2019 Mercedes CLA vs. 2016 Mercedes CLA - Old vs. New

10/01/2019 - 09:48 | Mercedes CLA, Mercedes-Benz | Sagar Parikh

Mercedes-Benz has taken the wraps off the all-new CLA at the CES 2019. Here’s a visual comparison between the all-new model and its predecessor.

2019 Mercedes Cla Vs 2016 Mercedes Cla Front Three — The second generation Mercedes CLA is longer, shorter and lower than its predecessor.

The second generation of the Mercedes-Benz CLA looks like a mini-Mercedes CLS. The basic recipe for the seductive entry-level coupe remains the same: a long, stretched bonnet, a wide track with exposed wheel arches, a compact greenhouse, frameless doors and rounded tail.

The designers have pushed back the greenhouse for a sportier design in the second generation model. The flat headlamps and narrow tail lamps give an increased sense of aggression, while the clean, uncluttered surfacing on the door panels heighten the gracefulness of the compact four-door coupe. Inside, the minimalist and high-tech cabin has a strong resemblance of the fourth-gen Mercedes A-Class and first-ever Mercedes A-Class Sedan.

Thanks to a 63 mm wider track at the front and a 55 wider track at the rear, and a lower centre of gravity, the 2019 Mercedes CLA offers a sportier drive. A decoupled multi-link axle at the rear has reduced noise and vibration, while a stabiliser bar with a larger diameter has reduced body roll. Mercedes-Benz has specially adjusted the ESP for the car’s potentially high cornering speeds and handling performance.

It is safe to assume that the all-new Mercedes CLA will come with the same turbocharged four-cylinder engines as the latest Mercedes A-Class family and the all-new Mercedes B-Class, including the 1.33-litre petrol unit co-developed with Renault. The car in the images here is the CLA 250 with the M260 2.0-litre petrol engine that produces 225 PS and 350 Nm of torque. This engine is coupled to the 7G-DCT 7-speed dual-clutch transmission.

2019 Mercedes Cla Vs 2016 Mercedes Cla Rear Three — The second generation of the Mercedes-Benz CLA looks like a mini-Mercedes CLS, especially when seeing from the rear three quarters.

Also See: Russian media envisage the 2020 Mercedes E-Class (facelift) - Rendering

The production of the all-new Mercedes CLA will take place at the Kecskemet plant in Hungary. Its European launch is scheduled for May 2019.

First-gen Mercedes CLA vs. second-gen Mercedes CLA - Dimensions

Parameter	Unit	First-gen CLA	Second-gen CLA	Diff.
Exterior dimensions
Length	mm	4688	4640	48
Width	mm	1830	1777	53
Width incl. exterior mirrors	mm	1999	2032	-33
Height	mm	1439	1441	-2
Wheelbase	mm	2729	2699	30
Front track	mm	1612	1549	63
Rear track	mm	1602	1547	55
Interior dimensions
Max. headroom, front	mm	1023	1006	17
Headroom, rear	mm	908	905	3
Legroom, front	mm	1062	1063	-1
Legroom, rear	mm	861	860	1
Elbow room, front	mm	1457	1422	35
Elbow room, rear	mm	1454	1410	44
Shoulder room, front	mm	1400	1391	9
Shoulder room, rear	mm	1372	1350	22
Load compartment width max.	mm	1444	1331	113
Load compartment depth max.	mm	1054	1030	24
Width of load compartment opening	mm	891	629	262
Boot capacity, VDA[1]	l	460	470	-10