Mercedes-Benz CLA Shooting Brake (ENG) - Test Drive and Review

Mercedes-Benz CLA Shooting Brake is a four-door coupe estate, which sounds much worse, than it looks. I'd simply call it an A-Class station-wagon, but then I'm not a marketing specialist. Based on the successful A-Class the CLA Shooting Brake carries on some of it quirks, but is also more practical in some areas, like boot space and headroom in the back.
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Music:
"Son of a Rocket" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0
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[@hurfurr]

Marek, you are one of the few Europeans who totally get (and consequently are able to employ) the classic British dark sense of humour. Great reviews!!

[@MarekDrives]

And you are one of the few, who get it ;)

[@hurfurr]

And that's why I am just about to buy a CLS Shooting Brake 350 cdi . Amazingly in the UK a used 2015 plate with less than 10,000 miles on the clock is about £35k

[@zomgmoz]

I drove one of these today while waiting for maintenance on my CLK. Agreed with most of your points. You definitely want some other engine than the 1.6 turbo if you want a bit sportier feel, although it does suffice if you don't care about that. I've driven a few 180 Mercs, and they all suffer from the same issue with lack of power beyond 100kph. With regards to the gearbox... You need to put it in Manual mode to stop it from shifting on its own :) Sport is just a sportier setting for the automatic shifting. This is how it has worked in all Mercs I've driven, so when it shifts on its own in sport mode, it's not the car's fault :) (although I do recall it will shift in manual mode if you redline it or would stall, but only in those conditions). By the way as someone was talking about the windows... The frameless windows in my CLK have been 100% problem-free for many years in the freezing, snowy winter in Finland, so I doubt they will be a problem in this one either

[@CZARNYEU]

Beautiful car.

[@bobholmes4215]

Marek, well done for doing reviews in both Polish AND English! Must be double the work!!

[@MarekDrives]

Thanks. Not really double the work, but 4-times the payout. Monetization of Polish videos is appallingly low.

[@arleygonzalez8784]

Im late to the party cuz im considering getting one of these beauties second hand. But great objective and consice review. Altough I dont think the shifting problems are the cars fault, as some other commenters point out. (Sorry for grammar, second language :/)

[@enotracoon5661]

Marek, i think you should promote your channel better. In my opinion you are one of the best car reviewers on youtube. You really should have 100k+ subscribers on youtube on your english channel, because the job you are doing is amazing.

[@MarekDrives]

Enot Racoon There's only so much I can. I tried approaching several car sites, but they weren't interested in sharing my videos. So it's up to you - viewers to help me get noticed. If you like my video please share it with people, who you think may be interested. Perhaps you're on a car forum or you have friends, who are car people. It's going to be much more credible if you share my content, than if I try spamming ;)

[@enotracoon5661]

perfect review, as always. Thanks a lot !

[@DerKurfuerst]

Great look imho overall. I like the mercedes designs, alsways did but the a 1.6l with upshift in sportsmode is a effrontery for that price.

[@benschmidt3967]

+Der Kurfürst 270kmph. Autobahn material...Why is he hitting the dash so hard he should move his seat further back...durr,, It soft for a accident... 8 seconds. If you have long gears you drive the right style. You should be getting high 6 low 7 with right launch... Sort of 'civilised speeds'. He's probably whinging about Polish police.

[@theluckydogvlogs1549]

I wish this car is coming to the us market

[@Loop44]

Great looking car with a great chassis, drove the CLA, loved it. Sadly it seems that most cars today are plagued by disappointing engines and gearboxes that try to comply with emissions regulations. Seems like the auto industry is on its way to save the planet while crushing the pleasure of driving. Speaking of Italian cars... the center console on my car doesn't budge when I bang my knee on it if I'm in a hurry getting in. I have a 3 door 2008 Fiat Grande Punto.

[@OoMrBixooO]

Same thoughts here man, awesome looking car, but the interior and stuff just isn't up to mercedes standards, the c class feels like an s class compared to this. :)

[@Pmjs]

I remember Ford's Escort mk1&2 had circular air vents.

[@RobBoothAutomotive]

Not a fan of the orange trim. Replace the rear band to red and that may look cool. Nice review as per usual.

[@MarekDrives]

Rob Booth Automotive I guess it's a matter of taste (or lack of it in my case ;) ). Merc has these 1st Edition, Orange Edition, and Whatever Edition packages during launch. Makes the car stand out from the crowd. Although it is on the pricey side.

[@MaximilianvonPinneberg]

+Marek Drives This is the only edition of the CLA that I actually like.. It also has 4-magic all wheel drive. too which I need. It has a certain amount of retro cool. The orange on the white body, I think looks very stylish indeed. But what do I know. I'm only a designer. However, I keep reading reviews of this model and spec that is a tad underwhelming. The problem is that nearly every vehicle at around £40k with options is also a bit underwhelming. I just wish I could get a C class estate with 4matic in the UK.

[@MarekDrives]

Martin Jones With the CLA/A-Class you have to go for at least A250 to get proper performance out of it. I'll be posting A-Class FL review soon (a veeeery late first drive video), and they finally reprogrammed the auto gearbox.

[@RobBoothAutomotive]

Martin Jones How about a used CLS SB 4-Matic?!

[@MaximilianvonPinneberg]

Rob Booth Automotive I don't think they sold it in th UK, also I prefer to buy new.

[@LeslieVellamos]

hi Marek, thanks for the video, pity, you tested the smallest engine and expected to be a performance car. i have a 220d and im quiet happy with gear-changing and acceleration. very economic as well, 5,5l/100km (average). admit, still not an amg but decent to have it in the daily driving

[@GrenadierGuardsDmr]

Good review. Accurate and concise.

[@drtvcheng]

i am late to this video but you are one of the few reviewers out there who would point out the major shortcomings of this vehicle. For that matter the entire MB CLA that employs this driven train. I was neither happy with the Sport Mode nor the Eco Mode. It was not short of power but you simply could not get it to work. The gearbox is happiest at under 1500rpm and stay there. Beautiful exterior but this is horrible to drive. I'd nominate this to be the worst drive at this price range.

[@altern8ive]

Frameless windows are great until they freeze in winter and refuse to drop to allow the doors to open.

[@MarekDrives]

altern8ive The doors should open and close, even if windows don't drop. Although I've been in a coupe, which wouldn't start because the computer thought windows were still going up. I pressed the start button, and the dashboard just lit like up like a Christmas. tree. AFAIR it was an E92.

[@altern8ive]

Marek Drives correct the doors *should* open and close unless the window seal doesn't obstruct. my Alfa's windows had to drop away from the seal first before the door would open and even if it did drop slightly enough to open it wouldn't close again because the glass would still be too high for the rubber surround. needless to say I will choose any future purchases of a frame-less doored car more carefully. thanks for the upload :)

[@MarekDrives]

altern8ive I don't want to make any Alfa jokes here, but I'm sure the Italians simply do not expect you to keep a car exposed to the elements, or it will disintegrate.I have an MX-5 NC retractable hardtop. The windows don't retract when opening the doors. Works in summer and winter. I suppose in your case creasing the seals would have helped.

[@altern8ive]

Marek Drives well i wouldn't be offended if you made any, anyways i probably heard most of them last winter from my friends as they sat inside their cars keeping warm while i was busy with the de-icer trying to hack inside mine :)

[@MarekDrives]

altern8ive It was supposed to greasing, not ceasing.

[@MrNordlandfahrer]

Good Video Marek ! 60.000,- is to much - you are right. If I have so much money, I will buy a Volvo V60 or something similar, because it is more solid and have also sportive design,

[@YOCOSMINMAX16]

YOU ARE SIMPLY GREAT!

[@zAutobahnDriver]

You can get a really nice CLA 250 for 50 grand, so that's 10 grand cheaper and a better motor. Who the eff buys that orange whatever it is package for six large? In the end, it doesn't matter, because if you put a bunch of toys in the car, it gets way too expensive. Therefore, you are right: if you are gonna spend big money on a Benz, it shouldn't be on a CLA, and it most definitely shouldn't be on a GLA. I just configured a really nice C250 (C300 = same base price) diesel wagon with 12 grand worth of options and it costs € 57.000. You would have to be insane to buy a CLA (except for maybe the AMG) at that price point.

[@MarekDrives]

AutobahnDRIVER Yeah, they have everything cheaper in the US, but beware. Some US spec cars may have somewhat different setup. Gearing, suspension, etc. may not be the same as in European models. At least that's what Infiniti claimed, when it officially came to Europe a few years ago. I'll be on an MB event in Dresden in a couple of weeks, I'll ask them about it.

[@MaximilianvonPinneberg]

+Marek Drives In the Uk this is £35,960, with options is around £38-40k. Roughly €47k.

[@AndrejGobec]

6k for those orange bits! That's ambitious!!

[@MaximilianvonPinneberg]

+Andrej Gobec In the UK, its a separate model for £36k.

[@PRAGEETHKARUNADHEERA]

front wheel drive only right?

[@yakazum1]

CLA coupe was far better. I feel it's more for someone who want to drive CLA and don't know what to do with 3 kids ....

[@luisf.arenas3457]

Hello from Colombia Mr Marek Drives , Big fan of your channel and reviews, you really don´t like Mercedes at all, don´t you?. With all respect, I feel a bad energy every time you review Mercedes.

[@MarekDrives]

On the contrary. I love the A-Class, CLA and CLA SB despite their faults ;)

[@danesebruno]

Get a 2015 Mazda 6 Wagon 2.2 Diesel- MUCH better interior, bigger wheels, WAY faster, better looking, has more tech, and it's more reliable. - all for HALF the price Mercedes is dreaming. it's hard touch materials, noisy cabin, and a PATHETIC engine.

[@danesebruno]

baltzar sköld The one with the big engine costs 3 times as much as the Mazda.

[@fariiiiz]

bagus lah

[@illuminati10yearsago80]

All show no go it seems.

[@shostis]

This orange looks horrible for such a classy car.... tasteless ...

[@nicolaivanmanen6117]

i think you getting payed to talk shit about this car

[@MarekDrives]

I wish.

[@nicolaivanmanen6117]

@@MarekDrives people talking bad about something with such a vigor and compaxion are like the anti Apple gadgets hehehe ... you are very articulate and well spoken i have to tell you that.... but, is there any think good in this car at all :D ?

[@MarekDrives]

Let's see: 1:00 - good looking 1:25 - better headroom 1:40 - cool framless doors 1:50 - cockpit 5:20 - sport mode 6:14 - corners well A lot can be improved choosing a different engine and manual gearbox. I realise I complained a lot in this review, but tell me these aren't valid points? It's expensive, it's inefficient, it's got a slow gearbox, it's cheaply made in places, the ride's too harsh....

[@nicolaivanmanen6117]

@@MarekDrives you generally dislike automatic gear ? or is the M Brake auto gear really bad ? i have a ford ranger wildtrak automatic gear, and i love it.... never really drive other car in auto gear...

[@MarekDrives]

I generally dislike Mercedes-Benz automatics from that period.

[@nograviti2388]

great review, lousy car..

[@dafuqART]

the only thing that sport mode does is agressiv shifting, obviously it wont respond if you shift