MOTORING bahrainthismonth.com | SEPTEMBER 2026 39 Mercedes-Benz is celebrating 140 years since Carl Benz invented the automobile, and the CLA feels like Mercedes marking the occasion with a bang. It is sleek and low, with enough three-pointed stars in its lights and grille to make Bahrain’s night sky look underdressed. The shark-nose front, frameless doors and flowing coupé-style roofline give it kerb appeal. Up to 19-inch wheels fill the arches, while flush door handles and a full-width rear light strip keep everything neat. It drew glances effortlessly, which is the CLA’s sweet spot: glamorous but approachable. Screen Star The cabin is Mercedes at its most playful. Depending on specification, the MBUX Superscreen stretches across the dashboard with a 10.25-inch driver display, a 14-inch central touchscreen and another 14-inch screen for the passenger. That last one is perfect for choosing music, checking the route or proving the person riding shotgun has better playlist instincts. The new MB.OS software is a smart in-car assistant. It can learn routines, understand natural requests and receive updates remotely. I liked that the technology felt useful rather than decorative. The 3D navigation is slick, the available wireless charger well placed and the two-tier centre console provides somewhere sensible for life’s clutter. There is luxury in the quieter details too. The sports seats feel supportive without squeezing, the fixed panoramic glass roof makes the interior lighter and more spacious and an optional Burmester 3D system brings 16 speakers plus Dolby Atmos. In other words, even a short drive to Adliya can be treated like the opening scene of a film. Smooth Operator Under the bonnet is a new 1.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine, supported by a 48-volt hybrid system and paired with an eightspeed dual-clutch transmission. The electric motor gives acceleration a tidy little helping hand, recovers energy under braking and can allow low-speed electric driving or coasting when conditions suit. In everyday Bahrain traffic, the cleverness stays mostly invisible. Pulling away feels smooth, the gearbox gets on with its job quietly and the cabin remains impressively calm. This is not a car that pesters you into attacking every corner. The steering is light, the body feels composed and the CLA settles happily into an easy cruise. It makes the school run, office dash or weekend hotel escape feel a little more polished. That relaxed character does not mean it is dull. Select a more energetic drive setting, lean into the accelerator and the hybrid assistance adds enough urgency to make an overtake enjoyable. There is grip and confidence through faster bends, but the real pleasure comes from how naturally the car fits into daily life. You stop thinking about the machinery and start enjoying the view, the music and the wonderfully cool cabin. The rear is better suited to two adults than three for a long journey, largely because of that sweeping roofline, but there is useful space for shopping, luggage or the inevitable collection of bags that accompanies a Bahrain weekend. Visibility is good, parking assistance takes the tension out of tight spaces and the driver aids offer reassurance without constantly nagging. Perhaps the CLA’s best trick is balancing theatre with common sense. It looks special after dark, serves up the kind of digital cabin friends will want demonstrated and uses its hybrid hardware to make ordinary journeys quieter and smoother. After 140 years, Mercedes-Benz clearly still knows how to make progress feel glamorous. The all-new CLA is clever, comfortable and very easy to like.
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