Used Mercedes CLA (Mk1, 2013-2019) review - What do owners think?
Mercedes continues to slide down our Driver Power satisfaction survey’s makers’ chart, although the CLA scores on safety kit
The Mk1 CLA didn’t feature in our Driver Power customer satisfaction survey, but the platform- sharing A-Class Mk3 appeared in the 2017 and 2018 New Car surveys, placing 69th and 56th respectively. It scored well for its exterior fit and finish, with the only other top 50 scores for running costs and reliability. All other scores, from safety and practicality to engines and infotainment, are outside of the top 50.
In the latest 2021 Driver Power survey, the Mercedes A-Class finished 23rd out of 75 cars, although it’s worth noting that in the vast majority of cases the results are based on the current A-Class.
Reliability
Mercedes has been performing better since the Mk1 CLA went out of production. In the 2021 Driver Power survey of manufacturers, Mercedes ranked 13th out of 29, so while there’s still room for improvement, the result places the company higher than BMW (21st) and Audi (23rd).
It’s also worth pointing out that the Mk1 CLA scores well on our sister site Carbuyer, with a rating of 4.5 out of 5. Owners rate its styling and value for money.
Overall, perceived quality is very high, but some cost-cutting is evident up close, especially on the inside. There’s an element of ‘paying for the badge’, but the CLA remains a premium product.
