Mercedes Benz CLA luxury sedan launched in India

The Mercedes Benz CLA luxury sedan is here. One of the hottest looking MFA platform based cars, the CLA sold in India is available in petrol and diesel trims. Prices for the petrol powered variant start at 35 lakh rupees while the diesel powered variant is pegged at 31.5 lakh rupees, ex-showroom Delhi. With the CLA, Mercedes Benz wants to take aim at the lower variants of the Audi A4 sedan, rather than gunning for the least priced Audi in the country, in this case the A3. This is clearly reflected in the pricing. The new luxury sedan from the three pointed star is assembled in India through CKD kits.

The petrol powered version of the car uses a 2 liter-4 cylinder turbocharged engine that makes 181 Bhp-300 Nm, and is available in a solitary Sport variant. The petrol motor is aimed at driving enthusiasts, while the more sedate diesel motor is aimed at delivering affordable running costs.

The CLA’s high performance sibling, the CLA 45 AMG, is also sold in India. 

The diesel motor is a 2.2 liter-4 cylinder unit that is a staple on many Mercedes Benz cars sold here. On both the Style and Sport variants of CLA, this motor makes 134 Bhp-300 Nm. Both the petrol and diesel engines of the car use a front wheel drive layout, driven by a 7 speed twin clutch automatic transmission.

In design terms, the entry level luxury sedan from Mercedes Benz is modeled on the larger S-Class, replete with the plunging C-Pillar that gives the car a distinct, coupe-like appearance from certain angles. The car is meant to tap into a new crop of younger buyers, many of them sampling the German luxury brand for the first time in their lives. An A-Class in saloon style. That’s what the CLA essentially is and considering how many people have fallen for the A-Class’ looks, the saloon already seems to be a winner as far as its appeal is concerned.

A Mercedes Benz, whole and soul, the CLA is equipped with a raft of active and passive safety features to take care of eventualities. Its interiors and many of its features are shared with the A-Class, a car with which it shares its platform. The sedan is also the most aerodynamic in the world, with a drag coefficient of 0.22.