2023 Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class Review

Name: 2023 Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class
Brand: Mercedes-Benz
Rating: 3.7 (21 reviews)

Price Range: $25,990 - $48,990

Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class AMG CLA 35 Sedan Exterior

Read full review See all features & specs

Price & Payment

Select year

Average price: $25,161

Min$

Max$

See listings

Appraise My 2023 Mercedes-Benz

Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class model years

Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class for Sale

Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class types

Pros

Generous list of standard features
Luxury badging without the premium price
Enjoyable performance from AMG CLA 35 and 45 models

Cons

Less rear seat space than many rivals

What's new

Limited-edition CLA 45 Edition 55
Part of the second CLA generation introduced for 2020

Overview

Written by automotive expert Michael Cantu

1/24/2023

With the discontinuation of the A-Class for the 2023 model year, the CLA is now Mercedes' entry-level sedan. In other words, the luxury brand's most affordable car. But if you're also considering an SUV, the GLA is a bit cheaper. Some might be disappointed they missed out on the A-Class' lower price tag, but the CLA packs more power and offers more option packages and features. Its rear sloping roofline adds more style, and the CLA has two AMG models to choose from.

For sale near Ashburn, VA

275 listings

Sort by:

2023 Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class
CLA 250 4MATIC Sedan
$25,979
great price
$4,833 below market
- 36,815 miles
- 24 City / 33 Hwy MPG
- 30 mi away
- AWD/4WD
- Back-up camera
- Bluetooth
- Sunroof/Moonroof
- Upgraded Headlights
Close
Located in Woodbridge, VA
The 2023 Mercedes-Benz CLA 250 4MATIC with 36,815 miles is a nearly new, tech-forward luxury coupe sedan that delivers contemporary style, energetic p...
Features and Specs:
27 Combined MPG (24 City/33 Highway)
Listing Information:
VIN:
W1K5J4HB8PN419328
Stock:
419328
Certified Pre-Owned:
No
Listed since:
07-17-2026
Price Drop
2023 Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class
AMG CLA 45 Sedan
$42,495
good price
$3,565 below market
- 39,330 miles
- 20 City / 28 Hwy MPG
- 29 mi away
- AWD/4WD
- Back-up camera
- Bluetooth
- Sunroof/Moonroof
- Keyless Entry/Start
Close
Located in Woodbridge, VA
Koons Kia of Woodbridge is a Kia dealership located in Woodbridge, VA, serving drivers throughout the greater Washington, DC area. The dealership focu...
Features and Specs:
23 Combined MPG (20 City/28 Highway)
Listing Information:
VIN:
W1K5J5DB8PN412746
Stock:
KWKTPN412746
Certified Pre-Owned:
No
Listed since:
08-31-2026

See all for sale

And it's hard to argue against the CLA's attainable price, especially when considering a fully loaded midsize sedan from a non-luxury brand costs about as much. Not only that, but Mercedes didn't skimp out on the CLA: The sedan has an elegant and high-tech-looking interior, provides plenty of comfort, and offers many of the same features found on larger, more expensive Mercedes models. It's also fun to drive and boasts one of the best infotainment systems in its class. The CLA aces most categories, but it's not perfect. Its rear seats are cramped and its reasonable price can quickly climb with options.

If you're hard set on purchasing the CLA you might want to wait a little longer for the 2024 model because Mercedes updated its design, engines and added more standard tech. And if you aren't sold on the CLA, consider some of its rivals, including the Audi A3 and BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe. There's also the all-electric alternative: the Tesla Model 3. If you do decide to go with the current CLA, you'll likely be very happy with this well-built, tech-forward luxury sedan.

2023 Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class trim level differences

The 2023 Mercedes-Benz CLA is available as the CLA 250, AMG CLA 35 and AMG CLA 45. The CLA 250 is available with front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive (Mercedes' 4Matic), while the more powerful and performance-tuned AMG versions come standard with all-wheel drive. Standard equipment highlights include: Compare the 2023 Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class trim levels in-depth.

Which CLA-Class trim does Edmunds recommend?

The AMG models are a blast to drive, but most people don't need their 300-plus horsepower and they aren't as budget-friendly as the CLA 250, the trim we recommend. Thanks to a multitude of option packages and stand-alone options, the CLA 250 is highly customizable. You can add many of the features found in the AMG models. We suggest adding the Premium package, which brings larger screens and keyless entry. The Driver Assistance package is another worthy upgrade, adding many advanced driver aids that help make driving safer and easier.

Cost to Drive

Monthly estimates based on costs in Virginia

$209/mo

$230/mo

Avg. Midsize Car

Calculate my fuel costs

Reliability

The 2023 Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class has a 4 years / 50,000 miles basic warranty and 1 recall. RepairPal gives it a reliability rating of 4 out of 5, ranks it #7 out of 26 among Luxury Compact Cars. Below you’ll find our owner reviews.

Reliability Rating by RepairPal

4 out of 5 stars4/5Above Average

#7 out of 26 among Luxury Compact Cars

RepairPal Reliability Ratings are based on the actual cost, frequency, and severity of unscheduled repairs and maintenance on make/model data for select 2008-2022 vehicles. The reliability of a specific vehicle may vary depending on its maintenance and driving history, model year, trim, and features.

Cost

$574/yr

vs. $554/yr
for Average Luxury Compact Car

Frequency

1.08x/yr

vs. 1.57x/yr
for Average Luxury Compact Car

Severity

6.7%

vs. 11.1%
for Average Luxury Compact Car

Recalls

1 recall found

Checking if a car has a recall is simple. Just type the car's VIN number into the NHTSA website (https://www.nhtsa.gov/recalls). If there's an unrepaired recall, you'll see it there.

If a recall shows up, just call your local car dealer. They'll know about the recall and will work with the car maker to fix it for free (if the recall happened within 10 years of the car being first sold).

Recall Number:: 23V232000
Manufacturer Recall Number:: 2023040004
Number of vehicles affected:: 3
Defect Description:: Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2023 AMG CLA 45 vehicles. The tires may leak air.
Defect Consequence:: A sudden loss of air pressure from a tire may cause a loss of vehicle control while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.
Corrective Action:: Dealers will replace the tires, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 28, 2023. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6373. MBUSA's number for this recall is 2023040004.

Warranty

4 years / 50,000 miles Basic Warranty

Basic Warranty: 4 years / 50,000 miles
Drivetrain Warranty: 4 years / 50,000 miles
Rust Warranty: 4 years / 50,000 miles
Roadside assistance Warranty: 4 years / 50,000 miles

Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class Reviews

Owner Reviews

3.7

21 reviews

5(57%)

4(9%)

3(0%)

2(10%)

1(24%)

See all 21 reviews of the Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class

Write a vehicle review

Most Helpful Owner Reviews

Trending topics

Styling, Hi-Tech Sold Me

Pete G, 07/16/2021

2021 Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class CLA 250 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 7AM)

I picked this particular Mercedes because it is a beautiful design and offers the same driver assistance features as the high end MB models: standard brake assist, lane keeping, front and rear cameras and sensors, blind spot and rear side warning. I added the optional full assist package with 360 “cameras” road sign reading and speed adjust, etc. On a well marked highway the car will … drive itself indefinitely with just a finger on the wheel. A tap on the turn signal stalk gets an automatic lane change when it’s clear ….. very convenient and I use the feature often. But styling alone would sell me on the car. The CLA looks especially good from the rear quarter where the curved roofline joins the simple curves of the lower body. The interior is years ahead of mid range MB models and competitors with a continuous multipart screen that covers most of the dash. The infotainment controls are doubly or even triply redundant with touch screen, steering wheel, and a pad controls for most functions. It is so much easier to use while driving than the iDrive system in my BMW that I actually use most of its features. There is a voice activated assist that gets simple commands right, but copes poorly with anything beyond that. For example trying to get the odometer reading bu asking (to avoid changing any of the driver’s three info screens to see the odometer), proved impossible. The promised computer learning curve so far, in over a year, is close to flat. The standard powered front seats are comfortable and roomy for average height people. Good leg room with thigh support extensions, but sexy styling provides minimal head room. Rear seat suffers more and space is very limited but we don’t use the CLA if we have more than two adults in the car. Engine performance is good. Turbo boost comes in smoothly, but the dual clutch 7 speed transmission is often jerky and hesitant while driving in traffic. It has three performance settings with comfort setting the default. I drive in sport setting in traffic because low gears are held longer and there are fewer shifts made. Any good manual driver will shift more smoothly than than this transmission. The CLA comes with more standard features than comparable BMW offerings but doesn’t offer equal performance. It is the “luxury” alternative and has an interior that beats most, if not all of its competitors as well as higher line models. Give this car a traditional torque converter transmission and I would give it 5 Stars.

Great Car

this is a great car, 07/07/2020

2020 Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class CLA 250 4MATIC 4dr Sedan AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 7AM)

easy driving, comfortable, good pick up, looks great

A COMPLETELY NEW CLA

TOM, 05/20/2020

2020 Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class CLA 250 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 7AM)

I recently traded my old 2016 CLA 250 for a new 2020 CLA 250. Although I was happy with my 2016 the new model is totally different and substantially better. The previous negative review must have been out of the USA (and was a 2019 model) since MB doesn't even sell the 220 model in the US. I have had mine for 6 months and love it. It is significantly quieter and quicker and has a …

Awesome Car

Pharoah 2020, 02/07/2020

2020 Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class CLA 250 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 7AM)

This car is really great so far. Swift acceleration, loaded with technology, and beautiful looking body

We have a limited number of reviews for the 2023 Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class, so we've included reviews for other years of the CLA-Class since its last redesign.

2023 CLA-Class Features & Specs

Type:

Sedan

Trim:

CLA 250

Est. Market Value	$27,122
Engine Type	Gas
Combined MPG	29 MPG
Cost to Drive	$209/month
Seating	5 seats
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place	11.6 cu.ft.
Drivetrain	front wheel drive
Warranty	4 years / 50,000 miles

See all features & specs

Safety

Our experts like the CLA-Class models:

Mercedes-Benz Emergency Call Service: Complimentary for as long as you own the CLA, this standard feature equips the car with an SOS button that connects you to a live operator if you need assistance.
Pre-Safe Sound: When a collision is unavoidable, this technology emits a special tone through the stereo speakers to protect your hearing.
Active Emergency Stop Assist: When using the adaptive cruise control and lane keeping system, this technology detects an unresponsive driver and brings the CLA to a safe stop.

People who viewed this also viewed

Mercedes-Benz C-Class
Starting at $49,650

See Mercedes-Benz C-Class Inventory

Tesla Model 3
5.0 average Rating out of 1 reviews.
Starting at $36,990

See Tesla Model 3 Inventory

Mercedes-Benz GLA
5.0 average Rating out of 1 reviews.
Starting at $41,500

See Mercedes-Benz GLA Inventory