2026 Mercedes CLA: First Look at the Cheapest Benz Sedan

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BassWingerC-137@reddit

I thought MB was getting away from the lower market cars, and scrapping the MMA stuff? May have misunderstood what I’d read..

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klugez@reddit

A- and B-classes are being cut, but CLA survives.

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FckDammit@reddit

It's a car for badge whores. Nothing is as important as having that 3-pointed star (that lights up btw!) on the front of your grille, just so you can say you drive a "Mercedes".

For the money, you buy a fully loaded Accord or Camry.

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You drive a CTR, what do you know about actual luxury cars? To state that the real Mercedes experience starts at E-class is utterly ridiculous. The current gen CLA and A class already have more luxurious interiors than the Civic you're driving, let alone the C-class.

And to compare Accords or Camrys to the CLA shows how little you know about the appeal of these cars.

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Minute_Fisherman4216@reddit

He's kinda right you know? The state of 'premium' brands is a joke, the word in itself is a bit of a meme now. Take BMW 1 or A-class, it's not that different from well equiped Megane, Mazda 3, Civic or 308. The gap between fully loaded normal brands and cheapest offerings from premium brands is a reallyyy thin line now. We think it's bigger because we think through historical lens, we think about all the glorious luxuirous offerings from the past. It's all just a meme now

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Godvater@reddit

Barely knows a thing about the car in question, writes a wall of text anyways. Classic reddit.

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FckDammit@reddit

It's a CLA? What is there to know that we don't already?

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wild_a@reddit

C Class gives you a real Mercedes experience if you get anything above base.

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Far-Shift1235@reddit

God tier depreciation so the badging has lost all prestige
Could be mistaken as a car 15years older from a distance
meh driving

Does tick all the boxes

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King_in_a_castle_84@reddit

Not gonna lie, the light up badge is indeed pretty cool. I wish more cars had illuminated badging.

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BassWingerC-137@reddit

Because they don’t appreciate what makes a Mercedes-Benz a Mercedes-Benz.

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GiveMeAdviceClowns@reddit

Why? Take a look around, the majority of people don’t know shit about cars except for the badge. This is the perfect base model vehicle for people who want to have the feeling of “luxury” when they’re spending probably 40% of their paycheck on a base model.

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NotPumba420@reddit

Pretty much best in class EV stats. Insane range and efficiency - and that combined with it being a Mercedes and a cheaper one of those

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MonsieurAvocado@reddit

Another choice for someone who’s looking a sedan EV and doesn’t want a Tesla

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solo118@reddit

Has the A Class been dropped? That was the cheapest shit benz put out and definitely lower end than a CLA

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engrng@reddit

CLA and A are basically the same car.

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Drzhivago138@reddit

On paper one is a sedan and the other a 4-door coupe, but IRL that results in the roofline being only half an inch lower, and framed vs. frameless windows.

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bosshawk1@reddit

A class was dropped in the US 2 years ago.

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jonesaus1@reddit

Mercedes had been talking about exiting the lower end models, so probably

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dfields3710@reddit

This car sells like hotcakes. I see them everywhere. This is the “there’s better options but this is a Mercedes” car. This coming from someone who contemplating buy the 70k AMG 45 version. Changed my mind quick.

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darknecross@reddit

I feel like those base models are leased more often than not.

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franksandbeans911@reddit

This stuff screams "my first Mercedes" or "I just bought it for the badge". A similarly priced Civic is way nicer inside and outside for the same or less money, plus it wouldn't have the Mercedes tax when it came to dealer service.

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IThatAsianGuyI@reddit

"Similarly priced Civic" is the Type-R, lmao.

Hybrid Touring is a good $13k cheaper than the CLA.

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franksandbeans911@reddit

That's even more damning than I thought, then. But nobody is cross shopping practical cars vs. vanity badges.

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rugbyj@reddit

This car sells like hotcakes. I see them everywhere.

Yup, in the UK you're basically given one when you become an estate agent.

This coming from someone who contemplating buy the 70k AMG 45 version. Changed my mind quick.

Confused what you mean by this; the updated CLA has made you not want the AMG 45 version?

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jondes99@reddit

“Yup, in the UK you’re basically given one when you become an estate agent.”

That’s what Audis are for in the US.

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dfields3710@reddit

No. I just couldn’t justify paying $70k for such a small vehicle. Like u can get larger cars and similar performance for the same price or cheaper.

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King_in_a_castle_84@reddit

Fuuuuuuck. I remember seeing them advertised for $29,995 on TV.

It wasn't that long ago.

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Fit_Equivalent3610@reddit

The CLA45 is the performance version, it is basically completely unrelated to the base model. The current one has 420 hp, awd, blah blah blah.

The base model that was starting at $30k USD on 2014 was a CLA250 without options. 200hp, front wheel drive, no sunroof, no leather, etc. As R&T said, "if you pay for half a Mercedes, you get half a Mercedes." The CLA45 had around 350hp at the time and was far more expensive.

The current CLA45 is more expensive than the first gen was in 2014 ($48k starting then vs $56k starting now) but it's also faster and better in most ways.

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the_lamou@reddit

The current CLA45 is more expensive than the first gen was in 2014 ($48k starting then vs $56k starting now)

The crazy thing is that it's actually cheaper! $48,000 in 2014 would be almost $65,000 today. So you get a much better car for $10,000 less, adjusted for inflation. It's the literal opposite of greed.

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the_lamou@reddit

First, 2013 was over a freaking decade ago. Ten entire years. Someone who started middle school in 2013 will be graduating with a bachelor's degree this coming spring. Someone who was just born in 2013 is in their first year of middle school now. And if you look at inflation, $29,995 in 2013 is about $41,100 these days. Which is pretty much where the base CLA250 starts, so it's exactly as expensive today as it was then.

You're confusing the CLA250 for the CLA AMG 45.

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strongmanass@reddit

We're two months away from 2025. 2005 was basically 20 years ago. $29,995 then is worth $50,000 in today's money. Not coincidentally, the 2025 CLA250 starts at $44,400.

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1530@reddit

Small or large vehicle is really up to your personal needs. Not everyone needs a full size sedan, not everyone needs a minivan. Are the larger cars at the same price more comfortable / better equipped? Most days I'm a solo driver and grateful I'm not trying to drive / park something bigger.

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dfields3710@reddit

Yeah but you can also get larger coupes for cheaper. A WB Scatpack is 70k for either cars. Mustang GT, Darkhorse. Camaro 2SS 1LE or base ZL1 are larger. Yes they are not as quality but they are larger for being slower or just having a V8.

M2, Base M4, RS3 are the same size and are better deals and performance for the money.

I’m not talking about minivan sizes but there are cars larger than a CLA

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Riverrattpei@reddit

One of my biggest complaints above my Mustang is it's size

Some people just don't like big cars

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NotPumba420@reddit

But really similar performance? The CLA 45s drives insanely sporty.

And size is not the issue to me, but the cheap interior

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ShadyDrunks@reddit

They made it so poor people could afford a Mercedes then drove the price back up lol, didn’t these start in early 30s maybe even high 20s in the early 2010s? Now it’s 44k starting lmao

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the_lamou@reddit

High 20's a decade ago is equivalent to low 40's today. Welcome to inflation, a prices that has been happening since the invention of trade but which people still seem completely shocked by.

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strongmanass@reddit

They said their strategy was to cull the cheaper offerings and focus on the more expensive models. They're raising the price instead. Even so it's not by much. The video u/King_in_a_castle_84 linked shows a 2013 starting price of $30k. That's worth $41K today, and th current starting price is $44K.

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King_in_a_castle_84@reddit

They ABSOLUTELY started under $30k less than 20 years ago.

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WorldlyAdvance698@reddit

A great example of where car guys scream 'X car is awful only a moron would buy it!!!' and meanwhile average car buyers love them

Most people don't want a V8 with a manual and 500hp, style and technology are more important to a lot of people

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dfields3710@reddit

Never said they were morons. Just that there are better options than this car. I acknowledged that people love these hence the sale like hotcakes but let’s not act like this car is some shining example of build quality and technological advance. I want them to keep selling these, I just wouldn’t buy one.

This car starts at like $45k btw.

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klayman69@reddit

It was slight above 50k before the pandemic when I was looking at it vs the Audi RS3. Now car price is just a lot more expensive.

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King_in_a_castle_84@reddit

That's not an excuse.

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Dazzling-Rooster2103@reddit

Never really liked the CLA, it looks fine, just don't really see the point when you can get something like a Camry for significantly cheaper with more features and power that is more reliable.

Seems like a car for people that just want a Mercedes badge that know nothing else about cars.

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engrng@reddit

Leaving the badge aside, the Camry is a much bigger car and is associated with retirees or boomers. Some people don't need the space and want to drive a smaller car. Young adults don't want to be seen driving a car that their parents or their friends' parents drive. These are not difficult things to understand.

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Fabulous_Secret7223@reddit

The back does not look like a mercedes to me

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SweetTooth275@reddit

Still ugly and FWD? No thank you

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Either-Durian-9488@reddit

They need to get away from the stormtrooper helmet look bad man.

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D4rkr4in@reddit

Starting to look more and more like a Tesla with a Benz logo slapped in front of it

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Flashy-Marketing-167@reddit

I'm surprised they still make that POS.

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magesticpanda@reddit

These front wheel drive Mercedes started out as a joint venture with Nissan, enough said

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DelicateEmbroidery@reddit

Cheap plastic parts intensifies

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Godvater@reddit

People commenting without reading aside. I wonder what the crazy range 800V version of this will cost? Sure it will be smaller inside than a Model 3 but it will probably beat or match it in range and will come with working parking and rain sensors, actual usuable stalks etc.

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aaayyyuuussshhh@reddit

Hopefully a comptetitive EV sedan for the Ioniq 6 and Model 3?

I mean all they have to do is 800v architech for fast charging and good thermal management, 300 miles of highway range, and cost under 50K before incentives and it will sell.

Or I'd be happy with a well engineered and reliable 48v mild hybrid 2.0T and cost under 45K.

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xt1nct@reddit

Mercedes going all in on the egg shape look. The design has no identity anymore. Plus, inside will most likely look like a strip club.

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darknecross@reddit

The curved back reminds me of a dog taking a shit.

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Unoriginal-@reddit

Dibs on posting the same boilerplate comment on the next MB post

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Domyyy@reddit

There will never ever be a post about Mercedes on Reddit without all 3 of the following:

Looks like an egg on the outside
Looks like a strip-club on the inside
Looks like a gaming pc on the inside

(3.5 me complaining about those comments because I love me some eggs)

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avoidhugeships@reddit

Looks pretty boring to me.

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douchebaggery5000@reddit

Ngl I judge everyone that drives these

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LimitedReach@reddit (OP)

This is the shape and proportions that the EQS and EQE should’ve had. I see this being a success for them if it’s priced right being that it’ll underpin both ICE and EV powertrains.

Another thing that I’m worried about is the relative quality of it. Mercedes is known for cost cutting and lacking quality of their recent products, especially their lower priced ones.

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peakdecline@reddit

Sure it looks better than the EQ products but like... It's still deeply uninspired and boring in the worst ways. It doesn't need to necessarily be brash or in your face. But it's not stately or refined either. It's just boring.

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NotPumba420@reddit

If it looks as good as the current cla then that would be a win and the most beautiful ev under 100k

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markeydarkey2@reddit

The CLA looks nice but it doesn't look that nice. Lucid Air? Genesis G80 EV? Both of those are under $100K and look absolutely stunning imo.

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NotPumba420@reddit

Imo lucid air is not pretty at all. Especially c pillar and rear.

Genesis is nice though

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LimitedReach@reddit (OP)

True but like anything is better than the EQS at this point plus it’s an entry level Benz, my expectations aren’t as high as it would be on their upper end models.

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