2020 Mercedes-AMG CLA 45 4Matic+ review: Master of the track, or high performance luxury coupe?

A budget-muncher
And this 2020 Mercedes-AMG CLA 45 does claim more than the average pound of flesh from buyers. With its $59,700 starting price, the most explosive model in the CLA lineup is barely more economical to purchase than a C 43 AMG with its base price of $59,900. Note that the total price (with options) of our CLA tester is $77,540.

The comparison between the two models bears pushing farther, actually: the CLA 45 benefits from the industry's most powerful 4-cylinder turbocharged engine with 382 hp, while in the C 43 sedan, engineers instead inserted a 385-hp twin-turbo V6. The CLA 45's engine is hand-assembled, but not the C 43's V6. Both sedans are also equipped with 4MATIC all-wheel drive (4MATIC+ in the case of the CLA 45), as well as a dual-clutch transmission to transmit power to the four-wheel drive system. The CLA's has eight gears, the other’s nine. In short, it’s a valid exercise to compare these two models, if only to see if you're more of a 4-cylinder turbo or twin-turbo V6 type of motorist.

Better built than its predecessor?
I had occasion previously to test the previous CLA 45, which hit the market for the 2014 model year. There’s no doubt that the new edition is much more attractive. The CLA 45 still lines up on the more "affordable" side of the ledger in the Mercedes lineup, but there's clearly a higher standard at play with this 2.0 version.

The first CLA delivered the goods in terms of performance, but it lost points because of wobbly assembly compared in the brand's more upscale sedans. In addition, there were certain cheaper materials that had no place in a car designed by AMG.

Fortunately, all that's behind the model, the new CLA 45 having corrected most of the shortcomings of the old. I had already been seduced last winter by the CLA 250 4MATIC, which offered a level of quality worthy of the brand, and the "hot rod" of the family did not disappoint at this level.

Compared to its predecessor, the new CLA 45 is wider, an impression amplified by the AMG grille - which some people also call Panamericana - and its slimmer headlamps. The available AMG Aerodynamics Package adds a hint of motorsports, with added front bumper vanes and a functional rear diffuser. The matte black wheels are also a great addition ($500) to this sedan, which proudly wears a denim blue finish.

The same can be said inside, where the dashboard follows the lead in the majority of the brand’s sedans, which is to say there’s a wide screen that extends from behind the steering wheel to the centre of the dashboard. The coupe's ventilation nozzles are also great to look at, especially at night when lighting adds to the sound and light show in the cabin. The CLA 45 exudes quality, starting with the wraparound seats and the multi-function steering wheel that provides a comfortable grip for backcountry drives on winding roads.

Behind the wheel

Like the first CLA, the new CLA 45 offers an outstanding driving experience, starting with the raspy sound that emanates from the four exhaust pipes at startup. A small knob on the steering wheel allows you to adjust the performance level, with electronic adjustments that offer no fewer than six modes (Slip, Comfort, Sport, Sport+, Individual and Race). The Slip and Comfort modes are perfect for going unnoticed, but as soon as the Sport mode is engaged, the 4-cylinder turbocharged engine starts to sing, and the gear ratios stretch a little more. The suspension also stiffens, which for some might mean moving to Individual mode, which allows for adjusting specific settings to their taste.