2020 Mercedes-Benz CLA: entry-level Benz trim

• The 2020 Mercedes-Benz CLA is the perfect entry-level luxury car.
• Technology options are plentiful, including the new MBUX interface.
• A more powerful turbo engine will join the range for the new year.

The 2020 Mercedes-Benz CLA is one of those four-door "coupes" that, aside from Mercedes driving me crazy trying to name a four-door coupe, seems to actually work. Like all Mercedes-Benz products, it uses automotive technology such as the MBUX control system. MBUX for 2020 CLA comes with a new interface and natural speech recognition technology. Like all Mercedes-Benz vehicles, it's as secure as a bank vault and performs well; only a new CLA (which is different) won't break the bank.

2020 Mercedes-Benz CLA: a solid entry-level offering

The bottom line is that the 2020 CLA 250 will start at $ 36,650. The CLA 250 4MATIC, all-wheel drive version, starts at $38,650. See? It's not all bad for something with a three-pointed star. The CLA Coupe was the first compact Mercedes-Benz on the market when it arrived in the United States in 2013. During peak periods, more than two-thirds of U.S. CLA buyers came from competitors, according to Mercedes-Benz. On average, CLA customers are 10 years younger than regular Mercedes-Benz customers.

Considering the price and available technology, it makes sense.

The Mercedes-Benz CLA also comes with additional standard equipment for 2020. LED headlights and taillights; large panoramic roof and 18-inch wheels; Smartphone integration and a seven-inch digital instrument/media display are all on the list.

2020 Mercedes-Benz CLA. Photo: MBUSA.

Related: The 2020 Mercedes-Benz CLA packs a ton of intuitive tech.

Technician on wheels

As well as being adorned with a modern design, the CLA packs a lot of technology into a small and inexpensive package. There's a natural voice command interface, improved aerodynamics, and a host of new driver assistance systems. The instrument panel features a user-friendly widescreen display and a conventional touchscreen.

Now about this standard MBUX interface. It's actually pretty well thought out and useful; the only bad thing is the tragic name. MBUX, if you really want to know, stands for Mercedes-Benz User Experience. Basically, it's how you interact with various automotive operations and communications. Merc says it's all thanks to the system's powerful computer; shiny screens and graphics; customizable display; and software that can learn. Natural language voice control, an accessible full-color on-screen display, and enhanced navigation video are also part of MBUX.

Mercedes-Benz claims the system "exceeds conventional automotive standards" by making various functions in the vehicle more intuitive. I will leave the final decision on this matter to you.

2020 Mercedes-Benz CLA interior layout. Photo: MBUSA.

Power and performance

The 2020 Mercedes-Benz CLA is powered by a 2.0-liter inline-four turbo engine that produces 221 horsepower and 258 lb-ft. torque. That's a 13 horsepower bump over its predecessor. In addition, the new CLA track is wider for a lower center of gravity. Accurate measurements reach an additional 63mm at the front and another 55mm at the rear compared to the outgoing model. Mercedes goes on to talk about how the wider track and lower center of gravity give the car its sportiest performance.

Again, I will let you be the final judge on this.

To help with driving dynamics, the new CLA uses a disengaged multi-link rear axle, a larger anti-roll bar and an optional active adaptive damping system. In terms of aerodynamics, the 2020 CLA went through more testing and simulations and ended up spending more time in the wind tunnel compared to the outgoing model.