Mercedes has really established itself comprehensively on the sales charts with a flurry of compact offerings in the premium segment. The quick succession of launches led by the A-Class hatchback, the CLA-Class four-door coupe, the GLA-Class crossover and, too a certain extent, the new W205 C-Class had allowed the brand with the three-pointed star to established itself as the best-selling brand here in Singapore in spite of stratospheric COE prices.
Most recently, the German luxury carmaker launched the CLA-Class Shooting Brake, a more spacious offering with enhanced space for passengers and distinctly more real estate in the boot. On song with the trend in sleeker profiles in cars, the Shooting Brake marries the stylishness of a coupe with the utility of a stationwagon, with greater panache, of course.
For now, the Shooting Brake is available in two variants, the CLA200 and the CLA250. The former, which is the car we test drove, is equipped with a 1.6-litre turbocharged engine that has an output of 156bhp, while the latter has a larger 2.0-litre turbocharged lump that reins in 211bhp.
Exterior
The CLA Shooting Brake is, without a doubt, a very pretty car. Right up to the A-pillars, the car shares the same dynamic avant garde styling as its four-door sibling, the CLA Coupe. This includes the trademark CLA diamond radiator grille, framed by muscular V-shaped 'power lines' on the bonnet, large air vents on the bumper and HID head lights framed by LED 'eyebrows'.
Most recently, the German luxury carmaker launched the CLA-Class Shooting Brake, a more spacious offering with enhanced space for passengers and distinctly more real estate in the boot. On song with the trend in sleeker profiles in cars, the Shooting Brake marries the stylishness of a coupe with the utility of a stationwagon, with greater panache, of course.
For now, the Shooting Brake is available in two variants, the CLA200 and the CLA250. The former, which is the car we test drove, is equipped with a 1.6-litre turbocharged engine that has an output of 156bhp, while the latter has a larger 2.0-litre turbocharged lump that reins in 211bhp.
Exterior
The CLA Shooting Brake is, without a doubt, a very pretty car. Right up to the A-pillars, the car shares the same dynamic avant garde styling as its four-door sibling, the CLA Coupe. This includes the trademark CLA diamond radiator grille, framed by muscular V-shaped 'power lines' on the bonnet, large air vents on the bumper and HID head lights framed by LED 'eyebrows'.
What makes the Shooting Brake stand out though, is its stylish long roof that rises from the A-pillars all the way to the rear before tapering down to meet the rear bumper. This results in a sleek muscular appearance that's very unique for a car in this segment, and will definitely appeal to young active professionals in the same way balconies in Design, Build and Sell Scheme (DBSS) flats offer opportunities for al fresco dining instead of just another utility space for storage or laundry.
The Shooting Brake may also look bigger, but save for rear passengers getting 40mm of extra headroom because of the taller roof, the 4,630mm x 1,777mm x 1,435mm (L x W x H) dimensions do not differ from the Coupe's.
One potential flipside though, is that if you love perfect proportions (like a woman being proportionately well-endowed), you may notice that the car can look somewhat plumpish from certain angles. It's a matter of personal taste, really. Fortunately, the pair of tailpipes at the car's rear end, neat sloping D-pillars and curved taillights will ensure your gaze remains on the pretty parts.
The Shooting Brake may also look bigger, but save for rear passengers getting 40mm of extra headroom because of the taller roof, the 4,630mm x 1,777mm x 1,435mm (L x W x H) dimensions do not differ from the Coupe's.
One potential flipside though, is that if you love perfect proportions (like a woman being proportionately well-endowed), you may notice that the car can look somewhat plumpish from certain angles. It's a matter of personal taste, really. Fortunately, the pair of tailpipes at the car's rear end, neat sloping D-pillars and curved taillights will ensure your gaze remains on the pretty parts.
Interior
You would find the layout of the cabin simple but comfortable. Our test car came equipped with optional sports seats up front and ARTICO leather with Corumba fabric and red contrast stitching for a racier touch that complemented its sporty exterior. The layout of the centre console is neat with turbine-shaped air-conditioning vents and generous strips of brushed aluminium strips across the dash for that luxurious touch.
This all creates a sense of extravagance, in the same way you'd want to invest in a really nice pair of designer jeans. It'll definitely fit you better and it's fashionable. The material is of a better quality, and there are the little accents that add a touch of class. Similarly, the little touches like badging, subtle features like ambient lights and convenience features like a reverse camera, parking sensors as well as that sturdy steering wheel communicate that.
You would find the layout of the cabin simple but comfortable. Our test car came equipped with optional sports seats up front and ARTICO leather with Corumba fabric and red contrast stitching for a racier touch that complemented its sporty exterior. The layout of the centre console is neat with turbine-shaped air-conditioning vents and generous strips of brushed aluminium strips across the dash for that luxurious touch.
This all creates a sense of extravagance, in the same way you'd want to invest in a really nice pair of designer jeans. It'll definitely fit you better and it's fashionable. The material is of a better quality, and there are the little accents that add a touch of class. Similarly, the little touches like badging, subtle features like ambient lights and convenience features like a reverse camera, parking sensors as well as that sturdy steering wheel communicate that.
That said, touch options for the 7.0-inch screen, a standard GPS feature and a more intuitive interface that actually lets the driver scan for his favourite radio station would have been better. The little dial control in the centre of the car looks out of place. But that's really just a minor quibble. The good thing though, is that most of the vehicle information can be accessed via the steering mounted control. It is just a matter of getting used to the car's infotainment system.
Where it really matters, there's adequate space for five, with rear passengers enjoying adequate headroom at the back. Real estate for cargo is also among the best in class. With the rear seats in regular recline, one can pack up to 495 litres of shopping. Shifting the rear bench to a more upright position will yield 595 litres of space. Fold everything down, and you'd be able to fit a large luggage and a golf bag in the 1,354 litres of boot space.
Where it really matters, there's adequate space for five, with rear passengers enjoying adequate headroom at the back. Real estate for cargo is also among the best in class. With the rear seats in regular recline, one can pack up to 495 litres of shopping. Shifting the rear bench to a more upright position will yield 595 litres of space. Fold everything down, and you'd be able to fit a large luggage and a golf bag in the 1,354 litres of boot space.
The Drive
At the heart of this CLA200 beats Mercedes' 1.6-litre turbocharged engine. Its seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox delivers 156bhp directly to the front wheels, letting the car reach 100km/h from a standstill in a modest 8.7 seconds.
These performance figures are modest despite its racy appearance and we should think of it more as an active city slicker than a DTM sports wagon. For more spirited pursuits, one could turn to the CLA 45 AMG variant of the Shooting Brake.
There is a fun side to the Shooting Brake's effortless drive in Sport mode. Engage that and the car's transmission will drag the gears out and delay the shifts, allowing you to accelerate that little bit quicker.
Steering also tightens up a lot more in this said mode. Should you get into it, the car's 18-inch tyres will hug the tarmac tightly as you go around corners.
At the heart of this CLA200 beats Mercedes' 1.6-litre turbocharged engine. Its seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox delivers 156bhp directly to the front wheels, letting the car reach 100km/h from a standstill in a modest 8.7 seconds.
These performance figures are modest despite its racy appearance and we should think of it more as an active city slicker than a DTM sports wagon. For more spirited pursuits, one could turn to the CLA 45 AMG variant of the Shooting Brake.
There is a fun side to the Shooting Brake's effortless drive in Sport mode. Engage that and the car's transmission will drag the gears out and delay the shifts, allowing you to accelerate that little bit quicker.
Steering also tightens up a lot more in this said mode. Should you get into it, the car's 18-inch tyres will hug the tarmac tightly as you go around corners.
Ultimately, this isn't a sports car, and it makes no pretence of it. What it does very well is encourage efficient driving. From graphically tracking your fuel consumption and average consumption per trip to rating your driving efficiency through acceleration, constant speeds or coasting, the CLA Shooting Brake will do its best to return you an average of about 13km/L as we've achieved - not far off its claimed figure of 16.7km/L.
Conclusion
Like the more practical sibling in the family, the CLA Shooting Brake will appeal to active professions with families or outdoor pursuits.
At $184,888 (as of 25th September 2015), the additional practicality may come at a $3,000 premium over the CLA200 Coupe but given how stylish the car is, with additional space where it matters as well as features and prestige you get from driving a car with the three-pointed star badge, it will be money well-spent.
Conclusion
Like the more practical sibling in the family, the CLA Shooting Brake will appeal to active professions with families or outdoor pursuits.
At $184,888 (as of 25th September 2015), the additional practicality may come at a $3,000 premium over the CLA200 Coupe but given how stylish the car is, with additional space where it matters as well as features and prestige you get from driving a car with the three-pointed star badge, it will be money well-spent.
