Which? Mercedes CLA 250 (Shooting B) vs A4 Avant Quattro

[Navyclose1995]

Hi all, long time lurker and was hoping to get some opinions/ information etc.

I currently drive a Leon FR 2015 Hatch, it's got 100K miles now and I feel I'm due an upgrade, however my car needs will be changing in the near future as I have a small version of myself arriving and I have two medium sized dogs. So I think I need an estate (I'm not a big fan of SUV's really).

Maybe I'm being too optimistic but I was hoping to get something fun to drive (I drive to work on B roads) but will also fit a couple of dogs in the back.

My budget is up to £20k and I felt the two options below were good options?

Mercedes CLA 250 (Shooting Brake) vs A4 Avant Quattro B9

I was thinking 2015 or newer and less than 60k miles. I wondered if anyone has experience with these cars or if I should consider something else a C-Class maybe or an Octavia or maybe I'm thinking along the wrong lines, any opinions gratefully recieved, cheers!

[Fuzzarr]

Suspect the CLA will feel quite small, the boot isn't particularly large for dogs + child-related clobber. Poor rear legroom too for a rear-facing seat. The Audi's a bit better suited, but you'll get a lot more Octavia or Passat for your money. See also: Superb estate, if you never want to worry about luggage space again.

[VeeReihenmotor6]

I can't help with any experience of the Merc but have an A4 Avant Quattro and am happy with it. I had a b7 chassis A4 prior to it and the B9 is usefully bigger and lighter on its toes (wheels).

Cabin is nice too.

[Watcher of the skies]

XF sportbrake is probably worth a look also.

[hurricane run]

F31 340i if your dogs fit in the boot.

[Cupramax]

CLA is A3 segment/equivalent, why are you comparing it, or trying to with an A4 which is a segment up.

[spreadsheet monkey]

Navyclose1995 said:

I have a small version of myself arriving and I have two medium sized dogs. So I think I need an estate (I'm not a big fan of SUV's really).

Octavia estate is a good option, as is the mechanically similar Seat Leon ST. Both of these would be significantly cheaper than a CLA or A4.

It's an unpopular opinion on PH, but you (and your partner) might find life easier with a medium crossover, as you're not bending down so much to get your child in and out of the car. And she will find it easier to get in and out of the front seats while she's pregnant.

We have a 2019 BMW X1 (F48). It's roomy for its size, with rear seats that slide forward and backward so you can balance rear seat space against boot space. Ours has the 20i engine, which has about 190bhp and is fast enough.

[donkmeister]

C-Class/3-series size estate is really the minimum you need with a child if you actually want to take them anywhere. You need:
1) sufficient room to get a non-compliant and superstrong sack of non-newtonian fluid (nicked that!) strapped into a seat.
2) sufficient room to get a pram/ pushchair (unless you get something small and flimsy for road trips, a normal sized one is surprisingly large when folded), travel cot, a decent mattress because travel cot mattresses suck, baby bath, steriliser (optional), nappies, as well as clothes, safely stowed away.
3) when the above is dealt with, you need to have room for at least one suitcase or a couple of squashy bags for you and the Mrs.

I'd also recommend a towbar for ease of bike carrier use, but again that's optional.

Someone will be along shortly to say how they take their three children on continental tours in a Peel P50, but they won't give specifics about what they actually take with them, what is already at the other end, or how pissed off their significant other is with them at the end of the trip. They'll just say something like "children are more robust than you think", as if that is somehow a thing you should test.

[Navyclose1995]

Thanks all for the opinions and info, genuinely appreciated as I don't really know any car people in real life and I just end up flicking through autotrader thinking what if this etc

Appreciate the comment about crossovers perhaps practicality will have to rule for a few years and you can still get some nicely styled cars in that segment.

@Donkmeister genuinely made me laugh out loud with the list and the peel comment, but also useful info. Now you've said it I feel silly but I genuinely didn't even think of prams and all of the luggage required, makes sense that I would need that large boot.

[FMOB]

If the Audi you are looking at is an automatic, please double, triple and quadruple check the driving position is comfortable. They are doing some very odd things with the foot rest and general pedal/foot alignment.

I have a C8 S6 and my left leg ends up in agony because of this after a while, the A6 is wider than the A4. It is so bad I just want rid of the car.

[donkmeister]

Navyclose1995 said:

@Donkmeister genuinely made me laugh out loud with the list and the peel comment, but also useful info. Now you've said it I feel silly but I genuinely didn't even think of prams and all of the luggage required, makes sense that I would need that large boot.

If you haven't made arrangements already, can I recommend having a baby shopping advice appointment at John Lewis? They erm... Didn't seem to mind when I tested the off-road capabilities of all the prams on the shop fittings, nor when I tested the handling at high speeds around the shop floor. It was fairly late in the evening though, wouldn't suggest trying that when children are likely to be there (although in retrospect I could have tried some emergency stops too).

[ZX10R NIN]

I have to say with your requirements an A4 sized estate is the minimum size you should be considering, the good thing is that with your budget you won't get a bad car all will be good.

C300:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202311294...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202310193...

A4 S Line 190:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202308050...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202401035...

245:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202312225...

Personally I'd say the 330i M Sport is the pick:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202312024...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202312104...

If you want a nice estate (not the sharpest steer but a comfortable plce to be) then the 2.0T Kia Optima is a good option:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202311063...

As is the 2.5 Mazda6 GT Sport Nav Plus:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202312204...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202310263...

Superb Sportline 280:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202311103...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202312114...

[macron]

donkmeister said:

C-Class/3-series size estate is really the minimum you need with a child if you actually want to take them anywhere. You need:
1) sufficient room to get a non-compliant and superstrong sack of non-newtonian fluid (nicked that!) strapped into a seat.
2) sufficient room to get a pram/ pushchair (unless you get something small and flimsy for road trips, a normal sized one is surprisingly large when folded), travel cot, a decent mattress because travel cot mattresses suck, baby bath, steriliser (optional), nappies, as well as clothes, safely stowed away.
3) when the above is dealt with, you need to have room for at least one suitcase or a couple of squashy bags for you and the Mrs.

I'd also recommend a towbar for ease of bike carrier use, but again that's optional.

Someone will be along shortly to say how they take their three children on continental tours in a Peel P50, but they won't give specifics about what they actually take with them, what is already at the other end, or how pissed off their significant other is with them at the end of the trip. They'll just say something like "children are more robust than you think", as if that is somehow a thing you should test.

This,

There's a reason why Nissan, as plain as they can be, sell bucket loads of Qashqais, the back doors open to near 90 degrees so you can get the small loud things in, and you can lift them over the horror that is a rear facing seat without twisting your back or leaning over.

Many road warriors on here will tell you an estate drives better (they isially do) look better (opinion), and use less fuel (possibly) etc than a crossover. But there are many good reasons they make eminent sense for new parents.