Which year to buy
Best betNo standoutNo year is clearly better than the rest
Newest we'd buy2024The latest year rated a good buy
Avoid2015, 2019Far more serious problems than usual
Be careful2014, 2016More problems; check the recalls were done
Bar height: serious owner complaints to NHTSA for that year per car on the road, against this model's usual year.
Verdicts computed from NHTSA owner complaints, defect investigations and recalls. Cars on the road from New York State registrations. (How we judge.) Data checked 2026-10-06.
Trims and features
2026 CLA trims
| CLA250 | CLA250 4MATIC | AMG CLA35 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apple CarPlay | Standard | Standard | Standard |
| Wireless Apple CarPlay | Standard | Standard | Standard |
| Android Auto | Standard | Standard | Standard |
| Wireless phone charging | Optional | Optional | Standard |
| Head-up display | Optional | Optional | Optional |
| Heated front seats | Optional | Optional | Standard |
| Ventilated front seats | No | No | Optional |
| Heated steering wheel | Optional | Optional | Optional |
| Leather seats | Optional | Optional | Optional |
| Remote start | Standard | Standard | Standard |
| Sunroof or moonroof | Standard | Standard | Standard |
| Panoramic roof | Standard | Standard | Standard |
| Power liftgate or tailgate | Optional | Optional | Standard |
| 360-degree camera | Optional | Optional | Optional |
| Blind-spot warning | Standard | Standard | Standard |
| Lane centering | Optional | Optional | Optional |
Features from Mercedes-Benz's 2026 equipment guide ("Optional": a package or option adds it); base price, seating and driver-assistance equipment from NHTSA's vehicle database (vPIC), as Mercedes-Benz reports it. "—": not verified in our sources. "Varies": standard on some versions of the trim.
Year by year
| Year | Engines | Drive | Fuel economy | Crash rating | Recalls | Owner complaints | Most-reported problem | CarPlay |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 2.0L 4-cyl turbo, 221–416 hp | AWD, FWD | 23–30 mpg | Not rated | 0 | 3 | Electrical system (2) | — |
| 2023 | 2.0L 4-cyl turbo, 221–382 hp | AWD, FWD | 23–29 mpg | Not rated | 0 | 6 | Unknown or other (3) | — |
| 2022 | 2.0L 4-cyl turbo, 208–382 hp | AWD, FWD | 23–29 mpg | Not rated | 0 | 5 | Unknown or other (2) | — |
| 2021 | 2.0L 4-cyl turbo, 208–375 hp | 4WD, FWD | 23–29 mpg | Not rated | 5 | 9 | Unknown or other (4) | — |
| 2020 | 2.0L 4-cyl turbo, 208–382 hp | 4WD, FWD | 23–28 mpg | Not rated | 0 | 24 | Back over prevention (8) | — |
| 2019 | 2.0L 4-cyl turbo, 208–375 hp | 4WD, FWD | 26–29 mpg | Not rated | 0 | 52 | Power train (13) | — |
| 2018 | 2.0L 4-cyl turbo, 208–375 hp | 4WD, FWD | 26–29 mpg | Not rated | 0 | 46 | Electrical system (12) | — |
| 2017 | 2.0L 4-cyl turbo | 4WD, FWD | 26–29 mpg | Not rated | 0 | 27 | Electrical system (7) | — |
| 2016 | 2.0L 4-cyl turbo | 4WD, FWD | 26–30 mpg | Not rated | 0 | 67 | Unknown or other (20) | — |
| 2015 | 2.0L 4-cyl turbo | 4WD, FWD | 26–30 mpg | Not rated | 0 | 158 | Engine (42) | — |
| 2014 | 2.0L 4-cyl turbo | 4WD, FWD | 26–30 mpg | Not rated | 0 | 195 | Engine (68) | — |
Owner complaints are unverified reports to NHTSA, counted as filed: older years have had longer to collect them and sales aren't adjusted for, so see Which year to buy for a fair comparison. Most-reported problem: the component named in the most complaints that year. Sources: EPA, NHTSA, Apple.
Which years have…
Wireless Apple CarPlayApple CarPlay (wired or wireless)Wireless phone chargingHead-up displayPower liftgateLane centeringBlind-spot monitoring360-degree cameraHeated front seatsVentilated (cooled) seatsHeated steering wheelLeather seatsRemote startSunroof or moonroofPanoramic roof
Every NHTSA-rated version: crash ratings, safety tech, recalls, complaints
| Year | Version | Stars | Forward collision warning | Lane departure warning | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Mercedes-Benz CLA 4 DR AWD | Not Rated | Standard | Optional | 0 | 2 |
| 2024 | Mercedes-Benz CLA 4 DR FWD | Not Rated | Standard | Optional | 2 | 3 |
| 2023 | Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class 4 DR AWD | Not Rated | Standard | Standard | 1 | 6 |
| 2023 | Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class 4 DR FWD | Not Rated | Standard | Standard | 1 | 6 |
| 2022 | Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class 4 DR 4WD | Not Rated | Standard | No | 0 | 4 |
| 2022 | Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class 4 DR FWD | Not Rated | Standard | No | 0 | 4 |
| 2021 | Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class 4 DR FWD | Not Rated | Standard | No | 5 | 7 |
| 2021 | Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class 4 DR 4WD | Not Rated | Standard | No | 5 | 7 |
| 2020 | Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class 4 DR 4WD | Not Rated | No | Optional | 13 | 24 |
| 2020 | Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class 4 DR FWD | Not Rated | No | Optional | 13 | 24 |
| 2019 | Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class 4 DR 4WD | Not Rated | Optional | Optional | 12 | 52 |
| 2019 | Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class 4 DR FWD | Not Rated | Optional | Optional | 6 | 22 |
| 2018 | Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class 4 DR 4WD | Not Rated | Optional | Optional | 10 | 46 |
| 2018 | Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class 4 DR FWD | Not Rated | Optional | Optional | 10 | 46 |
| 2017 | Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class 4 DR 4WD | Not Rated | Optional | Optional | 10 | 27 |
| 2017 | Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class 4 DR FWD | Not Rated | Optional | Optional | 10 | 27 |
| 2016 | Mercedes-Benz Cla-Class 4 DR 4WD | Not Rated | Optional | Optional | 9 | 67 |
| 2015 | Mercedes-Benz Cla-Class 4 DR FWD | Not Rated | Standard | Optional | 7 | 158 |
| 2015 | Mercedes-Benz Cla-Class 4 DR 4WD | Not Rated | Optional | Optional | 7 | 158 |
| 2014 | Mercedes-Benz CLA-CLASS 4 DR 4WD | Not Rated | Standard | Optional | 6 | 195 |
| 2014 | Mercedes-Benz CLA-CLASS 4 DR FWD | Not Rated | Standard | Optional | 6 | 195 |
Source: NHTSA.
Every EPA-rated version: engines and combined mpg
| Year | EPA model | Engines | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | AMG CLA35 4matic | Auto (AM8), 4 cyl, 2.0 L, Turbo | 25 |
| 2024 | AMG CLA45 S 4matic | Auto (AM8), 4 cyl, 2.0 L, Turbo | 23 |
| 2024 | CLA250 | Auto (AM8), 4 cyl, 2.0 L, Turbo | 30 |
| 2024 | CLA250 4matic | Auto (AM8), 4 cyl, 2.0 L, Turbo | 28 |
| 2023 | AMG CLA35 4matic | Auto (AM7), 4 cyl, 2.0 L, Turbo | 24 |
| 2023 | AMG CLA45 4matic | Auto (AM8), 4 cyl, 2.0 L, Turbo | 23 |
| 2023 | CLA250 | Auto (AM7), 4 cyl, 2.0 L, Turbo | 29 |
| 2023 | CLA250 4matic | Auto (AM7), 4 cyl, 2.0 L, Turbo | 27 |
| 2022 | AMG CLA35 4matic | Auto (AM7), 4 cyl, 2.0 L, Turbo | 24 |
| 2022 | AMG CLA45 4matic | Auto (AM8), 4 cyl, 2.0 L, Turbo | 23 |
| 2022 | CLA250 | Auto (AM7), 4 cyl, 2.0 L, Turbo | 29 |
| 2022 | CLA250 4matic | Auto (AM7), 4 cyl, 2.0 L, Turbo | 27 |
| 2021 | AMG CLA35 4matic | Auto (AM7), 4 cyl, 2.0 L, Turbo | 25 |
| 2021 | AMG CLA45 4matic | Auto (AM8), 4 cyl, 2.0 L, Turbo | 23 |
| 2021 | CLA250 | Auto (AM7), 4 cyl, 2.0 L, Turbo | 29 |
| 2021 | CLA250 4matic | Auto (AM7), 4 cyl, 2.0 L, Turbo | 27 |
| 2020 | AMG CLA35 4matic | Auto (AM7), 4 cyl, 2.0 L, Turbo | 25 |
| 2020 | AMG CLA45 4matic | Auto (AM8), 4 cyl, 2.0 L, Turbo | 23 |
| 2020 | CLA250 | Auto (AM7), 4 cyl, 2.0 L, Turbo | 28 |
| 2020 | CLA250 4matic | Auto (AM7), 4 cyl, 2.0 L, Turbo | 27 |
| 2019 | AMG CLA45 4matic | Auto (AM7), 4 cyl, 2.0 L, Turbo | 26 |
| 2019 | CLA250 | Auto (AM7), 4 cyl, 2.0 L, Turbo | 29 |
| 2019 | CLA250 4matic | Auto (AM7), 4 cyl, 2.0 L, Turbo, SIDI; FFV Auto (AM7), 4 cyl, 2.0 L, Turbo, SIDI |
27 |
| 2018 | AMG CLA45 4matic | Auto (AM7), 4 cyl, 2.0 L, Turbo | 26 |
| 2018 | CLA250 | Auto (AM7), 4 cyl, 2.0 L, Turbo | 29 |
| 2018 | CLA250 4matic | Auto (AM7), 4 cyl, 2.0 L, Turbo, SIDI; FFV Auto (AM7), 4 cyl, 2.0 L, Turbo, SIDI |
27 |
| 2017 | AMG CLA45 4matic | Auto (AM7), 4 cyl, 2.0 L, Turbo | 26 |
| 2017 | CLA250 | Auto (AM7), 4 cyl, 2.0 L, Turbo | 29 |
| 2017 | CLA250 4matic | Auto (AM7), 4 cyl, 2.0 L, Turbo, SIDI Auto (AM7), 4 cyl, 2.0 L, Turbo, SIDI; FFV |
27 |
| 2016 | AMG CLA45 4matic | Auto (AM7), 4 cyl, 2.0 L, Turbo | 26 |
| 2016 | CLA250 | Auto (AM7), 4 cyl, 2.0 L, Turbo | 30 |
| 2016 | CLA250 4matic | Auto (AM7), 4 cyl, 2.0 L, Turbo, SIDI; FFV Auto (AM7), 4 cyl, 2.0 L, Turbo, SIDI |
27 |
| 2015 | CLA250 | Auto (AM7), 4 cyl, 2.0 L, Turbo | 30 |
| 2015 | CLA250 4matic | Auto (AM7), 4 cyl, 2.0 L, Turbo, SIDI; FFV Auto (AM7), 4 cyl, 2.0 L, Turbo, SIDI |
27 |
| 2015 | CLA45 AMG 4matic | Auto (AM7), 4 cyl, 2.0 L, Turbo | 26 |
| 2014 | CLA250 | Auto (AM7), 4 cyl, 2.0 L, Turbo | 30 |
| 2014 | CLA250 4matic | Auto (AM7), 4 cyl, 2.0 L, Turbo | 27 |
| 2014 | CLA45 AMG 4matic | Auto (AM7), 4 cyl, 2.0 L, Turbo | 26 |
Source: fueleconomy.gov.