Mercedes-Benz C-Class vs Mercedes-Benz CLA45

What's the difference?

When it comes to choosing a family car, sedans are often overlooked for their long-legged wagon or beefy SUV cousins.

They're a bit of a forgotten hero but they'll always hold a piece of my heart for their practicality and (often) sexier kerb-side appeal.

If you can get used to your body cracking like a glow stick when you get in and out of them, the sedan may make a comeback!

The new Mercedes-Benz C-Class, in entry-level C200 form, has definitely tempted my family to consider a sedan in the future – it looks stately and refined but the driving experience also makes it fun.

Let's see what else it did right and if there was anything that could be improved.

Did I mention, I'm fond of sedans... ?

Mercedes-AMG left tongues wagging when it unleashed the original 45 series onto the automotive world seven years ago. It took many forms, including the pioneering A 45 hatch and the unconventional GLA 45 SUV.

That said, we’re here to talk about the third member of that family, the CLA 45 sedan (or coupe if Mercedes-AMG is paying your wage). And no, we don’t mean the old model.

Indeed, the second-generation CLA 45 is here, and it’s packing the most potent series-production four-cylinder engine to date – a title Mercedes-AMG has, of course, held before.

So, is the new CLA 45 a big-step up over its standard-setting predecessor? While it certainly helps that it is now only available in hard-hitting S form in Australia, the only way to really find out is to put it to test. Let’s go!