MERCEDES-BENZ – CLA 45 model 2023

If you’re in the market for a new Mercedes-AMG CLA 45, you won’t find direct rivals to compare it against. It’s a coupe-style subcompact sedan with a piping-hot 382-horsepower 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine and AWD, so a comparable rival from BMW would be dressed in the 2 Series Gran Coupe body, but would have to be hotter than the current top-of-the-pile M235i’s 301 hp. It has a legitimate AWD rival in the blistering new 401-hp Audi RS3, but that is of a more conventional sedan shape in the fashion of the now-discontinued A-Class Sedan. The Cadillac CT4-V Blackwing isn’t quite a coupe-style sedan either, but it’s mighty compelling with its M3-rivaling 472-hp output and available manual gearbox – at much the same price as the AMG CLA 45. The Mercedes might be a relatively unique package, but it’s certainly not going to have everything its own way with rivals such as these. In terms of bald numbers, it already seems to be playing catchup against the formidable RS3 and high-value Caddy. So which will it be?
New for 2023
Mercedes is celebrating 55 years since the founding of AMG by adding a limited-run 2023 AMG CLA 45 Edition 55 trim to the local range. As the name suggests, only 55 units will be made available for buyers in the USA, so its rarity value is guaranteed. The Edition 55 is painted in Cosmos Black metallic, with matching gloss-black exterior trim and matte dark-gray 19-inch AMG cross-spoke alloy wheels. The AMG Aerodynamics package, which is usually an optional extra on the CLA 45, is included as standard on the Edition 55, while its interior is decked out in a two-color black/red theme. The regular 2023 Mercedes-AMG CLA 45’s price increases by $1,900 this year, but the car remains unchanged otherwise.