As luxurious car producers increase their seek for earnings and market share, invariably, they find yourself introducing new entry-level fashions. These smaller and extra inexpensive choices construct model loyalty and in addition snatch up prospects higher-priced financial system choices. BMW and Mercedes-Benz are not any exception, and Benz has debuted their latest addition to the household within the CLA. It squarely targets the 2 Collection Gran Coupe, and we’re right here to see how the 2 evaluate.
Exterior Design
Up entrance, the brand new child Benz has a large decrease grille and lightbar stretching the width of the hood. In reality, lights are form of a theme; the three-point star within the entrance illuminates. As do 142 individually illuminated LED stars within the automotive’s “mouth.” Oh, there’s non-obligatory LED headlights that provide a star-shaped daytime operating gentle signature, too. The two Collection has a bit much less occurring, total, and maintains a barely extra conventional look. The identical could be mentioned round again, the place the brand new CLA has one more lightbar. The Mercedes’ rear is extra simplistic, and arguably extra refined than the considerably jagged edges adorning the two Gran Coupe’s rear.
The 2 share an analogous aspect profile, and each automobiles provide wheels as much as 19 inches in diameter. Somewhat wild when you think about the F87 M2 got here with 19-inchers commonplace. Total, the Mercedes-Benz CLA is significantly greater than the two Collection Gran Coupe it competes with. It measures 185.9 inches (4,724 mm) lengthy, in comparison with the 2er’s 179.2 inches (4,572 mm). It’s additionally three inches (76 mm) wider and stands one inch (25 mm) taller.
Inside Design
Inside, the two Collection Gran Coupe retains issues fairly easy. The Benz has a three-screen setup stretching your entire dashboard, together with an non-obligatory passenger’s display. The automotive comes fairly effectively geared up although, providing a panoramic sunroof, laminated glass, and heated seats as commonplace gear. Simply the roof is a $1,600 upcharge for the 2er, so there’s actually some worth built-in there. From footage, it additionally seems that the CLA might provide a bit extra space for storing within the middle console than the 2er.
Efficiency
One key distinction between the BMW 2 Collection Gran Coupe and the Mercedes-Benz CLA is in powertrains. Though each depend on dual-clutch automated transmissions, solely the CLA is just obtainable as a hybrid or fully-electrified model. The EV will arrive first, touting a 268-horsepower rear-drive configuration or 349-horsepower all-wheel drive mannequin. That’s considerably extra energy than even the range-topping model of the two Gran Coupe, the M235. That automotive makes 312 horsepower and in addition depends on all-wheel drive. Notably, Mercedes claims the bottom CLA 250+ weighs a staggering 2,055 kg (4,530 kilos). That’s super in comparison with the two Gran Coupe’s curb weight of 1,602 kg (3,534 kilos).
Know-how
Each the two Gran Coupe and the brand new Mercedes-Benz CLA depend on screens to deal with nearly each facet of driving. The CLA touts a 14.0-inch central display and 10.25-inch driver-side show. The BMW 2 Collection Gran Coupe arguably does extra with much less, relying as a substitute on a ten.7-inch central show and 10.25-inch instrument cluster. The 2er doesn’t provide a passenger aspect display to rival Merc’s 14.0-inch unit. Mercedes says the brand new CLA has AI-powered voice recognition that makes for extra intuitive voice instructions; each provide over-the-air updates, built-in navigation, and OEM app compatibility.
