2019 Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class

Pros: High-class, high-quality trimmings; exhilarating performance of CLA 45 AMG model; full range of available safety and technology features; relatively affordable for a Mercedes-Benz

Cons: Cramped rear seat lacks sufficient headroom and legroom for most adults; engine sounds refined for a 4-cylinder but may not satisfy traditional luxury buyers; available navigation-system screen looks like an afterthought

CG Says: The 2019 Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class adds standard equipment to the AMG CLA 45 model, but is otherwise unchanged. The CLA-Class is a premium compact sedan with seating for five. CLA is Mercedes-Benz’s first front-wheel-drive sedan, and it comes exclusively with turbocharged 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engines: The CLA 250 has a 208-horsepower version and the AMG CLA 45 has a hotter twin-scroll-turbo version with 355 hp. With either engine, a 7-speed automated manual is the lone transmission. The CLA 250 is available with front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive, while the AMG CLA 45 comes exclusively with the latter. Available features include drowsiness alert, blind-spot alert, lane-keep assist, adaptive cruise control, parking assist, and LED headlights. CLA adopts its rakish roofline from Mercedes’ larger CLS sedan; the swoopy styling looks great, but compromises interior room. The CLA-Class delivers traditional Mercedes-Benz build quality and high-end materials in a smaller package. The CLA-Class’s asking prices will buy more spacious accommodations in competitive cars, but then you wouldn’t have a Mercedes-Benz.