Reliability, safety, running costs and what to check before you buy.
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With 583 currently licensed in the UK, the Mercedes-Benz Cla is one of Britain's well-known cars.
Euro NCAP awarded the Cla 5 stars in 2019, with 96% adult occupant and 91% child protection scores.
It has a 79.8% first-time MOT pass rate — above the UK national average of 72%. Common MOT failure areas include suspension, brakes, lighting.
Annual running costs are estimated at £3,884 for a typical 5-year-old example, breaking down to £324/month or 49p/mile.
Theft risk is rated high at 11.9 per 1,000 registered vehicles.
NCAP Safety
2019
MOT Pass Rate
79.8%
210,000 tests
Monthly Cost
£324
est. annual total
New From
£46,000
Euro NCAP tested the Cla in 2019 and awarded it 5 out of 5 stars.
Adult Occupant
96%
Child Occupant
91%
Pedestrian
92%
Safety Assist
75%
There are 53 known DVSA recalls affecting the Mercedes-Benz Cla. Enter a registration number to check whether a specific vehicle is affected.
R/2025/533
Mercedes-Benz AG has determined that on certain CLA (174 platform) vehicles the bolting of the front seats and/or belt buckles might not meet specifications.
Build dates: 2025-05-23 to 2025-07-30
R/2025/556
Mercedes-Benz AG has determined that on certain CLA (178 platform) vehicles with 4-cylinder gasoline engine the 48V wiring harness might not meet specifications.
Build dates: 2025-11-25 to 2025-12-17
R/2025/459
Mercedes-Benz AG has determined that on certain CLA (174 platform) vehicles the belt buckles of the driver and passenger seats might not meet specifications respectively.
Build dates: 2025-01-15 to 2025-09-06
R/2025/460
Mercedes-Benz AG has determined that on certain CLA (174 platform) vehicles the routing of a window-airbag wiring harness in the area of the D-pillar might not meet specifications.
Build dates: 2025-05-14 to 2025-10-24
R/2025/461
Mercedes-Benz AG has determined that on certain CLA (174 platform) vehicles the software of the driving assistance system might not meet specifications.
Build dates: 2025-05-12 to 2025-09-20
+ 48 more recalls. Check a specific vehicle to see the full list.
Based on 210,000 MOT tests, the Cla has a first-time pass rate of 79.8% — above the UK national average of 72%.
This is a positive sign for reliability. The Cla is less likely to have issues at MOT time than the average car on UK roads.
Annual running costs for a typical 5-year-old Mercedes-Benz Cla are estimated at around £3,884 per year, or £324 per month.
Fuel
£1,101
/year
Road Tax
£195
/year
Depreciation
£1,858
/year
MOT
£55
/year
Estimated annual running costs based on available data. Excludes insurance, parking, and finance costs. Actual costs depend on your driving habits and circumstances.
The Cla achieves a combined fuel economy of around 47.9 mpg (33.2 mpg urban, 50.4 mpg extra-urban).
| Variant | Fuel | Combined | Engine |
|---|---|---|---|
| CLA COUPE MODEL YEAR 2020.5 | PETROL | 47.9 mpg | 1.3L |
| CLA COUPE MODEL YEAR 2020.5 | DIESEL | 58.9 mpg | 1.9L |
| CLA COUPE MODEL YEAR 2020.5 | PETROL | 37.2 mpg | 2.0L |
| CLA COUPE MODEL YEAR 2021.5 | PETROL | 49.6 mpg | 1.3L |
| CLA COUPE MODEL YEAR 2021.5 | DIESEL | 61.4 mpg | 1.9L |
| CLA COUPE MODEL YEAR 2021.5 | PETROL | 39.2 mpg | 2.0L |
| CLA COUPE MODEL YEAR 2022 | PETROL | 43.5 mpg | 1.3L |
| CLA COUPE MODEL YEAR 2022 | DIESEL | 53.3 mpg | 1.9L |
Starting from £46,000 new, a Mercedes-Benz Cla typically retains about 56% after 3 years and 46% after 5 years.
| Age | Retained | Est. Value | Lost |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 year | 75% | £34,500 | −£11,500 |
| 2 years | 64% | £29,300 | −£16,700 |
| 3 years | 56% | £25,800 | −£20,200 |
| 4 years | 50% | £23,250 | −£22,750 |
| 5 years | 46% | £21,350 | −£24,650 |
| 6 years | 43% | £19,850 | −£26,150 |
| 7 years | 41% | £18,700 | −£27,300 |
| 8 years | 39% | £17,750 | −£28,250 |
| 9 years | 37% | £16,850 | −£29,150 |
| 10 years | 35% | £16,000 | −£30,000 |
The Cla has a theft rate of 11.9 per 1,000 registered vehicles, rated high compared to the national average of 5.5 per 1,000. Consider additional security measures such as a steering lock or tracking device.
There are currently 583 licensed and 1 SORN Clas in the UK (584 total). This makes it a very rare vehicle on UK roads.
The Cla has a 79.8% first-time MOT pass rate based on 210,000 tests — above the UK national average of 72%. This suggests good overall reliability.
Euro NCAP awarded the Cla 5 out of 5 stars when tested in 2019. It scored 96% for adult occupant protection, 91% for child occupant protection, 92% for vulnerable road users, and 75% for safety assist features.
Annual running costs for a typical 5-year-old Cla are estimated at around £3,884 per year (£324/month). This includes fuel, road tax, depreciation, and MOT fees — but excludes insurance, servicing, and repairs.
There are 53 known safety recalls affecting the Cla. These are issued by the DVSA when a safety defect is found. You can check if a specific vehicle is affected by entering its registration number.
The Cla has a theft rate of 11.9 per 1,000 registered vehicles, which is rated high compared to the national average of 5.5 per 1,000. Extra security measures like tracking devices and steering locks are recommended.
A new Cla starts from around £46,000. After 5 years, a typical example retains about 46% of its original value.
Enter the registration to check its full MOT history, tax status, mileage, recalls and estimated value — all free.
Free & instant — no signup required
Get a free email reminder 28 days and 7 days before your MOT expires.
✓ Free ✓ No spam ✓ Unsubscribe any time
Driving without a valid MOT can mean a fine of up to £1,000.
Free Plate Check may earn a small commission from partner links, at no cost to you.
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