Mercedes-Benz CLA 250e Shooting Brake 2020 UK first drive

This is genuinely unique offering in the premium compact car class, thanks to Mercedes-Benz's ceaseless niche-busting - something that could gradually come to an end as the brand seeks to trim costs. 

So let's celebrate (or be confused by) the properly extensive choice that Mercedes offers at the compact end of its range. Seven different bodystyles, all based on the same platform and some treading on each other's toes: for example, there's now the A-Class Saloon as well as the Mercedes-Benz CLA saloon.

What we're driving here, however, doesn't clash with anything. That's because, in essence, the CLA Shooting Brake faces only one other svelte, sporting, small estate: the Kia Proceed. But there's no plug-in hybrid version of that, so this booted CLA 250e is in a class of one. 

We're already pretty familiar with the second-generation Mercedes-Benz CLA itself, and we've also sampled the 250e's petrol-electric powertrain in the A-Class hatchback. So we'll keep the summary short.

Propelling the coupé-cum-estate with petrol is the now-familiar 1.3-litre four-cylinder turbocharged unit co-developed with Renault and Nissan. The 156bhp from that is given a healthy boost by a 100bhp electric motor. But, unlike in some hybrids, where the EV motor drives the alternate axle to the engine for four-wheel drive, all the power here is sent through the front axle. 

With some rearranging, including a repositioned and smaller fuel tank (down to 35 litres), engineers have wedged in a 15.6kWh gross (10.6kWh useable) lithium ion battery under the CLA's rear seats. That's good for a strong claimed electric-only range approaching 43 miles.

This is very much a powertrain of two halves from our experience. In eco-focused driving - arguably important here - it feels like a step on from Mercedes' older PHEV systems, such as that in the current C-Class. 

That's mainly because it seems far easier to keep the CLA 250e in electric mode than its bigger, admittedly more powerful sibling. It's appreciably sprightly in battery-only mode; you would have no issue getting it up to motorway speeds with a pure EV top speed of 87mph, and even when charge drops low, you don't find yourself feathering the throttle gingerly to avoid waking the engine. 

Sadly, once risen from its induced slumber and used to its full potential, the engine is omnipresent. Given how eager most economy-focused powertrains are to get you into the highest gear possible, the CLA 250e holds onto revs more than you would expect and in doing so exposes its biggest weakness. Once wound up above 3500rpm, the engine's refinement is poor, both in terms of noise intrusion and vibration felt through the controls. 

The surprisingly loud turbo whoosh would excite in a hot hatch, but in the context of this car and combined with the resonant, booming drone of the engine, it just seems uncouth. It's disappointing enough in the lower pure-petrol models but particularly frustrating in a car knocking on the door of £40,000.

That's a shame, because outright performance is respectable enough. The electric motor serves to boost torque and reduce lag, so initial response and urgency is good, and once in the mid-range, the combination of power sources make the CLA 250e feel pretty brisk. But there are two things getting in the way of it being in any real way enjoyable to drive.