Changes to the suspension damping are enabled through the AMG Ride Control sports suspension, which alters handling characteristics according to your preferred Dynamic Select setting.

Fixed LED headlights comes as standard as well – or there’s the optional high performance package which have natural LED lights and consume around 60% less energy to run. The illumination is easy on the eye, providing relief to the driver at night. Direction indicators, DRLs and position lamps utilise fibre optic cables which are also used for the ‘coming home’ function – the feature where your exterior lights stay on after locking the car, in order to get to your front door safely. The real beauty with LEDs of course is that the bulbs will never need to be changed for the entire service life of the vehicle.

Upgrades on offer

The vehicle I tested included the upgraded driver assistance and command packages. The assistance package offered cruise control with a following distance setting and passive lane keep assist. While you need to dig a little deeper in to your pockets for these advanced safety systems – $5,000 to be precise – it’s this plus the standard safety package which have all contributed to the CLA’s 5 star ANCAP safety rating. The command package enhanced the infotainment system by adding a Harmon Kardon Logic 7 surround sound system with 12 speakers.

Topping off the CLA’s upgrade package are 19” AMG multi spoke wheels which add some further wow factor to its already impressive exterior finish

What’s more, priced at less than $90k, the CLA I drove is one of the more affordable models in the Mercedes-Benz range, offering great value for money considering the bang you get for your buck. So, if you’re after a bit of luxury, this is one head turner of a car that’s great to drive, and strikes an impressive balance between sportiness, functionality and elegance.