Mercedes-Benz CLA facelift revealed

Mercedes has revealed the facelifted CLA in both its standard sedan and Shoot Brake avatars. The car is the latest of the company’s small offerings to receive a facelift.

Cosmetically, the CLA gets a new grille design with diamond design inserts, reprofiled front bumper with a silver, black or chrome highlight and a revised rear bumper with the exhausts now integrated into the unit.

Inside, the changes are much in line with that on the facelifted A-class, with the revised switch gear and instrument cluster, new upholstery and reworked trim inserts around the cabin.

As part of the update, the CLA offers Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as part add-on options. This allows selected functions to be operated via the steering wheel or head unit controls. Also available is a new Universal Telephony option that includes a universal smartphone cradle and two charging cables with lightning or micro USB connectors. The CLA also gets the option of LED headlamps, hands-free opening function for the boot and a choice of alloy wheel designs.

The line-up now features the new CLA 220 4-Matic all-wheel-drive sedan and the new CLA 180 Shooting Brake which uses a Renault-sourced 120bhp 1.6-litre petrol engine.

 Mechanically, it is the AMG CLA 45 that receives the most prominent update. Its 2.0-litre turbocharged unit gets the same bump up in power as the A45 with output now at 376bhp. The AMG-engineered sedan and estate have a claimed 0-100kph time of just 4.2sec and 4.3sec respectively, beating their direct predecessors by 0.4sec.

When launched, it will rival the likes of the Audi A3 which is also set to receive a facelift sometime soon. BMW too is currently developing a rival to the CLA in the form of the front-wheel-drive 1-series sedan which was previewed by a Compact Sedan concept at the Guangzhou Auto Show in China..

The facelifted CLA will make its debut at the New York Motor Show. However, there is no news as to when the updated family will be launched in India, though Mercedes is set to introduce a new petrol variant to its S-class line-up with the S 400. The S 400 will be powered by a 329bhp 3.0-litre twin-turbo V6 and is likely to be positioned between the S 350 d and the S 500. 

Mercedes CLA facelift gallery