Currently reading: Mercedes-Benz CLA Shooting Brake revealed
Swoopy, CLS-like looks and load capacity of up to 1354 litres for new Mercedes CLA Shooting Brake, which is already on sale in the UK

The new Mercedes-Benz CLA Shooting Brake has been revealed, and is on display at the Geneva motor show.

The Shooting Brake is the final new body style to be based on the company's front-drive architecture. It is already on sale in the UK, with first deliveries planned for later this month.

Read the 2015 Mercedes-Benz CLA45 AMG Shooting Brake first drive

The compact estate’s dramatic styling follows closely in the mould of the CLS Shooting Brake and puts greater emphasis on style than outright carrying capacity. 

Despite the dramatic curves of the tailgate and the swooping roofline, the seats-up load capacity of the 4.6m-long Shooting Brake improves on that of the CLA saloon by 25 litres, at 495 litres, rising to 1354 litres with the rear seats folded.

The decision to put this body style into production arguably gives Mercedes a handy advantage over its rivals in the premium compact market, because neither the Audi A3 nor the BMW 1-series offers anything similar. On the downside, however, Mercedes was late to market with a compact SUV model.

The CLA Shooting Brake is very closely aligned with the CLA saloon. Mercedes UK 
says that as well as being identical up to the rear seats, its pricing and specification line-up will be very similar. 

There are four trim levels: Sport, AMG Sport, Engineered by AMG, and AMG. In addition, there is a special-edition model called Orange Art. 

At launch, the engine line-up consists of two diesel options and four petrols. The most efficient option in the launch line-up, the CLA200 CDI, returns up to 72.4mpg, with CO2 emissions of 101g/km. 

A further two diesel engines, the CLA200 CDI 4Matic and CLA220 CDI 4Matic, will arrive in September next year. The four-wheel-drive CLA250 4Matic model will be offered only in Engineered by AMG spec.

The biggest differences in standard specification and available options are that the Shooting Brake gets an electric tailgate as standard and the option of a load compartment package, which includes a lockable boot floor and aluminium load rails.

A new CLA45 AMG Shooting Brake, powered by a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine developing 355bhp and 332lb ft, has also been revealed. The engine is described by Mercedes as being the most powerful four-cylinder unit in series production.

The CLA45 AMG Shooting Brake is able to reach 62mph in 4.7sec and has a limited top speed of 155mph. The model will make its debut at the Geneva motor show in March next year, with UK sales due to start at the same time.

Prices are expected to start at around £25,500 and rise to just over £43,000 for the CLA45 AMG version.

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Read the Mercedes-Benz CLA45 AMG Shooting Brake first drive

Speaking to Autocar at the Detroit show, Mercedes-Benz chief designer Gorden Wagener said: "It is very much a designer's style of car - a very sporting estate that's so much more emotional than a traditional wagon. The CLA Shooting Brake is so expressive, yet has almost the space of a C-class estate."

"Pushing Shooting Brakes is part of the strategy of how we are changing the brand through design - they generate a lot of interest get people in showrooms. They may end up buying something else - but the Shooting Brake is desirable, do desirable that it can pull younger people in."

In some parts of the world, the CLA Shooting Brake wins up to 80 per cent of its owners from other brands. Owners are also some 20 years younger than traditional Mercedes buyers.

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drivenfromthere... 26 November 2014

Interior Quality

Is it only me that thinks the interior quality of the A, CLA and GLA ranges are really cheap?
That central tablet looks and feels like a cheap Chinese knock off. Gear box was horrible on those I've driven (man and auto) and the handling of the GLA was awful. Ive been lucky enough to drive a load of cars over the last few months choosing my next co car and I have been really surprised on my findings - quite often totally against the press!
Oh well, the kids love 'em. Perhaps we'll see a move now of the tailgaters from the VW empire to Merc...
To me, and I know not all agree, but I had the feeling when driving these on test that Merc has gone for style over substance I can see no difference here with the shooting brake. Well Merc, you certainly haven't targeted that at me. Miles off.
Roadster 27 November 2014

drivenfromtherearplease

drivenfromtherearplease wrote:

Is it only me that thinks the interior quality of the A, CLA and GLA ranges are really cheap?
That central tablet looks and feels like a cheap Chinese knock off. Gear box was horrible on those I've driven (man and auto) and the handling of the GLA was awful. Ive been lucky enough to drive a load of cars over the last few months choosing my next co car and I have been really surprised on my findings - quite often totally against the press!
Oh well, the kids love 'em. Perhaps we'll see a move now of the tailgaters from the VW empire to Merc...
To me, and I know not all agree, but I had the feeling when driving these on test that Merc has gone for style over substance I can see no difference here with the shooting brake. Well Merc, you certainly haven't targeted that at me. Miles off.

You're not the only one, the interior quality of the A Class is extremely poor, with cheap feeling materials used throughout, especially the plastics which are awful. But it's not just the A Class, but the same can be said for the C Class, E Class and S Class too. Thing is, the equivalent BMWs and Audis are the same too, poor quality materials used throughout. And yet you end up paying premium prices for a feel that most certainly isn't premium. The interiors of equivalent Hyundais and Kias are of higher quality and feel more substantial, while Audi, Mercedes and BMW don't even come close to the exceptional quality and fit and finish of a Lexus, Infiniti, Jaguar or Land Rover.

geed 27 November 2014

Roadster

Roadster wrote:
drivenfromtherearplease wrote:

Is it only me that thinks the interior quality of the A, CLA and GLA ranges are really cheap?
That central tablet looks and feels like a cheap Chinese knock off. Gear box was horrible on those I've driven (man and auto) and the handling of the GLA was awful. Ive been lucky enough to drive a load of cars over the last few months choosing my next co car and I have been really surprised on my findings - quite often totally against the press!
Oh well, the kids love 'em. Perhaps we'll see a move now of the tailgaters from the VW empire to Merc...
To me, and I know not all agree, but I had the feeling when driving these on test that Merc has gone for style over substance I can see no difference here with the shooting brake. Well Merc, you certainly haven't targeted that at me. Miles off.

You're not the only one, the interior quality of the A Class is extremely poor, with cheap feeling materials used throughout, especially the plastics which are awful. But it's not just the A Class, but the same can be said for the C Class, E Class and S Class too. Thing is, the equivalent BMWs and Audis are the same too, poor quality materials used throughout. And yet you end up paying premium prices for a feel that most certainly isn't premium. The interiors of equivalent Hyundais and Kias are of higher quality and feel more substantial, while Audi, Mercedes and BMW don't even come close to the exceptional quality and fit and finish of a Lexus, Infiniti, Jaguar or Land Rover.

You can't say that!! 'De Deutschen sind die besten'!!!!!

Interesting point getting opinions of the public who have driven/been in these vehicles rather than the press. Motor hacks are obsessed with the tactility of German plastics. Can't remember the last time I cuddled my dashboard.

5wheels 26 November 2014

hmmmmm

well this shape has for sure always been coined by me as a road going suppository, I suppose therefore that the elongated model is suitable for those who are considerably overweight then
Andrew Lee 26 November 2014

Cynical

Yet more cynical marketing from Merc. Forget innovation/integrity, just push bombastic styling instead. The A-Class hatch was bad enough (though I have to admit its proportions are 'striking') but this and the CLA saloon take it to a new level. Back seat passengers? Rear visibility? Renault engines? Unfortunately it's not just Asian buyers who don't seem to care - I've seen a large numbers of A-Class on London's roads. Overstyling uber alles...