Mercedes-Benz CLA 2019: prices, specs and UK release date

Mercedes-Benz has taken the wraps off the latest addition to its A-Class line-up at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas.

The new CLA is the second-generation version of the German carmaker’s cheapest coupe-like four-door model and offers a sportier alternative to the company’s A-Class saloon.

Based on the same front-wheel-drive platform as the A-Class, the new CLA is 48mm longer and 53mm wider than its predecessor, and the wheelbase has been extended by 30mm, says Autocar.

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As well as providing more leg and headroom in the cabin, the tweaks improve the car’s handling, according to Mercedes.

Evo reports that the CLA’s chassis and powertrains are also shared with the hatchback, including the 1.33-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine and 2.0-litre turbocharged diesel and petrol range.

At the top of the range sits a 222bhp four-cylinder turbo petrol engine badged the CLA 250. More performance-focused AMG models are expected to join the line-up later in the car’s lifecycle.

Meanwhile, the CLA’s luxurious cabin has been given a hi-tech makeover.

Mercedes’s new MBUX infotainment system, launched on the new A-Class last spring, has been carried over to the new four-door, says Auto Express.

The system allows drivers to change vehicle settings using the “Hey Mercedes” voice control assistant, and features a large touchscreen panel. Half of the screen sits behind the steering wheel and displays the car’s instrument cluster, while the other half shows the sat-nav and entertainment settings.

When will it hit the market?

Mercedes will begin taking orders for the CLA next month, with deliveries expected to kick off in June.

How much does it cost?

Prices have yet to be announced, but CarBuyer predicts that customers will have to shell out about £30,000 for the CLA.