Mercedes CLA Shooting Brake 220d - Diesel’s not dead yet
It’s probably a discussion that could go on for days, but one of the side stories from manufacturers looking ahead to the electrification of cars, has also been a drive to make cars more economical.
Of course, the big advantage of a traditional combustion engine is that you rock up at a filling station, pump some juice into the tank and within a matter of minutes you‘ll be on your way having desperately tried to avoid the mile-long shelf of sweets while you wait for the cashier.
It’s a rarity to find a petrol car that won’t get close to top 40s mpg, while diesel is often nudging 60mpg.
And while electric prices are still astronomical, assuming you use public chargers, I’d guess that running internal combustion engine cars will be cheaper than going for 100% battery power. Try having a play around on one of the price comparison websites.
This brings us to the thorny topic of diesel. Yep, it’s got a bad name which is a pity, because diesel engines are now extremely clean and offer terrific mpg. Some diesel-powered cars are also quicker than the petrol equivalent.
Take the latest Mercedes CLA Shooting Brake for example. You can choose from PHEV, which can manage up to 52 miles on battery power alone, or various petrol engines and, shock horror, a diesel.
Company car drivers will probably head for the PHEV due to the BIK (Benefit-in-Kind) advantages. Still, when it comes to the rest of us, I’d point you in the direction of the diesel for the simple reason that you’ll get 54.6 mpg (perhaps even 60mpg if you go easily) and, yes, it is quicker than the other similarly priced petrol models. The CLA 220 d (from £40,265 with Sport Executive trim) whisks you to 60mph in 7.4 seconds while something like the CLA 180 with the same trim takes 9.6 seconds.
And, bearing in mind that estate cars tend to do a higher mileage as they’re aimed at folk who want their car to do a job and carry a bigger or heavier load, the additional mpg from the diesel engine will help you control the bills. The extra torque and additional performance will also come in handy on longer journeys.
So yes, even though there’s only a single diesel engine in the CLA Shooting Brake range, it’s the one I’d recommend.
The CLA we featured in December was the coupé model, so the CLA Shooting Brake is essentially a stretched version. Yes, it’s an estate, but it still has a very coupé-like sloping rear. Granted, unlike other estate cars which have a boxier rump, the total space in the CLA Shooting Brake (505 litres) will be slightly compromised but, to be honest, for this size of car, it’ll do just fine.
Under the bonnet, you’ll find a 2.0-litre diesel engine which develops 192bhp and can touch 147mph. It’s incredibly well soundproofed. The only time you’d know you’ve got an oil burner up front is when you fire up for a cold start or when you floor the throttle, but even then, it’s not noisy. The 8-speed auto ‘box is smooth and you can choose between ‘Normal’ and ‘Sport’ modes. There’s not a lot of difference but the ‘Sport;’ mode seems to make the gears a tad more responsive when switching cogs. At motorway speeds, where I suspect most Shooting Brakes will earn their corn, the ride is nicely controlled. Around town, it just edges onto the firm side, though it’s never harsh or uncomfortable. Overall it’s a rewarding car to drive.
I think it’s a good-looking car too and the swooping lines work well. The one I had was the one you see here (Mountain Grey Metallic) and, with the black alloys, it looked seriously smart.
The smartness continues through to the interior with style and quality at a high level. Most crucially it all works well. There are two 10.3-inch screens. The central one controls audio, sat nav, climate etc, while the one in front of the driver - which you can customise - gives you speed, fuel etc. You can also drag across some of the readouts from the central screen which provides beautifully sharp images.
There are some physical buttons to adjust the climate which is refreshingly welcome in this modern era. There are also touch-sensitive buttons on the steering wheel which are handy, but they can be very sensitive and too easy to touch accidentally.
The ‘Hey Mercedes’ voice control is slick, the seats are comfy and the ambient lighting is terrific. Overall, the interior of a CLA is a nice place to be.
As for kit, you get all of the essentials including heated front seats, sat nav, LED headlights, climate control, DAB radio, reversing camera, Android and Apple connectivity, tinted privacy glass and a host of safety features.
To summarise, the Mercedes CLA Shooting Brake is a terrific choice if you want a load-lugger but don’t want to sacrifice style. Add in the fact that it’s good to drive, well equipped, has a smart interior and is competitively priced makes it a hugely attractive proposition.
It also proves that while we hurtle into an all-electric future, there is still a place for a diesel-powered car.
words: Graham Courtney
pictures: Mercedes
