2016 Mercedes-AMG CLA 45 Coupe 2.0L 4MATIC 7AT AWD (381 HP)

Vehicle Overview

In 2016, Mercedes-Benz introduced a subtle mid-cycle facelift for its smallest four-door coupe, the CLA, which included several upgrades to the top-of-the-range AMG model, the 45.

Based on the A-Class underpinnings, from which it borrowed the engine lineup, the interior design, and even the wheelbase, the CLA was the only four-door coupe in its segment at the time, at least until BMW counterattacked with the 2 Series Gran Coupe.

With an overall exterior design reminiscent of the CLS, the CLA was also the shortest four-door model in the Mercedes-Benz lineup until the A-Class sedan emerged for the next generation.

Its swooping side profile didn’t receive any visual updates, save for new alloy wheel designs, but the front end did get some minor modifications to the headlights and a new bumper design.

The entire front of the model was modernized thanks to a double-louver satin-metallic trim supporting the three-pointed star badge on the grille. The bumper featured a new A-shaped design with high-gloss black slats and optional splitters in matte titanium gray. The rear end only received a new trunk lid lip spoiler and differently shaped decorative rear vents on each side of the bumper.

The Sports AMG seats with integrated headrests and optional bucket seats were available without any modifications compared to its predecessor. The interior was complemented by a sports steering wheel with a flat brim and AMG emblems all over the seats, the gear shifter, the center console, and the wheel. As standard, the dashboard had Artico man-made leather on the dashboard and door panels.

In 45 AMG spec, the CLA was yet again the only one of its kind, with no direct rival. Despite this, the 2015 facelift also brought some extra power and performance. The model’s renaming coincided with the mid-cycle facelift since the car switched from Mercedes-Benz to Mercedes-AMG branding. In other words, starting with the 2017 model year, it became known as the Mercedes-AMG CLA 45 instead of the Mercedes-Benz CLA 45 AMG.

The 2.0-liter four-cylinder got a reworked turbocharger to deliver extra oomph, totaling 381 PS (376 HP) and 475 Nm (350 lb-ft) of torque. This made it once again the most powerful four-cylinder on the planet, alongside the similarly facelifted Mercedes-AMG A 45.

As before, power was delivered to all four wheels through a standard dual-clutch transmission, with a front limited-slip differential now optionally available. Thanks to the extra power, the facelift’s acceleration from 0 to 100 kph (62 mph) was 0.3 seconds quicker than that of the non-facelift version.

In addition to the monster engine, the CLA 45 also featured a tuned sports suspension with individually adjustable dampers and ventilated and cross-drilled disc brakes for increased stopping power.

Unlike the model that followed, the AWD system used a Haldex differential that could only send up to 50 percent of available torque to the rear wheels, so this generation did not offer a ‘drift mode.’