The Mercedes-Benz CLA Shooting Brake is what happens when somebody looks at a stylish car and makes it even better looking.
It takes the basic shape of the new CLA, stretches the roof further backwards, adds a proper tailgate and manages to emerge looking arguably even better than the saloon.
There is 455 litres of luggage space and somehow, nobody had to turn it into an SUV. This alone feels worthy of celebration.
At 4.7 metres long and 1.8 metres wide, it is not particularly small, but its proportions disguise the size neatly. The roofline sweeps gently towards the rear instead of dropping away dramatically like the CLA saloon, while the side glass forms a long crescent that gives the car an almost traditional estate-car silhouette.
And in case you didn’t know this is a Mercedes-Benz, there are stars everywhere. The grille is filled with illuminated three-pointed stars, while the headlights and rear lamps contain more star-shaped motifs. It is difficult to imagine anybody looking at the car and wondering who made it.
The obvious reason for choosing the Shooting Brake is space. Mercedes says rear passengers gain 26mm of headroom over the four-door CLA, while the larger rear door openings make getting in easier too.
This remains a relatively low car, and taller passengers will still have to duck slightly when climbing into the back. But once seated, things improve.
Legroom is generous enough for four adults to undertake longer journeys without beginning diplomatic negotiations, while the flatter roof means rear passengers feel less hemmed in.
You get 455 litres, 50 litres more than the CLA saloon, along with an electrically operated tailgate. Fold the rear seats and the Shooting Brake becomes substantially more useful for awkward loads.
And because the CLA200 is electric, Mercedes has found another 101 litres of storage underneath the bonnet.
The cabin is recognisably modern Mercedes. which means a lot of screens. The dashboard uses the same basic architecture as the new CLA saloon, with digital displays dominating the fascia and relatively few traditional controls cluttering the space beneath them.
Materials are generally convincing where your hands naturally fall, with padded synthetic leather, metallic surfaces and gloss trim helping the cabin feel suitably premium. Lower down, there are harder plastics, although these rarely become intrusive unless you specifically go looking for them.
The infotainment itself is fast and visually polished, although Mercedes still expects you to perform an impressive amount of interaction through the screen.
Thankfully, frequently used functions are not buried deeply enough to turn every journey into an IT support session.
The steering wheel controls take some getting used to, as does Mercedes’ tendency to consolidate several functions around the steering column. After a few days, most of it becomes second nature.
The CLA200 Shooting Brake uses a single electric motor driving the rear wheels. Output is 110kW (148bhp) with 335Nm of torque. This places the CLA200 within Category A COE, but also explains why zero to 100km/h takes 10 seconds.
Thankfully, due to the high torque output, pulling away from traffic lights feels brisk enough. However, the lack of outright power becomes more obvious once speeds rise.
The CLA’s rear-drive layout contributes to good balance and tidy handling, but Mercedes has clearly prioritised ease and refinement over oversteer. The steering is nicely weighted and responds quickly enough to make the car feel smaller than its dimensions suggest. Turn into a bend and the body remains impressively flat, aided by suspension that sits towards the firmer side of comfortable.
Rougher surfaces produce some tyre noise, but the cabin remains impressively isolated for most journeys. Over larger imperfections, the suspension absorbs the initial impact without the floaty secondary movement that affects some softer EVs. There is enough composure for an empty slip road to become mildly entertaining, but the CLA never nags you into driving quickly.
Interestingly, the CLA does have an actual gearbox. A two-speed automatic transmission, in fact.
Most EVs use a single fixed ratio because an electric motor operates effectively across a much broader speed range than an internal-combustion engine. Mercedes has decided that one gear is not enough.
The first ratio helps with acceleration at lower speeds, while the second allows the motor to operate more efficiently as velocity increases. You barely notice it working, which is exactly how it should be.
The benefit becomes clearer when you look at the efficiency figures. Even though the CLA only has a modest 58kWh lithium iron phosphate battery, the marque claims up to 551km of range. Our test revealed a decent 6.2 km/kWh, which is on par from what’s quoted from Mercedes.
Topping up is a cinch too, as the CLA200 supports up to 200kW DC charging despite its relatively small battery, along with up to 22kW AC charging.
The car industry spent the last decade persuading everyone that the answer to family life was an SUV. But, as the Europeans have demonstrated, we might have had the answer all along.
And this time round, it comes in a low-slung, sleek silver bullet.
Technical Specifications
Mercedes-Benz CLA200 Shooting Brake
Powertrain: Single Electric Motor, Rear-Wheel Drive
Power: 110 kW (148 bhp)
Torque: 335 Nm
Gearbox: Two-Speed Automatic
Acceleration: 10.0 Seconds (0-100km/h)
Top Speed: 210 km/h
Battery Capacity: 58 kWh
Drive Range: 551 km
Energy Consumption: 6.1 km/kWh
Price: S$310,888 with COE (accurate at the time of this article)
Read more automotive news at AutoApp, or check out our latest videos on YouTube and on TikTok!
