SHOOT FOR THIS ONE
The CLA was never about sanity, so push the boat out by going for the Shooting Brake model
WHAT’S NEW?
This is the fifth body style built on Mercedes-Benz’s MFA compact platform. The CLA Shooting Brake follows the CLA coupe-cum-saloon, GLA SUV, A-class hatchback and B-class MPV.
Rather than being an outright estate, the CLA Shooting Brake blends a sporty roofline that could make the car be mistaken as a hatchback to some eyes. This pair of CLAs is exactly what the bigger and more expensive CLS duo attempts to portray.
At the moment, Mercedes-Benz is officially importing the CLA Shooting Brake in just one version: the CLA250 equipped with the widely used 2.0-litre petrol-turbo engine developing 211hp and priced at 2.89 million baht.
To the key question: can the 210,000 baht price premium the Shooting Brake commands over the regular CLA be worthy in the eyes of buyers needing a niche-breaking car?
WHAT’S COOL?
Like the normal CLA, the Shooting Brake has that kind of appearance that can’t be weighed with anything else in the premium compact car segment.
Thus, the Shooting Brake is guaranteed to look exclusive should it suddenly not go viral on Thai roads.
True, the sporty roofline doesn’t give the Shooting Brake genuine levels of estate space. But there’s versatility to match in the way the rear seats easily fold down, as do the small cubbie holes in the boot.
One good thing the Shooting Brake has over the regular CLA is 40mm more of rear headroom, as a result of needing to inject some estate styling into itself. That said, six-footers won’t be moaning in the Shooting Brake’s rear perches, unlike in the other CLA whose sloping roof compromises.
The decision to sell the Shooting Brake in CLA250 form means customers will be treated with a kind of performance usually found in just hot hatchbacks like the Volkswagen Golf GTI.
Driving enthusiasts will find the Sport mode particularly useful when they want to truly exploit all those 211 ponies. As well, there’s handling to match, thanks to a crisp setting of the front-wheeldrive chassis.
WHAT’S NOT?
Despite being a niche-breaker, the colour and trim of our test car are on the bland side. There’s a non-gloss paint surface on the exterior, but it won’t really rouse senses.
The fascia is none other than those used by the Shooting Brake’s brethren, meaning that it is has a solid build quality but with an appearance that’s beginning to look very ordinary and a little old.
Although the Shooting Brake’s suspension setup isn’t as ridiculously firm as in the A250 hatch, the large wheels shod with run-flat tyres can always be felt on the move and sometimes be irritating.
And just because the Shooting Brake’s sevenspeed automatic reads as the dual-clutch type (it’s torque-converter variation in the other bigger Mercs), gear-shifting isn’t fluid or quick as the DSG unit used widely in the VW Group of car brands.
BUY OR BYE?
Because the Shooting Brake has more cabin and boot space, as well as more style than in the regular CLA, it’s objectively the better car. How significant the 210,000 baht premium is depends on you.
But, hey, the CLA in the first place has never been a logical buy in the presence of the Thai-built C-class at similar money. So if emotions reign, you should just go for the Shooting Brake.
One more thing. Since panache is the name of the game rather than driving performance, you could maybe try coaxing the sales people to sell the Shooting Brake in CLA180 form. Looking at the regular four-door CLA, there’s a 290,000 baht price difference between the CLA180 and CLA250.