Consumer Reports - USA (2020-02)

THE REDESIGNED CLA has a

lot in common with the new

entry-level A-Class sedan.

Even though the CLA is more

expensive, the two cars

share the same underlying

mechanical design and look

nearly identical from the front.

Whether you prefer the

CLA’s longer, tapered tail

is a matter of personal

preference. One practical

benefi t of the design is a

spacious trunk. But we found

the sloping roofl ine and

narrower rear door openings

make it hard for passengers to

get in and out of the rear seat,

which is so small it’s almost

useless. The CLA’s front seats

are supportive, but the head

restraints can’t be adjusted.

We like how the CLA’s

balanced handling gives the

driver a good sense of control.

Yet that comes at the expense

of the ride, which is harsh and

does a poor job at absorbing

bumps. The CLA was quick

in our acceleration tests but

felt sluggish when driving in

lower-speed urban traffi c.

It also suff ers from some

lurching hesitation during

stop-and-go driving.

To its credit, the CLA has

excellent interior fi t and

fi nish. In addition to leather

appointments and turbine-

like air vents, the cabin has

upscale touches, such as

multicolored accent lighting

and a large, vivid display

screen on the dashboard.

However, the touch

controls on the screen,

steering wheel, and center

console are very distracting

and make it too easy to

accidentally change a display

setting or audio source.

Although FCW and AEB are

standard, BSW is optional. It’s

important to note that a well-

equipped CLA can approach

the cost of the larger, more

refi ned C-Class , which is a

better choice overall.

THIS LATEST OUTBACK adds

numerous refi nements to a

familiar design and increases

the appeal of this SUV, which

is essentially a raised wagon

version of the Legacy sedan.

The Outback has a solid

feel with an extremely

comfortable ride that

outshines some luxury

SUVs. The elevated ground

clearance and standard all-

wheel drive help it navigate

the occasional trail. The

Outback has responsive

handling and feels more

agile than the typical SUV.

We were impressed with its

performance in our accident-

avoidance maneuver.

The XT’s turbo engine

is more satisfying than the

base nonturbo engine. It

transforms the car, giving

it eff ortless punch with

plenty of passing power.

The engine pairs well with

the continuously variable

transmission. This CVT

faithfully mimics traditional

gear shifts, and the turbo

power masks some of the

common quirks found with

that type of transmission,

such as revs rising much

quicker than the speed.

The cabin is quiet and

nicely fi nished, with premium

soft-touch elements. The

raised vehicle height gives

drivers a commanding view

of the road. The leather

seats on uplevel versions are

comfortable and supportive,

and the rear seat has plenty of

passenger space.

But the infotainment

system’s large screen is slow

to respond to the touch.

It takes multiple steps to

execute some common

climate functions, and the

display for Android Auto

and Apple CarPlay is small.

Standard safety equipment

includes AEB, FCW, and lane

departure warning (LDW),

but BSW is optional.

LUXURY COMPACT CARS

Mercedes-

Benz CLA

Flashy but Flawed

OVERALL

SCORE

57

ROAD-TEST SCORE 65

HIGHS Handling, fit and finish

LOWS Ride comfort, controls, access,

rear seat

POWERTRAIN 221-hp, 2.0-liter

4-cylinder turbocharged engine;

7-speed dual-clutch automatic

transmission; all-wheel drive

FUEL 27 mpg on premium fuel

PRICE AS TESTED $44,390

MIDSIZED SUVs

Subaru

Outback

Improving a

Winning Formula

OVERALL

SCORE

87

ROAD-TEST SCORE 91

HIGHS Ride, transmission, seat

comfort, driving position, roof rack

with integrated cross bars

LOWS Some controls

POWERTRAIN 260-hp, 2.4-liter

4-cylinder turbocharged engine;

continuously variable transmission;

all-wheel drive

FUEL 24 mpg on regular fuel

PRICE AS TESTED $39,572

Road Report

60 CR.ORG FEBRUARY 2020