2023 Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class Interior and Cargo

Mercedes-Benz makes a variety of different upholstery and trim options available for the CLA, although the eight available options are far fewer than upper-tier Mercs would receive. Of the eight, two are standard with no-cost options including MB-Tex leatherette in Black or Macchiato Beige. Two other MB-Tex colors are classified as no-cost, but they require you to spec the $2,700 AMG Line package or the $3,100 AMG Line w/Night package before they become available. These two are Neva Grey with Black and Black MB-Tex/microfiber with red stitching. Genuine leather is a $1,450 option, with four hues, namely Black, Bahia Brown, Classic Red and Black, and Titanium Grey with Black, but also requires one of the aforementioned AMG Line packages to be added.

Additionally, four available dash and door trim inserts can be selected from, with linear grain aluminum and longitudinal grain aluminum available at no cost and Black Linden or Brown Walnut carrying a $325 surcharge.

It's not exactly wise to expect a whole lot of trunk space from coupes and the CLA is a fine attestation of this. The CLA is pretty much bested by most of its rivals in this area and that's not particularly surprising given that its trunk offers 11.6 cubic feet of space to work with. This is even less than the 2 Series Gran Coupe's 12 cubes. The trunk will fare well enough for two small bags or one large one but don't expect the CLA to be accommodating for a week-long getaway.

Inside, things are better as the center console has a pair of cupholders, the doors have pockets, and between the front seats, you'll find ample storage for phones, wallets, and more.

Despite being one of Mercedes-Benz's cheapest products, the CLA comes respectably loaded with standard features. These include a panoramic sunroof, keyless entry and push-button start, dual-zone climate control, and 64-color ambient lighting. A multifunction steering wheel with haptic touch control is also standard, as are eight-way power-adjustable front seats with memory, although heating and ventilation are optional. There are also quite a few safety features to speak of, including forward-collision monitoring, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, and crosswind assist. Opting for the Driver Assistance Package will add adaptive cruise control, active steering assist, and evasive steering assist. The Parking Assistance Package adds a surround-view camera, along with active parking assist.

The infotainment setup in Merc's junior model deserves acclaim. The standard suite might seem small at seven inches, but in reality, it's double that as the dual seven-inch screens that form the instrumentation and infotainment displays sit side by side. As standard, the basic Mercedes-Benz User Experience (MBUX) boasts Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Bluetooth connectivity, along with multiple USB-C ports and an HD Radio receiver. It can be controlled via touch, voice, a central touchpad, or the haptic steering wheel controls.

But, the CLA gets the option of Merc's latest tech, and dual 10.25-inch screens can be optioned. Additionally, augmented reality navigation can be equipped, as can SiriusXM all-access, wireless device charging, and the MBUX Interior Assistant - which uses an overhead camera to respond to movements and gestures. If the standard eight-speaker sound system doesn't quite tickle your fancy, $850 upgrades to a 12-speaker, 590-watt Burmester surround-sound system.