[Zeus]

Reviews of the CLA have run aplenty since Mercedes-Benz released the vehicle into the North American market. Most reviews have been favorable, but the CLA isn't perfect, and some reviews see the CLA as a vehicle that ends up being "a middle-aged person's vision of a young person's desires." One of these reviews is the recent Vanity Fair review of the CLA.

Vanity Fair starts out by making it clear that it knows where Mercedes Benz is coming from.

While car buyers, especially wealthy car buyers, are living and driving forever these days, in order to replenish aging or dying customers, automakers have to recruit fresh meat.

It seems that the CLA is more what an old person thinks a young person wants instead of what a young person wants.

Sadly, the CLA did little to truly beguile us. It was perfectly competent at imitating an entry-level luxury car—like an Acura or a Buick—and it had some nice interior flourishes, particularly the big eye-socket vents and gauges. But where a Benz should be exceedingly stable and smooth, it was surprisingly rattle-y and choppy.

Other points that get some harsh criticism are the glued-on tablet infotainment screen and the deceiving price that quickly rises from an affordable $29,900 to $43,570 once you add all the goodies that you want.

Check out the full review here --> Is the $29,900 Mercedes-Benz CLA250 an Old Person’s Idea of a Young Person’s Car, or Is It Just Cheap? | Vanity Fair

 

[icwhatudidthere]

Lol. My take: Bougie magazine editors would rather have Buick.

And that assistant? Seriously I would've died to have this car at 21.

 

[vracer]

LOL
No one ever said that VF wasn't snide in its approach and writing. And VF rates about 5 rungs lower on the ladder than Consumer Reports, who actually has drivers with real experience driving and rating cars. In my opinion, I think we should all realize that we have fallen in love with an 18 year old prom queen, and not expect too much depth or maturity.

Although I am getting a '14 model, I hope that by the '17 model year, MB will have taken care of the 'acne' problems.

 

[mrfredsporty]

well, as ive shouted before, im tired of this ageism bull. secondly, its clear they have no clue what the car is about (at least for me). that is what it does well. handle great, fun to drive and get good gas mileage. if they wanted a c or an e class thats what they should have tested for poor little ole ben.
ps happy vets day to my fellow vets
fred from nashvlle
doc fred
fmf corpsman 66-70

 

[sleepyhead]

Well, reading a Vanity Fair review needs to be taken with a grain of salt. Though in that light, reading a great review by a random newspaper or newspaper magazine should be too given that these guys just don't review cars all that often. Even if it's the same guy who does all the reviews for one publication, that guy just doesn't get access to all that many vehicles. I would think Vanity Fair would usually review the "hip" vehicles, and probably none less than the mid 20ks given their usual readership. That said, the VF article may (mildly) affect sales since the readership of VF is exactly the market Mercedes is aiming for with this car. I know because me and my friends are exactly that group. In general we as a group are a lot like all the others in Western Europe and China. We don't care so much for sport or even luxury. We care about style, gadgets, and connectivity (which is exactly why I think the infotainment looks exactly like a black ipad; white would be too obvious). And because of that we want a compliant ride like the old Caddys used to be. Personally I wouldn't mind if sales slowed down some. I don't really care to drive a car that everyone else has (say, Corolla, Camry, Golf, Forester, etc) and I would get my car earlier.

Although I am getting a '14 model, I hope that by the '17 model year, MB will have taken care of the 'acne' problems.

You mean the reflectors on the grille?

 

[brianch]

everyone is entitled to their own opinions. opinions are like assh0les. Everyone has one.

 

[Tonyride]

I'll take car reviews from VF seriously when Car and Driver starts to review body spray and acne medicine.

 

[bnastali]

Vanity Fair? Come on! Clueless and ad-heavy mag full of thousand-dollar purses, insane clothes and perfume. This is like taking advice from a Ringling Brothers' clown. Pretty sick stuff...

 

[tjames6410]

I would take a review from Playboy more seriously because at least they know good lines when they see them.

 

[Armchair Bronco]

Does anyone remember the original, iconic Super Bowl ad from 2013 featuring the prospective 20-something buyer who told the devil "Thanks, but I think I've got this..." ?

One of the magazine covers that featured our hero was none other than Vanity Fair.

Both the Vanity Fair and Top Gear reviews seemed more concerned about protecting their own "edgy" reputations than giving an honest appraisals of the CLA without a lot of strings attached.

The $29,900 price point has made a lot of "edgy" reviewers uncomfortable.