New 2019 Mercedes CLA 45 S Shooting Brake on sale now
Mercedes's more practical alternative to the Audi RS3 saloon has arrived, with brand-new turbocharged power
Another hot new Mercedes has arrived in the form of the new CLA 45 Shooting Brake, bringing the total number of hot ‘A-cluster’ AMG models to six. It's available to order now, priced from £53,570, and features the same brand-new, turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engine found in the new AMG A 45 S.
Power stands at 382bhp in the basic model but this won’t be sold in Britain. Instead, the UK will be catered for exclusively by the 415bhp, 500Nm CLA 45 S Shooting Brake. Drive is sent to a 4MATIC all-wheel-drive system via an eight-speed dual clutch automatic gearbox, with Mercedes claiming 0-62mph in 4.0 seconds and an electronically governed top speed of 168mph.
• The best fast estates to buy now
Traction control and chassis systems are carried over from the other 45 models too, meaning the new ‘Drift’ driving mode included in the standard AMG Dynamics Plus package can be found in AMG’s new small fast estate. Flicking through the various drive modes (Slippery, Comfort, Sport, Sport+, Individual and Race) alters the engine’s responses, the speed of the eight-speed transmission’s shifts, suspension settings and torque distribution between the front and rear axles.
The new car features frequency-selective shock absorbers, which Mercedes claims result in greater stability, agility and comfort over the previous-generation CLA 45 Shooting Brake. AMD Ride Control also features, allowing the driver to select damping force – ranging from a comfort based mode to a setting intended for track use.
Design-wise, the new CLA 45 Shooting Brake gets a slightly more aggressive bodykit than the 35 model but doesn’t boast a full aerodynamic package with front canards and a large rear wing like the A 45 hatchback.
Instead, the Shooting Brake stands out with help from a new radiator grille with vertical slats, plus a slightly wider profile at the front and flared wheel arches for its marginally wider front track.
A large rear diffuser and 90mm quad exhaust tailpipes are found at the back, as is a 505-litre boot with a hands-free tailgate. The CLA 45 Shooting Brake’s boot opening is 871mm wide – an increase of 236mm over the old model. The interior is focussed around Merc’s MBUX infotainment system, consisting of two widescreen displays spanning the dashboard; the sports seats and steering wheel are lifted directly from the A 45.
Would you choose the Mercedes-AMG CLA Shooting Brake over an Audi RS3 Saloon? Have your say in the comments below...
Find a car with the experts
