A slightly refreshed exterior and the latest infotainment technology are the main highlights of the facelift Mercedes-Benz CLA “coupe” and shooting brakes.
Anyone expecting a radical redesign will be disappointed. The main changes are a new front bumper, and redesigned graphics for the LED headlights and taillights. Many models also sport a new grille with a mini three-pointed star all over.
On the inside, the changes are also subtle with a Nappa leather steering wheel now standard. Trim elements have been modified, and include faux carbon fiber, and open-pore brown lime wood, with microfiber trim available on AMG models.
More recycled fabrics are used throughout the cabin, with the base fabric seat trim now featuring 100 percent recycled material.
The rectangular slab above the dashboard comes with a 7.0-inch display as standard in front of the driver, with more expensive variants using a 10.25-inch screen.
The infotainment setup is powered by the latest iteration of the MBUX system, and all variants have a 10.25-inch touchscreen display as standard. The trackpad in the center console has been replaced with a storage area, and the system supports wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay connectivity.
Mercedes-Benz has added an extra USB-C port to the CLA range, and illuminated all charging ports. The optional Burmeister surround sound system now includes Dolby Atmos support.
All regular CLA drive ranges, at least in Europe, feature some form of electrification, mostly in the form of a 48V mild hybrid setup that includes a 10kW starter generator.
In Europe petrol offerings include a 1.3-litre four-cylinder turbo in 100kW/230Nm CLA180 and 120kW/270Nm CLA200 trim, and a 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo in 140kW/300Nm CLA220 and 300Nm CLA220 and 300Nm CLA220.
There are also three versions of the 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel: 85kW/280Nm CLA180d, 110kW/320Nm CLA200d and 140kW/400Nm CLA220d.
The biggest improvement is for CLA250e the plug-in hybrid, which has a new electric motor with 80kW and 300Nm, up 5kW from before. Paired with a 1.3 liter 120kW/270Nm engine, the 250e has a total output of 160kW and 450Nm.
Charging for the 15.6kWh lithium-ion battery pack has also been improved, with the 250e now supporting 11kW AC charging, up from the previous maximum of 7.4kW. The peak DC charging rate is still limited to 22kW.
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AMG CLA45 S 4Matic+ Street Style Edition
For AMG-branded models, the most significant changes are to CLA35 4Matic, which gets the 48V engine starter mild hybrid setup from the lower model. This not only provides better automatic engine stop/start functionality, but can provide a 10kW power boost when needed.
The 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine is still rated at 225kW and 400Nm, and the 0-100km/h time is unchanged at 4.9 seconds.
The CLA45 S 4Matic+ has an unchanged 2.0-litre turbo which is said to produce 310kW and 500Nm.
However, there is a new Street Style Edition available for the CLA45 S, which includes 19-inch five-twin-spoke alloy wheels, an AMG aero package with black pieces and orange trim, Magno matte gray paint, prominent AMG lettering on the doors, and checkered flag form above the threshold. Interior sports microfibre trim with contrasting bright orange highlights.
It’s unclear which drivetrain options will be offered in Australia when the facelift is available, but the current range features the CLA200, CLA250 4Matic, AMG CLA35 4Matic and AMG CLA45 S 4Matic+.
MORE: It’s all Mercedes-Benz CLA
