Mercedes CLA A45 AMG - Sleeker Styling And A Bigger Boot

We were blown away by AMG’s 355bhp A-class. Now we try four-door coupé version

If you’re tempted by the A45 AMG we drove in Issue 1,272, but are after something a little more grown-up, then you’re in luck. The newest and smallest member of Mercedes’ AMG family has a mechanically identical twin, based on the CLA four-door coupé.

The newest and smallest member of Mercedes’ AMG family has a mechanically identical twin, based on the CLA four-door coupé

The CLA 45 AMG uses the same 355bhp 2.0-litre turbo engine as the A45, posts the exact same 4.6-second 0-62mph sprint time and returns identical economy of 40.1mpg. But there are subtle changes under the skin – the CLA has been designed with marginally softer damper settings and a more subdued exhaust note, to give it a more sensible feel.

Not that there’s anything sensible about the way the CLA 45 blasts down the road when you deploy full throttle. Pull the right-hand paddle as you close in on the 6,500rpm rev limiter, and there’s a thumping explosion from the exhausts, before you’re slammed back in your seat. There was a worry that AMG’s first four-cylinder engine wouldn’t be worthy of the badge, but it’s every bit as brutal as we’d hoped.

Handsome 19-inch wheels and performance exhaust are optional

Considering the standard CLA’s brittle ride, the other concern was that the AMG’s suspension (with its stiffer springs, dampers and anti-roll bars) would be back-breaking. Over cracks and speed humps it is sending sharp jolts up through your seat. Build up some speed and find a decent road surface, though, and it flows along nicely, with very little body roll and quick reactions.

It was only after a drive in an A45 AMG fitted with the same performance exhaust as our CLA (a $765 option), and the same stiffer sports suspension ($1,147 extra), that the subtle differences began to emerge.

High-quality dash features subtle AMG trim, and only change from A45 is brushed aluminum finish

For a start, pops and crackles on the downshifts and overrun, which bring the A45 to life, have been dialed out for the CLA. There’s also immediacy to the Ạ’s turn-in which is missing from the four-door – party due to its 35kg weight advantage and different damper settings.

There’s plenty to like about the way the CLA drives, though; unlike the Audi S3, BMW M135i and VW Golf GTI, the steering ratio is constant, which means you need more lock in tight bends, but there’s a natural feel when you turn the wheel.

The bigger brakes offer mighty stopping power, but can fade a bit with track use, and the seven-speed twin-clutch gearbox is just as happy slurring along in auto as it is slamming home full-bore upshifts in manual mode. Our only grumble with the gearbox is a slight delay on downshifts, which occasionally leaves you in too high a gear on the exit of a corner, and below the engine’s sweet spot.

CLA 45 delivers blistering straight-line pace, while AMG bodywork gives newcomer real road presence

For many, the reasons for choosing the CLA 45 over theA45 will be its bigger boot with the rear seats in place (479 liters versus 341 liters) and the head-turning design. And we have to admit, finished in AMG-specific bodywork, with optional 19-inch wheels; it’s a stunning thing to behold. Then again, though, the A-Class is hardly ugly.

The two cars’ interiors are virtually identical, with the main difference being a brushed aluminum finish for the CLA’s dashboard, instead of the Ạ’s fabric carbon-effect weave. And when you look at it like that, the four-door’s predicted premium of $6,000 begins to look steep.

Verdict

The CLA 45 AMG is more than just an A45 AMG with sleeker styling and a bigger boot. While it delivers the same devastating pace, it’s a slightly more subtle take on the AMG philosophy. Although that will broaden the CLA’s appeal, the AMG badge has always been reserved for the most insane Mercedes, so it’s a shame it doesn’t quite deliver the fireworks of its hatch equivalent, but still costs nearly $6,000 more.