Mercedes-Benz introduced the CLA nameplate in 2013 as a compact four-door coupe positioned below the C-Class and alongside the brand’s other entry-level models. The original CLA arrived as the production version of the Concept Style Coupe, with customer deliveries beginning in 2013 and U.S. introduction also taking place that same year. It quickly became known for its low-slung, coupe-like profile and for bringing a more expressive design to Mercedes-Benz’s compact-car range.
The first generation established the CLA as a distinct model line rather than a trim package, and it was notable for expanding Mercedes-Benz’s compact platform into a more style-focused, premium-oriented niche. In 2015, the range grew with the CLA Shooting Brake, adding a wagon-bodied derivative that broadened the nameplate’s appeal beyond the four-door coupe format. Mercedes-Benz later redesigned the model for a second generation, keeping the CLA identity but modernizing the styling and technology while continuing to position it as the brand’s entry point into its sedan and coupe-like compact offerings.
The CLA has also earned an enthusiast following for its design-led identity and for its aerodynamic reputation, with Mercedes-Benz highlighting the 2013 CLA as a landmark in production-car drag reduction. The nameplate remains in production today, and in 2025 Mercedes-Benz launched an all-new CLA as the first model in a new family of vehicles, marking the latest major evolution of the line rather than a separate revived nameplate.