The sleek 2023 Mercedes-Benz CLA subcompact luxury sedan has qualities worthy of the famed 3-pointed star on its nose, although for less money than any of its stablemates. Pricing starts at $39,350. This is the most affordable new Mercedes-Benz now that the A-Class has been discontinued. Look for it on the company’s website, and it’ll be in the Coupes category. That’s just marketing. The CLA is most definitely a 4-door car, except it has a roof that slopes down to the tail in a more stylish fashion than a typical sedan. This is now the second generation of CLA, which debuted for 2020. It’s still a youthful car, then, with current technology. Yet, it also possesses the prestige and pedigree that only a Mercedes-Benz can muster.
2023 Mercedes-Benz CLA Pricing
The 2023 Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class starts at $39,350. This is for the CLA 250 with front-wheel drive. All-wheel drive is an extra $2,000. The priciest version is the AMG CLA 45, from almost $58K. Add a lavish amount of options, and the final tally could be closer to $74K. These are the manufacturer’s suggested retail prices (MSRP) and do not include the $1,150 factory-to-dealer delivery fee (destination charge). Even though the CLA is the most affordable Mercedes-Benz, it’s not the most affordable subcompact luxury car. The Audi A3 starts at $35.4K, and the BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe at $37.8K. More tangential choices include the Acura Integra from $31K or the Cadillac CT4 from $34.4K. If a more conventional and larger sedan is preferable, the Mercedes-Benz C-Class begins at $44,850.
Before buying a new CLA luxury subcompact sedan, check the Kelley Blue Book Fair Purchase Price to know what you should really pay.
Class-Leading Resale Values
Among entry-level luxury cars, the CLA retains its value the best.
What’s New for 2023
There are no changes to the Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class range this year.
Driving the 2023 Mercedes-Benz CLA
We like driving the CLA-Class. A lot of people will agree. It’s taut without being overly firm and responsive yet not snappy. It’s comfortable in town, easy to maneuver, and makes a pleasant oasis amid the madness of city traffic and gridlocks. When the time comes for a longer trip, the CLA will keep fatigue to a minimum and spark some interest if the roads become more challenging. That interest becomes deeper if you’re in one of the AMG models, with their specially tuned engines, transmissions, suspensions, and all-wheel-drive systems. Then the CLA morphs into a more rounded package, adding serious driver appeal to its other attributes. We’ve spent hundreds of hours driving and researching the current collection of subcompact luxury cars like this Mercedes-Benz CLA.
Upscale, Scaled-Down Interior
For anyone sitting in the front seats, the 2023 CLA is cool. They’re treated to the same kind of air vents found in bigger and much more expensive Mercedes-Benz models, as well as a one-piece unit incorporating screens for the driver information and infotainment systems. The seats themselves are comfortable, even after a few hours. And 64-color ambient cabin lighting is standard. The materials are suitably upscale, as is the design in general. Those in the back aren’t quite so fortunate. The car’s sloping roof looks great from the outside yet compromises rear headroom. No one expects miracles from a subcompact car, but another inch or two of rear legroom would have brought the CLA closer to the Audi A3 and BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe. Outward vision is also affected by the wide rear pillars. Fortunately, blind-spot monitoring is another standard feature. Since it’s unlikely the CLA will be used as a family car, it doesn’t have to take a week’s worth of groceries for a hungry bunch. The 11.6-cubic-foot trunk will hold a couple of golf bags, though.
Our Favorite Features and Tech
MBUX Navigation with Augmented Video Parking Assistance Package
Known more formally as the Mercedes-Benz User Experience, MBUX is the company’s infotainment system, which recognizes commands given in natural speech. For example, saying, “Hey, Mercedes, raise the cabin temperature by five degrees,” results in a warmer interior. Apple CarPlay/Android Auto smartphone integration is standard.
When trying to reach a location in unfamiliar territory, this feature (part of the optional Multimedia package) is a great help, displaying street numbers and directions over a video image from a forward-facing camera.
The CLA’s subcompact dimensions aside, it’s always good to have help when parking. This option does all the steering, braking, and shifting and works for parallel and perpendicular spaces alike. A 360-degree camera system is also included.
Driver Assistance Package
Although it’s disappointing that some items aren’t standard, this optional bundle has several desirable safety features, like cross-traffic alert, active blind-spot assistance, active lane-keeping, and adaptive cruise control that adjusts speed according to the route as well as the immediate conditions.
Burmester audio
Burmester systems are also installed in more expensive Mercedes-Benz models, and Porsche is another Burmester client. The 12-speaker, 590-watt surround-sound system that’s optional across the 2023 CLA range is clear, strong, and detailed.
AMG models
For the enthusiast, admittedly, these are a lot of fun. AMG is to Mercedes-Benz what the M cars are to BMW.
Engine & Transmission
Every engine propelling a 2023 CLA variant is a turbocharged 2.0-liter 4-cylinder unit running on premium gasoline. It’s incredible what Mercedes-Benz can do with this setup. The humblest offering is a respectable 221 horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque, motivating the CLA 250 variants. The base model employs front-wheel drive (FWD); the CLA 250 4Matic has all-wheel drive (AWD). An entertaining 302 horsepower and 295 lb-ft of torque puts some fizz into the AMG-tuned CLA 35, which has AWD as standard. The CLA 45’s engine is a jewel. Hand-assembled according to the AMG tradition, it’s also one of the most powerful 4-cylinder engines in production — output is a stunning 382 horsepower and 354 lb-ft of torque. Again, a specially tuned AWD system is standard. The CLA 250 and CLA 35 models each have a 7-speed automatic transmission. The CLA 45 packs an 8-speed automatic.
CLA 250
2.0-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder engine
221 horsepower @ 5,500 rpm
258 lb-ft of torque @ 1,800-4,000 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 25/36 mpg (FWD); 24/33 mpg (AWD)
AMG CLA 35
2.0-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder engine
302 horsepower @ 5,800-6,100 rpm
295 lb-ft of torque @ 3,000-4,000 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 21/29 mpg
AMG CLA 45
2.0-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder engine
382 horsepower @ 4,750-5,000 rpm
354 lb-ft of torque @ 3,000-4,000 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 20/28 mpg
More CLA fuel economy information is available on the EPA’s website.
4-Year/50,000-Mile Warranty
The new-vehicle warranty on a 2023 CLA-Class is for 4 years or 50,000 miles, whichever happens first. This is typical in the luxury category.
KBB Vehicle Review and Rating Methodology
Our Expert Ratings come from hours of both driving and number crunching to make sure that you choose the best car for you. We comprehensively experience and analyze every new SUV, car, truck, or minivan for sale in the U.S. and compare it to its competitors. When all that dust settles, we have our ratings. We require new ratings every time an all-new vehicle or a new generation of an existing vehicle comes out. Additionally, we reassess those ratings when a new-generation vehicle receives a mid-cycle refresh — basically, sprucing up a car in the middle of its product cycle (typically, around the 2-3 years mark) with a minor facelift, often with updates to features and technology. Rather than pulling random numbers out of the air or off some meaningless checklist, KBB’s editors rank a vehicle to where it belongs in its class. Before any car earns its KBB rating, it must prove itself to be better (or worse) than the other cars it’s competing against as it tries to get you to spend your money buying or leasing.
Our editors drive and live with a given vehicle. We ask all the right questions about the interior, the exterior, the engine and powertrain, the ride and handling, the features, the comfort, and of course, about the price. Does it serve the purpose for which it was built? (Whether that purpose is commuting efficiently to and from work in the city, keeping your family safe, making you feel like you’ve made it to the top — or that you’re on your way — or making you feel like you’ve finally found just the right partner for your lifestyle.)
We take each vehicle we test through the mundane — parking, lane-changing, backing up, cargo space and loading — as well as the essential — acceleration, braking, handling, interior quiet and comfort, build quality, materials quality, reliability.
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