With 43,717 models sold in its final full year of production, the 3rd generation Mercedes A-Class was hugely successful in the UK.
I got in touch with an owner to find out to find out what made it so popular.
“I thought it was a C-Class.” Lauren Svirskis, 35, business owner, from Long Eaton, sheepishly whispered. Ah, immediately my hopes for any earth-shattering revelations are thrown out of the elegant pillarless windows.
Or are they? Because what Lauren, who likes to be called L, represents is a normal, non-car obsessed consumer. Arguably then, her opinion is more likely to represent most buyers.
Her confusion is kind of understandable. For somebody who admits to not knowing about cars, the CLA letters stuck to the boot do hint at this being a C-Class.
This brings me onto the first reason that I believe this generation A-Class was so popular. It was available in body styles to suit buyer’s needs.
First up there is the most popular variant, the hatchback. Then there is the model we have here, the CLA which is basically the saloon version. Finally, you could get a shooting brake model, which is the bigger bottomed, estate version.
I had a sneaky suspicion, however, that this choice wasn’t the main reason for L choosing the car. So, what made her pick her 2015 CLA over its rivals?
“Just how it looked basically, I had a BMW before, it was an Alpina and before that I’d had a 5 series M-Sport, but I just found them a bit basic on the inside,” she said.
“There hadn’t been many changes to the exterior overtime, and it all felt a bit samey.
“Audi felt a bit samey as well and I think Mercedes where just bringing out much more funky styles.”
Interior does feel cramped if the car is fitted with the panoramic roof. © Blee Carswell 
AMG styling helps make this CLA looks sleek yet sporty. © Blee Carswell 
Desirable styling is matched by a desirable badge. © Blee Carswell 
CLA offers a sleek roofline, but the boot is a less practical shape. © Blee Carswell 
Pre facelift models can be easily identified by tail pipes that aren’t part of the bumper. © Blee Carswell
I find myself nodding in agreement. This generation, especially in CLA and shooting brake form perfectly merge, sporty and aggressive styling with a sleek and sophisticated silhouette in a way that makes its rivals seem about as elegant as Jeremey Clarkson in a silk nighty.
This is a car that people wanted to be seen in. Speaking of which, the interior carriers on from where the exterior left off. That being the feeling of sportiness and desirability.
“It just hangs together really well,” added L. A huge tick considering how much time is spent in a car compared to looking at its exterior.
You’re treated to a luxurious and very well-appointed cabin. Alongside the usual suite of tech and now slightly outdated command system, L mentions that having the optional Harman Kardon sound system was “non-negotiable.”
How does it drive, though? Fortunately, without hesitation L’s response is “really well,” and after a short test drive, I can confirm this is indeed the case.
The CLA we have here is the 220CDI which means it’s powered by a 2.1L diesel engine which puts out 197bhp and 350 Nm, or to put it simply, more than enough. I believe that if somebody comes into a car like this expecting razor-sharp performance, then it’s not the cars fault when they leave disappointed.
So, you’ve got ample shove and thanks to a surprisingly seamless 7-speed automatic gear box, the CLA is a very relaxing car to drive about it.
In fact, adding a ride quality that was somewhat of a revelation to the equation and the A-Class started to make sense as a shrunken piece of Germanic luxury transport.
However, this is still a car that can get out of its own way when. Pressing Sport mode or as L rather amusingly refers to it “sexy mode,” and you’ll shake a lot of the more mundane cars from your coat tails.
“It feels a bit stressed for pootling around the streets,” L said. “It’s not happy plodding in that mode at all.” Fair enough, not ideal, but at least you’ve got the choice.
Choice seems to be a reoccurring theme with this car. As mentioned, this model is the 2.1L diesel, but the A-Class was available with a wide variety of engines from some low powered petrol’s all the way up to the bombastic 380bhp A45 model.
Couple that with body styles that suit all needs, a luxurious ride, a high-quality interior and sophisticated, sporty styling and you’ve got a car that comes together into a hugely desirable package.
“I don’t feel like I want to get rid of it,” added L. Normally in 4 years I want to change, but I don’t think it looks dated yet and I’ve not done many miles really…I’ve been dead happy with it.”
And with that I think we have enough evidence to prove why the 3rd generation A-Class has been such a popular car.
Blee Carswell 