CLA 200D Sport 2 year ownership review

CLA 200D Sport 2 year ownership review

Here is a short long term review of my CLA after driving it for over 2 years and 37000 km. I took possession of my MB CLA 200D Sport on 1 Apr 2017 and I still remember it just like yesterday. What I like: 1. Looks: Even after two years, the car looks stunning and doesn't feel aged. Jupiter red is the colour to go for if you are planing to buy this car. I have seen CLAs in white and grey but they don't look as hot. 2. Mileage: This is the first time that I have owned a luxury automatic, my previous car being Xylo. After the second service, I have driven my car for over 9000 km so far at an avg speed of 33kmph and my mileage stands at 17.5 kmpl!! My average before the second service was 15.6 kmpl for 12000 kms. This is real-world mileage and I drive around 30-40 kms daily under light and medium traffic conditions. 3. Handling: Being a sports coupe, the car's handling is excellent. You can zip through corners with ease and steering response is adequate. It doesn't feel tiring on long journeys even with heavy traffic. It is fun to drive the car around and I feel very confident while overtaking in tight spots. 4. Seats: CLA doesn't come with leather seats as standard. That doesn't make it any less premium. The front seats are well designed, befitting a sports coupe. There is enough under thigh and side supports. Both seats are electrically adjustable with lumbar support and they are very comfortable for long journeys, but the same can't be said for rear seats. Rear seats are just adequate to house two adults with average height. 5. Night Driving: The LED projector headlights are very powerful and offer good visibility at night. 6. Sunroof: There is a huge panoramic sunroof which is also electrically adjustable. Drive it under the starlight sky with the roof open and you wouldn't think of buying another car without a sunroof in the future. Instant love!! What I don't like 1. Boot Space: One shouldn't really complain about a small boot in sports coupe but there is a serious lack of space here. On top of that, the extra tyre has no dedicated space taking up a lot of usable luggage space. 2. Bursting Tyres: MB stock tyres for this car is Yokohama 225/45 R 17. Two years and I had to live with 3 burst tyres, all of them due to potholes and bad Indian roads. A lot of unnecessary costs replacing those tyres, not to mention the inconvenience caused. I would strongly recommend upgrading those tyres to a higher profile, say 50 or 55. 3. Rearview Mirror and Centre Console: From the very first day you hold and adjust the rearview mirror, it makes creaky noises which are really annoying. The fit and finish are pathetic, considering the segment to which this car belongs to. Quality of plastic, layout and the finish of the central console is also sub-par. The floating screen has also started making some squeaky noises while driving which is a recent development. Overall, there is a markable increase in cabin noise level after 2 years of use. Final Verdict: I am very happy with my CLA, it was a realisation of my childhood dream. I would strongly recommend this car to the younger demographic. If you have a large family and older people sitting at the rear, this car is not a practical option.