The Mercedes-Benz CLA 45 AMG is the fifth model from the performance arm launched here in the last 12 months. This car is important for two main reasons – it’s the most affordable AMG model here yet and it’s also our introduction to the CLA-class compact sedan that Mercedes is set to launch here soon to rival Audi’s A3.
The CLA sedan is based on the A-class hatchback and the family resemblance is plain to see, especially when you look at it head on. The headlights are a little different though. In profile, the arced roofline, the elegantly tapered boot with the subtle spoiler make it look fabulous. And then there are the AMG DNA giveaways like a meaty diffuser under the rear bumper, big 18-inch alloy wheels and large air intakes in the front bumper.
When you move inside, there are more visible resemblances to the A-class. The dashboard is familiar, including the beautiful rotary air vents, of fantastic build and quality material , and the tablet-like screen for the COMAND system. There’s an Alcantara-trimmed AMG steering wheel, plenty of red stitching all over the cabin, and red seatbelts too. The gear selector, as with most AMGs, is a stubby lever on the centre console, rather than Mercedes’ usual steering-column stalk.
The front seats are comfortable and make you feel like you’re in a proper performance car but they are a little too firm. They’re heated and electrically adjustable as well. The rear seats are very much like those in the A-class, albeit with much more legroom. It’s a small sedan and headroom is just about adequate.
Now onto performance. Other than being the most affordable AMG here, there are certain other distinctive qualities that set the CLA 45 apart from other models from Merc’s performance arm. While every other current AMG car is powered by either a V8 or a V12 engine, the CLA 45 AMG sedan gets a 2.0-litre, four-cylinder motor. Now while that might sound like something you’d find in your run-of-the-mill executive sedan, it features direct injection and a twin-scroll turbo, which helps give it 355bhp and the title of most powerful production four-cylinder engine in the world. The ‘45’ in its name represents the 45.9kgm of torque it produces, which is something you’d only have seen in sports cars.
The other big difference is in that it’s not rear-wheel driven like most AMGs. It uses Merc’s 4Matic four-wheel-drive system to help manage all that power better, but since it’s based on the A-class’ MFA platform, it’s primarily front-wheel drive, with additional power being sent rearward as and when necessary. As a result, there’s a lot of grip, but also a lot of understeer, and you have to drive it like a front-wheel-drive car to really get the most out of it. To properly tuck this nose-heavy car into a corner, it’s best to lift off, add some steering lock and then power through, rather than just flooring it round a bend. It’s at this point that you’ll also notice that the steering is a bit too light at speed, and doesn’t feed you much information from the road. This lightness is great in traffic though, and the CLA’s small dimensions (it’s about the size of a new Toyota Corolla) make it easy to manoeuvre.
The CLA’s body movements are also superbly contained when you’re being enthusiastic with it, and that’s all down to the way the suspension’s been set up. It’s not adjustable or adaptive like some of the bigger AMG cars, and the corollary of that good body control is a somewhat firm ride. It’s acceptable for a car with sporting intent to be stiffly sprung, and we’re sure the standard CLA will be a lot more comfortable, but the 45 AMG’s ride simply lacks the sophistication and flexibility of bigger sports sedans, including Merc’s own E 63. It also lacks a bit in refinement, letting in a lot of road noise at highway speeds, although you can’t argue about the fact that it feels very stable. However, remember to ‘crab walk’ the car over big speed breakers, as it has a long wheelbase and not a lot of ground clearance.
Finally, that engine. Five minutes in and you won’t doubt Mercedes’ claims about it. Whether you’re attacking some corners or just cruising, there’s plenty of power available anywhere in the rev band. In fact, it’s easy to lose track of how fast you’re going if you don’t periodically check the speedometer. That’s partly because there’s no perceivable step or shove in its delivery, just a great big surge from the get-go, with mild peaks around 2,000 and 4,000rpm.
Trouble is, apart from a small gurgle between gears when you’re caning it, this engine doesn’t have much aural drama to offer; in fact it’s quite refined. It’s not fair to compare it to the big V8s, but powerful as this motor is, that characteristic AMG ferocity is missing, which is a shame.
The transmission has three modes – comfort, sport and manual – the last of which will hold gear until you pull one of the paddles. The gearbox is AMG’s Speedshift DCT – a seven-speed dual-clutch auto, and as a performance tool, it works really well. It’s quick to shift gears and not very harsh when it does. However, it fumbles a bit in slow, casual driving, where it sometimes misinterprets your inputs and gives you a gear too low.
The CLA 45 doesn’t feel quite like a traditional AMG, lacking the drama and excitement that the bigger cars deliver so well. However, it’s important to remember that this is still a relatively practical four-door luxury sedan, with good equipment and a decent sized boot as well. The CLA 45 AMG is priced at Rs. 68.5 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi), and that does seem like a lot for what is not a very large car.
