I drove a $48,000 Mercedes CLA250 to see if this snazzy compact sedan is a worthy entry point to the brand — here's the verdict

Matthew DeBord

January 28, 2020 3:11 PM

Matthew DeBord/Business Insider

In "Jupiter Red," the 2020 Mercedes CLA250 I tested looked extra-sharp: a pop of welcome color in a gray Northeastern winter.

The 2020 Mercedes-Benz CLA250 is the second generation of an entry-level Merc four-door.
It shares with the A-Class a front-wheel-drive platform, distinguishing it from the rear-drive-based C-Class.
This CLA-Class fastback coup features a punchy, turbocharged four-cylinder engine making 221 horsepower.
My well-equipped test car tipped the cost scales at about $48,000, had some AMG goodies, and was upgraded to all-wheel-drive.
I was impressed with the CLA250, which combines an appealing price tag with dandy performance and generous Mercedes luxury.
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The 2020 Mercedes CLA250 is in many ways a mashup of automotive ideas while still managing to be its own thing, as well as a proper Mercedes-Benz.

For starters, the CLA-Class is distinguished from the C-Class by the former's front-wheel-drive architecture. The CLA250 itself is also a four-door "coup" fastback, not a traditional sedan.

Once you figure that out, you can then settle into the M-B aspects of the CLA250, chiefly its wonderful interior and sterling performance. It might be an entry-grade ride, but it never reminds you that you're at the beginning of a journey into German luxury cardom.

Mercedes loaned me a CLA250 for a week, and I drove it all over the vicinity of our suburban New Jersey test center. Here's how it went:

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