Is The 2014 Mercedes-Benz C-Class Going To Be As Big Of A Hit As The CLA?

Is The 2014 Mercedes-Benz C-Class Going To Be As Big Of A Hit As The CLA?
The all-new Mercedes C-Class 2014 has been revealed, and this new, fifth-generation model brings a massive step forward for the brand. This new C-Class is far more than just another posh compact saloon - it's pets to be the most efficient, refined and dynamic model in its class.

It's no wonder that the 2014 Mercedes C-Class is so hotly anticipated, then, and Auto Express got an exclusive first look at the new BMW 3 Series rival before the covers are pulled off at the Detroit Motor Show in January.

Codenamed W205, the latest C-Class sits on the new modular rear-drive chassis architecture (MRA) that will underpin every large Mercedes for the next five years. This has the capacity for hybrid and electric power, four-wheel drive and a wide range of different vehicle shapes and sizes all built into its structural DNA.







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GermanNutGermanNut - 12/16/2013 3:27:15 PM
-6 Boost
Considering the CLA has only been out for 2 months and is still awaiting it's first challenger (Audi's A3 Sedan) to come to market, I don't think saying the CLA is a huge success due to its very short sales data is accurate.

With that said, I don't like the new C-class look. The tailights look cheap like the CLA's and the mini S-class look doesn't work on a small car.

I think this leaves the door open for Audi to strike with its 2015 A4 sedan, which will debut in mid-2014.


Car4LifeCar4Life - 12/17/2013 7:52:24 AM
+3 Boost
The CLA will continue to sell because it has a niche market. The ONLY car that should be worried about the new A3 is the aging and somewhat irrelevant(atleast in U.S.) A4.

The C class will hold its own against its new hot sibling by way of practicality with its backseat headroom.

The A3/A4 are hardly a threat because their staid looks only put most Bimmer/Benz owners to SLEEP


cidflekkencidflekken - 12/16/2013 3:49:01 PM
+4 Boost
The CLA is a sales success, period. You can rationalize it all you want, but it doesn't change reality. Don't get me wrong. I have no doubt the A3 will do well on its own, if buyers can get past the price and the less expensive, yet similar, offerings at VW.

For the C-Class, the current car is still doing very well. It's second in US sales in the segment to the 3-Series. A more refined, elegant, and higher-quality car will do nothing but increase interest in the model (contingent on prices remaining relatively flat). As far as styling, many folks, including myself, don't like the styling of the current C-Class, yet, it continues to sell well.




germanlovergermanlover - 12/16/2013 5:02:50 PM
+4 Boost
Germannut give it a rest. You post the same thing over and over again. The cla has sold thousands of units in two months. HOMERUN. The a4 can't move the volume of the c-class. The a6 has done well in comparo test but can't touch the volume of the E class. The s-class is untouchable. I love the looks of this new C-class both inside in out. It will def. sell very well and possibly move closer to 3 series level of sales. In the UNITED STATES the rings just don't equal the 3 pointed star. I'm not sure it ever will.


GermanNutGermanNut - 12/16/2013 6:36:48 PM
-2 Boost
No, I won't give it a rest because two months of data does not a trend make. We simply don't have long enough sales data to say the Mercedes-Benz CLA is a runaway success. That judgement will be made once the CLA's competition, the A3 sedan arrives in the marketplace.

Of course the CLA will be a sales "success" if it doesn't have any competitors and has only been on sale for 2 months.

The CLA's true sales "success" will be determined by how it does against the soon-to-arrive competition and by how long it can keep up this 2,000+ units per month of sales.

I don't think the CLA's sales will be maintained once the A3 sedan arrives on U.S. shores.


JRobUSCJRobUSC - 12/16/2013 7:16:46 PM
+6 Boost
The existence of the A4 hasn't stopped the current C-class from outselling it handily, despite the fact the A4 is a better car than the current C. People still flock to the Benz. Other than you wanting it to, I don't see why an A3 sedan would stop the CLA from doing the same, especially with a head start.


cidflekkencidflekken - 12/16/2013 10:50:49 PM
+2 Boost
JRob, you took the words right out of my mouth. Don't forget, the A6/S6 is perceived to be better than the E Class, yet the EClass outsells it with two gears tied behind its back. The previous S-Class was deemed lesser than the A8/S8 and it still outsold it. The only car in the Audi lineup to outsell its direct competition is the Q5, and that is somewhat misleading. The Q5 straddles the GLK and ML and the X3 and X5, from the perspective of size, price and powertrains. Possibly the Q5's most direct competitor is the Acura RDX, which is outselling it this year. So, the one reality here is that Audi still has a way to go. The other reality is that, what car magazines rate as 'best in class' may not necessarily be deemed the same by the buying public.


GermanNutGermanNut - 12/17/2013 10:10:58 AM
0 Boost
It's so funny how U.S.-centric the posters on Autospies are. Audi is so far behind Mercedes-Benz in U.S. annual sales and yet has outsold Mercedes-Benz globally by over 120,000 units YTD.

Obviously Audi's are as or MORE desirable than Mercedes-Benz on a GLOBAL scale.

With that in mind, people are truly underestimating the impact of the A3 sedan in the global marketplace.


cidflekkencidflekken - 12/17/2013 1:36:19 PM
+2 Boost
It's funny how you forget that it is Mercedes' strategic and production missteps (not product desirability) in China that have caused it to lag behind. Unfortunately, the same can't be true for the US market where all 3 Germans have had a significant presence for decades.


CarCrazedinCaliCarCrazedinCali - 12/16/2013 5:08:58 PM
+1 Boost
the C class is sharp, but I still can't stand the badge whore CLA because it is overstyled with a pointless back seat and is the epitome of a badge whore car


pepito66pepito66 - 12/16/2013 6:10:03 PM
+3 Boost
This is a beautiful car and I prefer the luxury line it's more for me.



MattDarringerMattDarringer - 12/16/2013 8:01:09 PM
0 Boost
Nope!

Because the C Class straddles the CLA and E Class, buyers wanting edgy will go with the CLA rather than a C and buyers wanting a real Mercedes will go with the E Class. The CLA will steal sales from the C Class if anything. IF--big IF--Mercedes had priced the CLA from $25-35K and started the C Class at $35K then MAYBE. The exterior styling of the C Class is septuagenarian and the interior is a gaudy mess. Zebra wood + black + basketball orange?????

Clearly Mercedes has decided to be the brand for people with taste only in their mouths and has succeeded admirably.


Henanamani1Henanamani1 - 12/17/2013 8:48:05 AM
+1 Boost
The new C Class SHOULD do better than the CLA. The CLA's back seats are pointless. I sure wouldn't pay 30k for the CLA when I could buy the more spacious C class


germanlovergermanlover - 12/17/2013 11:42:22 AM
+1 Boost
We live in America so we tend to US minded smart guy. Audi sells a lot more cheaper cars than Mercedes worldwide and has done that for some time now. Times are changing Mercedes is the fastest growing luxury car maker worldwide and has outsold Audi and Bmw worldwide this past month.


cidflekkencidflekken - 12/18/2013 1:00:12 PM
+1 Boost
BTW, Nuttie, the CLA average days on lot is 14 days, against the industry average of 59 days. If you want to continue to say that the CLA can't be called a sales success, then keep telling yourself that. No one else believes it but you.


GermanNutGermanNut - 12/18/2013 4:06:37 PM
+2 Boost
cidflekken, if you want to keep thinking the CLA is a sales success without thinking of WHY it's a sales success, then so be it. A car without any competitors that has been on sale for a mere 2 months is no way indicative of a sales success.

Keep also thinking the A3 sedan won't impact the CLA's sales.

The A3 sedan will be HUGELY popular in the U.S. at the expense of CLA sales NOT A4 sales like many posters on here erroneously believe.

Let's re-check the CLA's sales in June of 2014 after the A3 sedan has been on the market for a few months. I guarantee you the results will be very different.


Car4LifeCar4Life - 12/19/2013 8:08:59 AM
+1 Boost
Really German Nut, the X6 and A3 hatch have had zero competitors in the U.S and absolutely SUCK in sales
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