The Mercedes-Benz CLA Shooting Brake, the compact-estate version of the four-door coupé, has arrived in Ireland with prices starting from €31,490.
Following in the footsteps of the larger CLS Shooting Brake the CLA model offers more space and practicality than its saloon-cum-coupé sibling. To accommodate the more rounded rear-end the roof has been raised creating an extra 4cm of headroom and the boot space jumps from 470- to 495 litres - or 1,354 litres with the rear seats folded.
Three trim lines - entry-level, Urban and AMG Sport - are offered from launch with a CLA 45 AMG model and a number of special editions to follow. Both the 136hp 2.2-litre unit in the CLA 200 CDI (€36,125) and the 177hp version in the CLA 220 CDI (€40,195) come with annual road tax bills of €190 per annum. The petrol models - the 1.6-litre, 122hp CLA 180 (€31,490), the 156hp CLA 200 (€35,235) and the 2.0-litre, 211hp CLA 250 (€45,045) come in at €270 a year.
Anything else?
Also launched today (April 13) was the Mercedes-Benz V-Class, the passenger version of the Vito van. Previously a niche player in the market, Mercedes-Benz Ireland is expecting demand for the €52,390 executive conveyance to outstrip supply. This can be attributed to a drop in emissions putting the V-Class onto the radar of family buyers and not just VIP/chauffer services.
Available in three body lengths - Compact, Long and Extra Long - the seating layout can be mixed and matched to suit the buyer's needs with more or less seats depending on use. Choices consist of two rows of two individual rear seats (with armrests) or two rows of two/three person bench seats. Seats can even be mounted facing each other turning the V-Class into a mobile office.