Mercedes-Benz CLA (2019-present)

Mercedes CLA prices from £26,606   Finance from £337 per month

A quick browse of the Mercedes CLA brochure gives a good indication of who this vehicle is marketed towards. Images of young, trendy folk that like to go on weekend trips with their pals litter the pages and it’s easy to see why: the achingly cool sweeping roofline and overtly stylish flourishes of the CLA place panache over practicality.

This is a car for those who perhaps don’t want the slightly stuffy and reserved image of a family hatchback, but instead want the cool points of a sporty coupe that boasts fun handling characteristics while keeping the practicality of rear doors.

The CLA does all of the above extremely well, but still manages to just about cram four adults into its tech-laden interior.

It's based on the same basic underpinnings as the A-Class and B-Class, but it has a character of its own, offering a slightly more engaging and sportier drive than its regular hatchback siblings thanks to some tweaks to the suspension.

The range of engines is broadly similar to those found in the A-Class, but those wanting a more overtly sporting drive should look towards the CLA 35 and CLA 45 models, which have been fettled by Mercedes’ revered tuning arm AMG.

These are a lot more expensive (and more aggressive to pilot) but all CLA customers get to at least sample some of the AMG styling thanks to Mercedes opting to ditch its lesser trim levels and start with the lavish and sporty-feeling AMG Line trim.

This, naturally, makes entry into the world of CLA more expensive than normal, but does mean that a seven-inch digital instrument display and 10.3-inch touchscreen media system come as standard. It’s all part of Mercedes' new 'MBUX' system, which also includes voice activated controls via its 'Hey Mercedes' software.

It works surprisingly well and adds an additional tech flourish to an already very upmarket feeling interior. Heated front seats, keyless start and go functionality and a soft leather steering wheel all come as standard, for example.

Those wanting the space and practicality of a typical family hatchback will likely be put off by the slightly claustrophobic interior of the CLA, which makes it tough for taller adults to sit in the surprisingly firm rear seats.

Boot space is pretty good at 460-litres, stretching a little further should you opt for the more expensive Shooting Brake body style - which is more like an estate - where it increases marginally to 505 litres. To put that in perspective, an A-Class hatchback only manages 420 litres in its largest guise.

Perhaps more importantly for those buyers looking to stand out from the crowd, the CLA lacks any natural rivals. The BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe is slightly cheaper at £24,490 but isn’t anywhere near as pretty, while something like the Audi A3 saloon is similar in tone but is smaller overall and less luxurious inside.

The price (prices start at more than £30,000 for the CLA) and practicality sacrifice might seem steep to many, but it is highly likely the CLA’s attractive looks and luxurious interior are reasons alone for most to take the plunge. Furthermore, go used and the CLA represents much better value for money, with lower initial costs and strong value PCP finance monthly payments, thanks to the fact the car should still be worth a lot at the end of the contract.