We told you earlier that Mercedes-Benz would likely launch its CLA-class sedan early in the new year. We can now confirm that the company’s most affordable sedan will indeed be launching on January 22, 2015.
However, some will already be somewhat familiar with the car, as in July 2014, Mercedes launched the CLA 45 AMG, the high-performance version of the CLA-class sedan. Its intention was to whet our appetites and show us what the ultimate iteration of the CLA was capable of. But the AMG version costs almost Rs 70 lakh, and its performance focus makes it less than ideal for everyday use. The standard CLA-class, however, will be a much more accessible proposition, with more comfortable suspension, conventional petrol and diesel engines, and of course a more reasonable price tag. In fact, the CLA-class will be Mercedes’ most affordable sedan, sitting below the C-class in the range and going head to head with the Audi A3 sedan.
The CLA-class uses Mercedes’ MFA platform, a front-wheel-drive architecture that also underpins the A-class, B-class, GLA-class and of course the CLA 45 AMG. With this baby sedan, Mercedes has focussed on youthful styling, and not surprisingly, the CLA looks gorgeous. The long nose, followed by the low, coupe-like roofline and ending with a small extension for a boot, makes for a sleek and attractive car. The CLA-class will use the same engines as the GLA-class crossover, a 135bhp 2.2-litre diesel and a 181bhp 2.0-litre turbo-petrol, both mated to a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox and powering the front wheels.
Expect prices for the CLA-class to be in the range of Rs 27-32 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi). However, while the CLA will go on sale as a CBU import like the A-class, B-class and GLA-class, all these MFA platform cars are likely to be locally assembled in India by the end of 2015, and this should help bring all their prices down by a fair bit.