Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class eyes Millennials with a front-wheel-drive price

Mercedes-Benz has long resisted bringing a compact front-wheel-drive car stateside, and understandably so: the A-Class until recent years looked more like a miniaturized Mazda MPV. But the A-Class got a makeover for 2013, and sales took off — making the hatchback one of the most successful launches for Mercedes-Benz in Europe to date, in spite of a sluggish economy and an industry-wide sales decline. The company hopes to mirror that success stateside with the new CLA-Class, targeting Millennials with a swoopy sedan that looks like a baby CLS.

Staying true to the Concept Style Coupe unveiled at the Beijing Motor Show last year, the self-labeled "style rebel" emphasizes premium styling over practicality. Although it's more than an inch longer than a C-Class at 182 inches, the rear quarters are tight fit for anyone taller than 5-foot-6. That said, it doesn't feel like an over-glorified economy car like the Acura ILX—the satin accents and stitched leather feel aptly upscale.