Mercedes CLA prices announced

Prices have been announced for the brand-new Mercedes CLA, and the stylish four-door coupe starts at £24,355.

From launch, the car will be sold in 1.6-litre petrol CLA 180 guise or as a 2.2-litre CLA 220 CDI diesel. Unlike the Mercedes A-Class on which it’s based, buyers will only be given the choice of two specification options: Sport and AMG Sport.

The £24,355 entry-level Sport carries a premium of around £4,000 over the equivalent A-Class, but does offer an extra 129 litres of boot space, at 470 litres. Standard kit includes 18-inch alloy wheels, dual-zone climate control and parking sensors, as well as crash prevention and anti-fatigue warning systems. The economical CLA 220 CDI diesel starts at £29,355 in Sport spec.

Upgrade to AMG Sport and you get sports suspension, five-spoke AMG alloy wheels and subtle AMG body styling. The CLA 180 AMG Sport starts at £26,555, with the CLA 220 CDI diesel kicking off at £31,555.

The CLA is the most aerodynamic car on sale today, and promises impressively low running costs. The CLA 220 CDI will do 0-62mph in 8.2 seconds yet return 62.9mpg. CO2 emissions for the diesel engine stand at 117g/km.

Options like leather and heated front seats are available, along with a choice of metallic paint finishes. Order books are open now, with first deliveries later this year.