Rank
What's New for 2025?
There are no changes for the CLA this year. Even the pricing stays the same, with the exception of the souped-up AMG CLA 45, which now starts about $1,500 higher.
2025 CLA Selector
2025 Mercedes-Benz CLA
FAST FACTS
"The CLA is barely an inch shorter than a BMW 3 Series, which technically qualifies it to compete in the bigger leagues with compact luxury sedans. It's decidedly subcompact inside, however, especially in the cramped rear quarters, so we're satisfied that it belongs here with the subcompacts. Beyond its unexpectedly significant length, the thing that jumps about about the CLA is its steep price — the 3 Series is only about a grand more to start, making the CLA a tough sell indeed."—Ranked #3 out of 3 Subcompact Luxury Sedans
MotorDonkey's proprietary vehicle data identifies every significant version of each model so that you can compare and decide. Ordered by price from low to high, here are the versions of the 2025 Mercedes-Benz CLA that you need to be aware of, along with our expert analysis and recommendations.
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The CLA is surprisingly long, measuring just 1.3 inches shorter than a BMW 3 Series. It's cramped inside, though, so it's functionally more of a subcompact sedan than a compact. The CLA 250's turbo four-cylinder provides smooth and peppy acceleration along with impressive fuel economy.
For an extra $2k, 4MATIC brings the security of all-wheel drive, but you do lose 2 mpg in the deal.
AMG was certainly up to the challenge of turning the somewhat milquetoast CLA into a speed demon. It's still cramped inside, but this version of the CLA lays down some righteous acceleration.
Find yourself wishing that the already quite fast AMG CLA 35 were faster? Enter the AMG CLA 45 S, which borrows its turbocharged and electrically assisted 2.0-liter inline-4 from its AMG C43 big brother. If you wanted to argue that 416 hp in a subcompact sedan is overkill, we wouldn't disagree, but people who buy this car will love that its engine output borders on the insane.
What are the different versions of the 2025 CLA, and how much do they cost? Select a version below or just hit the button to see our full 2025 CLA specs and model data.
| Version | Price | Fuel | MPG | Power | Torque |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 Mercedes-Benz CLA 250 (2.0T Front-Wheel Drive) | $44,400 | Gas | 30 | 221 hp | 258 lb-ft |
| 2025 Mercedes-Benz CLA 250 4MATIC (2.0T All-Wheel Drive) | $46,400 | Gas | 28 | 221 hp | 258 lb-ft |
| 2025 Mercedes-Benz AMG CLA 35 (2.0T All-Wheel Drive) | $56,100 | Gas | 25 | 302 hp | 295 lb-ft |
| 2025 Mercedes-Benz AMG CLA 45 S 4MATIC+ (2.0T AWD) | $67,050 | Gas | 23 | 416 hp | 369 lb-ft |
Publisher and Donkey-in-Chief
Josh has been reviewing cars professionally since joining Edmunds.com fresh out of grad school in 2008. Prior to founding MotorDonkey, he spent 15 years shaping Edmunds' expert automotive content in various capacities, starting as an associate editor and ultimately serving as a senior editor before wrapping up with a five-year term as the company's first-ever director of content strategy. Josh is a card-carrying member of the Motor Press Guild and a lifelong car nut who has driven, compared and critiqued thousands of cars in his career. Helping people find their perfect car never gets old—seriously!
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