2023 Mercedes-AMG CLA 45

If you're in the market for a new Mercedes-AMG CLA 45, you won't find direct rivals to compare it against. It's a coupe-style subcompact sedan with a piping-hot 382-horsepower 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine and AWD, so a comparable rival from BMW would be dressed in the 2 Series Gran Coupe body, but would have to be hotter than the current top-of-the-pile M235i's 301 hp. It has a legitimate AWD rival in the blistering new 401-hp Audi RS3, but that is of a more conventional sedan shape in the fashion of the now-discontinued A-Class Sedan. The Cadillac CT4-V Blackwing isn't quite a coupe-style sedan either, but it's mighty compelling with its M3-rivaling 472-hp output and available manual gearbox - at much the same price as the AMG CLA 45. The Mercedes might be a relatively unique package, but it's certainly not going to have everything its own way with rivals such as these. In terms of bald numbers, it already seems to be playing catchup against the formidable RS3 and high-value Caddy. So which will it be?

Mercedes is celebrating 55 years since the founding of AMG by adding a limited-run 2023 AMG CLA 45 Edition 55 trim to the local range. As the name suggests, only 55 units will be made available for buyers in the USA, so its rarity value is guaranteed. The Edition 55 is painted in Cosmos Black metallic, with matching gloss-black exterior trim and matte dark-gray 19-inch AMG cross-spoke alloy wheels. The AMG Aerodynamics package, which is usually an optional extra on the CLA 45, is included as standard on the Edition 55, while its interior is decked out in a two-color black/red theme. The regular 2023 Mercedes-AMG CLA 45's price increases by $1,900 this year, but the car remains unchanged otherwise.

The AMG CLA 45's MSRP is $57,800, and this excludes the $1,150 destination fee. Unfortunately, the default trim lacks various driver assists, such as adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist, evasive steering assist, and Merc's Pre-Safe system, which you would have to add via the $1,700 Driver Assistance package. Even then, you would still not get a surround-view camera, which is part of the $1,090 Parking Assistance package, which also adds automatic parking. Even leather upholstery will cost you at least $1,450 extra, so it's going to cost you several thousand dollars to spec the CLA with some of the nicest must-have features.

The traditional upscale Mercedes look is largely evident inside the AMG CLA 45, though some cheaper materials intrude here and there, and creaks can be elicited if you start to poke and prod around. It's certainly a tech fest, and the sheer screen real estate alone - 20.5 inches in total - is impressive by itself. The occupants are presented with the impressive MBUX infotainment system set in a modern dashboard with stylish turbine-style air vents and AMG-specific highlights such as sports front seats, a flat-bottomed sports steering wheel, and aluminum shift paddles. Even sportier AMG Performance front seats can be specified, but they push the hardcore aspirations a bit too far and, while holding the occupants securely around corners, are a bit hard and severe for long-distance cruising, even though their slimmer design liberates a bit more rear legroom.

Front-seat occupants won't have anything to complain about, with lots of head- and legroom on offer, but the rather lengthy 107.4-inch wheelbase for the class does not translate into the expected interior space for rear-seat passengers. Granted, the second row is rather cramped in all the cars in this class, but the CLA is joined right at the back of the ranks by the CT4-V Blackwing, with the physically smaller RS3 offering more breathing space for people on the rear perches. The space back there can be marginally improved by specifying the sports AMG front seats with their thinner backrests, but they're expensive and compromise front-seat comfort.

The AMG CLA 45's elongated coupe-style body does allow for more trunk space than expected, with a reasonable 11.6 cu-ft on offer. This isn't a lot by any means - and is trounced by any crossover you'd care to mention, but it comfortably eclipses the figures of the CT4-V Blackwing and RS3, the latter offering only 8.3 cu-ft of trunk volume. The 40/20/40-split rear seat can be folded down to expand the space, but Mercedes doesn't provide a figure for this configuration. Cabin storage isn't generous, but sufficient. You get the standard glovebox, but the door pockets are quite narrow, and the lidded center-console storage compartment isn't very big. The two front cupholders can be problematic in that they don't hold tall containers securely - and they're placed amidst electronic controls such as the drive-mode controller, where you don't want splashes and spills. The second row gets cupholders too.

Unlike the RS3, you don't get any standard Nappa leather in a CLA 45 and have to make do with MB-Tex leatherette instead, in Neva Grey/black, though there are various other interior colors to choose from. Black MB-Tex combined with microfiber faux suede in black with red stitching is a no-cost option. All four leather options cost $1,450, and you can choose from black, Bahia Brown, Classic Red/black, and Titanium Grey/black. Aluminum trim with a linear grain is standard, but the no-cost options are aluminum with a longitudinal grain or with an AMG design. Either black Linden or brown Walnut wood with a natural grain can be specified for $325. The flat-bottomed sports steering wheel is trimmed in leather, but you can get either of two AMG Performance steering wheels - in Nappa leather or Nappa/microfiber - for $400 or $500, respectively.

The Edition 55 gets the AMG Performance front seats as standard, trimmed in Classic Red/black Nappa leather, as well as the AMG Performance steering wheel finished in microfiber faux suede, complete with Edition 55 badging and a 12 o'clock marker. AMG door sills get red illumination, and bespoke Edition 55 floormats are fitted.

There is a fair number of standard features, with a power panoramic sunroof, heated and eight-way power-adjustable sports front seats with memory, dual-zone climate control, remote start, keyless entry and go, and 64-color ambient interior lighting all being part of the deal. However, you pay extra for leather upholstery, ventilated front seats, a wireless charging pad, a garage-door opener, and wood trim.

The MBUX infotainment system has dual 10.25-inch displays - one a digital gauge cluster and the other an adjacent touchscreen - but can also be controlled via the centrally mounted touchpad controller. The system features Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, multiple USB-C ports, "Hey, Mercedes" keyword activation, voice control, Bluetooth audio streaming, HD Radio, and a six-speaker audio system. Steering-mounted AMG Drive Unit controls cost $400 extra, and you also pay extra for SiriusXM with a six-month Platinum subscription ($150), an AMG head-up display ($1,100), the MBUX Interior Assistant ($200), and a 12-speaker Burmester audio system ($850). The $1,300 Multimedia package contains navigation with augmented video, speed-limit assist, and free map updates for a year.

The Mercedes-AMG CLA 45's engine is the familiar turbocharged and dual-injected M139 2.0-liter four-cylinder used in various AMG products, here tuned to deliver 382 hp and 354 lb-ft of torque. The drivetrain is composed of an eight-speed AMG Speedshift dual-clutch automatic transmission and variable-split AMG Performance 4Matic+ all-wheel drive. Performance is forceful, and thanks to the launch grip of the AWD system, the Mercedes-AMG CLA 45's 0-60 sprint is dispatched in just four seconds, although this is slower than the Audi RS3's 3.6-second effort. The $4,300 AMG Dynamic Plus package adds Race and Drift modes, the AMG Track Pace app, the AMG Drive Unit steering-mounted controls, AMG high-performance brakes, and adaptive AMG Ride Control suspension. It also increases the car's top speed from the standard 155 mph to 167 mph.

In Drift mode, the torque-vectoring rear differential can send extra power to the outside rear wheel, making for entertaining one-wheel oversteer burnouts. The eight-speed dual-clutch transmission is appreciably sportier and more responsive than the seven-speed unit in the CLA 35 and snaps through the ratios with alacrity, readily hooking a lower ratio on demand. The ride is decidedly taut but not harsh, and it's appropriate for the car's sporty focus while paying huge dividends when corners come up. Cornering is resolutely flat, and the steering is quick, even though it's a bit too vague for a performance car. The adaptive suspension adds another dimension of adjustability but comes only as part of the expensive AMG Dynamic Plus package, which also includes the silly but hilariously fun Drift mode.

The Mercedes-AMG CLA 45's mpg figures are decent but not as impressive as we'd hoped. The EPA estimates are 20/28/23 mpg for the city/highway/combined cycles, but that 23-mpg combined figure only just matches the combined gas mileage of the 2.5-liter RS3, which is quite a bit quicker too. More irritating might be the limited 13.5-gallon fuel capacity, which allows for a range of only around 310 miles.

There is no US safety review of the Mercedes-AMG CLA 45, and neither the NHTSA nor the IIHS has conducted any type of crash test on the current generation of the CLA-class. However, being of a modern design and having launched as recently as 2019, the CLA should be as safe as any modern Mercedes. For what it's worth, EuroNCAP gave it all-round five-star scores. Standard safety features include the federally mandated ABS, stability control, tire-pressure monitoring, and backup camera, while the car also comes with eight airbags. Rear-seat side airbags are a $700 option.

Standard driver assists are somewhat lacking at this price level, but you do get forward-collision warning, automatic braking initiation, the emergency eCall service, driver-alertness monitoring, an auto-dimming feature for the interior and driver-side mirrors, rain-sensing wipers, automatic LED headlights, and blind-spot monitoring. You pay extra for automatic high beams, automatic parking, lane-keep assist, cross-traffic alert, a surround-view camera, automatic emergency braking, Mercedes' Pre-Safe system, and adaptive cruise control with stop & go. These options are typically part of packages, but some are available by themselves.

In terms of reliability, the Mercedes-AMG CLA 45 is rated along with the rest of the CLA range, which garnered a somewhat disappointing JD Power score of 73 out of 100 for the Quality & Reliability metric when the range was last evaluated in 2022. It looks a bit better on the recall front, though, with the 2023 CLA 45 so far only recalled once for tires that may leak air. The 2022 CLA was recall-free, and the 2021 CLA was recalled four times for issues ranging from an inoperative or inaccurate eCall system to a missing child-seat anchor and a blank backup camera display.

The warranty coverage for the 2023 Mercedes-AMG CLA 45 runs for four years or 50,000 miles.

Mercedes-AMG treads the tasteful line with the exterior treatment of the AMG CLA 45, and it's not overdone, but still lets you know you're dealing with the performance range-topper. The big Panamericana grille has chromed vertical slats, the body kit with its flared sills is noticeable but fairly subtle, and the wheels are chunky 19-inch twin five-spoke AMG items. Smaller 18-inch wheels are available at no cost, but they don't fill out the wheel arches as well. There is a decklid spoiler at the rear and standard LED exterior lighting,

Carbon-style mirror housings are available, as are chrome door-handle inserts. The AMG Night package ($750) and Night package Plus ($1,150) black out various exterior elements, while the AMG Aerodynamics package ($1,550) fits a more pronounced front splitter, a larger rear spoiler, airflow edges in the rear apron, and a gloss-black rear diffuser. All three of these packages are standard on the Edition 55, and all 55 units are painted Cosmos Black metallic and run on matte-gray 19-inch AMG cross-spoke alloys.

The Mercedes-AMG CLA 45 is an excellent car and a proper AMG product, with lots of power and excellent handling. It's also unique in that it's the only coupe-styled performance subcompact sedan in its class. However, that swoopy profile compromises rear-seat space, and compared to some rivals, it's a bit skimpy with the luxuries and driver assists. Good as it is, the massively powerful 472-hp CT4-V Blackwing costs nearly the same, while the blisteringly quick RS3 comes with a sonorous five-cylinder and best-in-class sprint performance, while features such as Nappa leather that cost extra in the Mercedes are thrown in as standard. Against these more powerful and quicker cars, the case the CLA 45 is trying to make at the price looks a little thin.