The New CLA Petrol: Finally, a Great Normal Mercedes under £40k!

The All New CLA Petrol Review is Sponsored by NordVPN! 🌏 Get Exclusive NordVPN deal + 4 months extra here → https://nordvpn.com/rbr — It’s risk-free with Nord’s 30-day money-back guarantee! ✌️ Welcome back to RBR! And this is the all-new #MercedesBenz #CLA, but not the EV you’ve already seen — this is the combustion version! And though it was quietly released alongside it, it might just be #Mercedes’ most compelling new car in years! At a time when EV fatigue is very real and entry-level Mercedes pricing has drifted out of reach, the new CLA Petrol feels like much needed familiarity. It’s lighter, has more range and is significantly cheaper than the EV, yet identical technically speaking. Meaning it carries the most advanced interior and tech Mercedes currently offers — even ahead of some cars much higher up the range. And crucially, this is now the cheapest all-new Mercedes-Benz you can buy, following the retirement of the A-Class, sitting at 38k in the UK for the sport version. Under the bonnet is Mercedes’ all-new M252 1.5-litre four-cylinder, paired with a clever 48V mild-hybrid system we’re seeing for the first time on a Mercedes combustion car. It combines a 30 hp electric motor inside a new 8-speed eDCT gearbox with a compact battery, allowing electric low-speed driving, coasting at speed, and ultra-smooth stop/start — all while remaining largely imperceptible in everyday use. The result is familiar refinement, with none of the usual downsizing annoyances. The petrol hybrid has three versions which all use this engine: CLA 180 - £38,700, 136 hp CLA 200 - £40,000, 163 hp CLA 220 4MATIC (tested) – £43,500, 190 hp Thus we should get a good idea what they all drive like today! So, in today’s video, I’ll show you why this petrol CLA matters, how Mercedes’ new two-pronged strategy works, and whether this clever new hybrid combustion setup can finally make us fall in love with the small Mercedes again. In this video, we cover: * Mercedes’ new MMA (Mercedes Modular Architecture) platform * The all-new M252 engine and advanced 48V hybrid system * Exterior walkaround and petrol vs EV design differences * Full UK CLA Petrol line-up, trims, and pricing (Sport, executive, AMG Line, Premium, Plus etc) * Interior tech and comfort impressions * Real-world performance, refinement, and electric coasting * How this compares to the CLA EV — and why it might make more sense This same platform also underpins the new CLA Shooting Brake and the newly unveiled GLB, available as both petrol and electric — finally giving Mercedes a flexible, customer-led approach after the EQ-only direction left many cold. For years, buying a genuinely attractive and attainable Mercedes has been near impossible. The A-Class is all but discontinued, the C-Class priced itself out, and the EQ cars never quite felt like Mercedes. This petrol CLA feels different. It starts under £40k, undercuts the EV by around £7,000, delivers class-leading interior tech, and offers comfort that feels unmistakably Mercedes — all while keeping the hybrid system subtle and familiar. It might just be the first small Mercedes in a long time that feels like home. Let me know in the comments: Would you take this petrol CLA over the EV — and is it finally an attractive entry level Mercedes? P.S. To see what I thought of the CLA EV and the GLB follow the links below: CLA EV: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H91PSgcUU6M New GLB: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vg1UOO0B7CA Follow us: Raz – https://www.instagram.com/rokenr Jamie – https://www.instagram.com/shotbyjamieb RBR – https://www.instagram.com/removebeforerace TikTok – https://www.tiktok.com/@rokenr CREDITS: Love my special effects? Production Crate is my go-to for all video VFX:https://productioncrate.grsm.io/rbr Driving Disclaimer: All driving shots filmed by professionals on closed roads or in safe, controlled environments. Please drive responsibly!