Standard equipment highlights in the Mercedes-Benz CLA180 includes heated power front seats, synthetic leather trim, a fixed panoramic glass roof, ambient lighting, ‘high performance’ LED headlights, keyless entry and start, park assist, 18-inch alloys and metallic paint. 

Move up to the CLA200 (combustion and electric) and you pick up AMG Line elements like sports seats and other additions including body elements and a multi-function sports steering wheel. Then, aside from its all-wheel-drive powertrain, the CLA220 4Matic includes the ‘MBUX Superscreen’ (10.25-inch driver display and 14-inch media touchscreen), a rear light strip, Burmester 3D surround audio, ‘Multibeam’ LED headlights, 19-inch AMG rims, a head-up display, hands-free boot functionality and privacy glass. The CLA350 4Matic electric matches its extra dual-motor performance with the larger 19-inch wheels.

Hybrid Mercedes-Benz CLAs combine a 1.5-litre, turbo-petrol, four-cylinder internal-combustion engine (ICE) with a 48-volt electric motor integrated into a new eight-speed dual-clutch transmission with drive going to the front wheels in the CLA180 and 200 and all four in the CLA220 4Matic.

The pure-electric models are powered by an in-house developed permanently excited synchronous motor driving the rear wheels through a two-speed transmission, with a second 80kW drive unit added to the CLA350’s front axle for extra performance and all-wheel-drive traction. 

The Mercedes-Benz CLA can seat five and the standard seats (heated and power front) in the entry-grade CLA180 are trimmed in synthetic leather, stepping up to AMG Line ‘Sport’ front seats in the CLA220 and above, covered in a combination of synthetic leather and synthetic suede.

Claimed 0-100km/h acceleration times for Mercedes-Benz CLA hybrid models step down in roughly one second increments - 8.8 seconds for the CLA180 (top speed 218km/h), 8.0sec for the 200 (228km/h) and 7.1sec (240km/h) for the 220 4Matic. Switch to pure-electric power and the CLA200 electric hits the same speed in 7.5 seconds (210km/h top speed), while the 350 4Matic electric smashes the five second barrier at a properly quick 4.9sec (210km/h).

Official combined cycle fuel consumption is quoted at 5.4L/100km for the Mercedes-Benz CLA180 and 200, which equates to a theoretical range of close to 800km, rising to 5.8L/100km for the 220 4Matic for a potential range of around 740km. Claimed energy use for the CLA200 electric is 14.4kWh/100km with a range of 470km while the AWD 350 4Matic sits at 14.9kWh/100km with a range of 663km.