Test Drive: 'Bargain' Mercedes CLA disappoints

Almost hilarious front overhang: http://socalfsj.servebbs.net/storage...p/mb_cla_1.jpg
Interior: http://socalfsj.servebbs.net/storage...p/mb_cla_2.jpg

Just some quick thoughts...I can't help but make a comparison to the X-Type here. Really, a front-wheel drive Mercedes in the USA? And that is one of the worst 'luxury' interiors I've ever seen - way too busy, sharp, and "loud." I like Mercedes, but really...it seems that this car is already getting worse reviews that the X-Type did. Aside from a couple of bad reviews where the magazines got some pre-production X-Types, I've NEVER seen a bad review of the baby Jag - everyone simply complained about it being too expensive (which it was). If the X-Type is a squished XJ, is the CLA a squished CLS? Sure looks like that's what they went for. Shouldn't Mercedes-Benz be held to the same standard of ridicule? lol

Apparently it's not ok for the X to share ~20% with the Mondeo, but it's perfectly acceptable for a FWD US Mercedes to share its platform with the B Class?

Yeah the CLA looks good enough, but I'm going to go ahead and do what the X-Type haters did - the CLA is really this underneath:

B Class: http://socalfsj.servebbs.net/storage...ss-profile.jpg



Anyway, just thought I would apply the same scrutiny to this FRONT WHEEL DRIVE fake Mercedes as was applied to our X-Type, which I think, with its timeless looks, still holds its own even today.

 

The CLS, especially 1st gen, is utterly gorgeous. However, having seen a few CLAs both in photos and in the traffic, the styling looks awkward to me. It's just not well-balanced nor -proportioned.

Jaguar has always been considered a brand that is market-wise a rival for Audi/BMW/Mercedes-Benz, yet has also always been a bit above those. Usually mentioned alongside Aston Martin, Bentley, Ferrari, Porsche and the sort, just because of the image. A brand like that introducing a smaller, cheaper car is a much bigger deal than Mercedes-Benz making an FWD car, especially since they've paved the road (to both FWD-ness and small ugly cars) with the A-class a long time ago.

Aston Martin, Bentley, Jaguar, Lamborghini and Rolls-Royce are all planning SUVs, how about that for a shocker?

 

Exactly! Here in the USA, Mercedes carefully crafts their image as being prestigious and upscale only, and tries very hard to keep the average buyer in the dark as to what they sell in Europe. I think that's why the C230 Coupe never caught on? Introducing this FWD "Yaris" Benz just goes against everything they've marketed here for as long as I can remember.

I thought the CLS was gorgeous when it first came out. Now in 2013, I think it has aged decently but looks a bit similar to the facelifted R-Class.

You sure hit the nail on the head about the Jaguar brand carrying a bit more cachet and being able to hang with the best of the best. It does make more sense that expectations would be much, much higher.

You're also so right about the proportions. I've read a lot of criticisms of the X-Type for being not proportioned properly, but the more I look at this CLA, the more it looks like a joke to me. Compare the profile pic in the first post with this one of the X-Type: http://socalfsj.servebbs.net/storage...profile800.jpg

Put the two pics side-by-side. Who can honestly say that the CLA has better proportions? It's way out of whack; just about every dimension on it is wrong. The front overhang is way too long, the roof shoots too high (just like everything else) and then runs out of length at the non-existent rear end. And while the lack of a Hofmeister Kink works on the CLS (and most other Merc models), here on the CLA it just makes the rear look like a low-end car with a bloated D-pillar. Jaguar did a MUCH better job here; seeing it compared to cars like the CLA really shows what a feat it was to get a small car to look like and have the presence of a larger one.

BTW...Maserati is also supposed to be debuting an SUV; I'm particularly interested in this one as it will supposedly be sharing a platform with the new Grand Wagoneer. I really think the SUV party is over and that such iconic brands shouldn't bother diluting their pedigrees with big ugly porkers.

 

I am not an accountant, but really? Isn't this market already flooded? I know things are cyclical, but a RR suv?...Its like that Aston Martin smart car they put out a couple of yeas ago. No one wants an Aston Martin smart car. I know that the Porsche SUV's have sold, but that does not mean other brands will.

 

I was waiting to hear what you guys thought about the CLA. I think my main problem with it is the overly-German interior, it reminds me just how utilitarian German cars are. It's honestly sad that if you buy a Camry with a leather interior, it will look fairly similar to modern Mercedes-Benz and BMW interiors.

And let's talk about that navigation screen, it looks like someone forgot to incorporate it into the design and then decided to slap a Garmin on the dash in some eleventh-hour attempt to market it as a feature.

 

Well, the Aston Martin Cygnet is axed:
http://www.motorauthority.com/news/1...our-land-yacht

But oh yeaaah.


And RR plans, no photos yet. The Aston photo though is likely a hoax. Hopefully.
Rolls-Royce SUV under consideration, says CEO |*CarAdvice

Horrid each and every one...have the mods yet started planning the SUV section for this forum?

 

Absolutely horrid. The Mazdaguar CX17 up top is just sad and generic like the current Jaguar sedans and the other brands look like transformer versions of their sedan cars-in a very bad way-

 

The Consumer Reports review on the 208hp CLA is in...I'll let it speak for itself:

Yahoo!

After reading all the X-Type bashing, I posit that Mercedes USA has finally created one of their own.