Each successive Mercedes-Benz CLA has brings together some of the very best elements of the three-pointed star – and the third-generation model has taken things to a whole new level.

The all new Mercedes-Benz CLA introduces some significant firsts: it’s the first vehicle in the range to receive an advanced new platform, and it features the latest generation of software architecture that makes it the smartest Mercedes-Benz ever.

New Zealand drivers will be able to choose between 48-volt petrol CLA 220 4MATIC and the fully electric powertrain of the Electric CLA 200 – (Later to be followed by the Electric CLA 45 AMG)

The combination of advanced technology, efficiency and design makes the all new CLA one of our most exciting new models. Here are five immersive and innovative features designed to change the way you drive.

1. Parking? Too easy

Parking assistance isn’t new, but the all new CLA takes this technology another step forward.

Its enhanced Active Parking Assist function can identify suitable spaces and take over the manoeuvring required, helping to make the process smoother and faster than previous-generation systems.

It’s particularly useful in tight urban streets or busy shopping centre car parks, where the task of squeezing into a parking space can prove more stressful than the journey itself. The Parking Package with 360-degree camera, which comes as standard, also offers the driver a comprehensive view around the vehicle.

It’s an assistance system aimed squarely at making everyday driving easier.

2. You can actually have a conversation with your CLA

“Hey Mercedes” has become a familiar phrase for Mercedes-Benz drivers to initiate a command, but the MBUX Virtual Assistant in the CLA significantly expands what happens next.

The new Mercedes-Benz Operating System (MB.OS) means that, instead of needing to structure a command, occupants are able to ask more conversational questions, while the system retains context for follow-up requests.

The technology also adds detailed navigation knowledge. Ask for somewhere interesting to go nearby, for example, and the system can draw on Google Maps information about destinations and points of interest, rather than simply plotting a route.

With the assistant also able to recognise emotions, offer proactive suggestions and learn routines, this represents significant in-car technological progress.

3. A spectacular dashboard

Few features make the all new CLA’s technological leap as obvious as its MBUX ‘superscreen’.

The 10.25-inch digital instrument display for the driver with the 14-inch central touchscreen, and the optional 14-inch display for the front passenger, is housed behind a continuous sheet of glass across the entire front fascia.

The interface uses gaming industry technology from Unity to deliver smooth graphics and animations, underpinned by advanced MB.OS software. Mercedes-Benz can update important vehicle systems over-the-air, which means that functionality can continue to evolve even after the car has left the showroom.

This centrepiece makes the CLA's cabin feel more like a high-end digital device than a compact sedan.

4. An eye-catching design that isn’t just about aesthetics

The all new CLA retains the four-door coupé profile that has always distinguished it from more conventional Mercedes-Benz sedans, and the latest iteration is heavily influenced by aerodynamics.

The low roof, long bonnet, short overhangs, broad shoulders and wheels of up to 19 inches in diameter lend an athletic stance, while careful airflow management helps the CLA to achieve a low drag coefficient (0.21 Cd). That matters particularly for electric versions, where there's serious substance behind the slippery shape. The Mercedes-Benz CLA 200 electric offers 470km of WLTP-tested driving range, while its 800 volt architecture enables DC charging at up to 320kW.

THe electric CLA model adds another design flourish: an illuminated front grille incorporating 142 individual Mercedes-Benz star elements. This galaxy of stars can perform an animated welcome sequence as the driver approaches.

5. A Mercedes-Benz with a frunk

Sometimes the simplest ideas are among the most useful. The electric CLA has a 101-litre storage compartment beneath the bonnet, becoming the first modern Mercedes-Benz passenger car to feature a front trunk, or ‘frunk’.

It’s big enough for items such as charging cables or your carry-on luggage, keeping them separate from the main boot and avoiding a common EV issue of having to remove other luggage to reach a charging cable.

Mercedes-Benz has used front luggage storage before, most notably on the rear-engined 130 (W 23) model of the 1930s. Nearly a century later, electrification has made the idea useful again.

It’s a feature that neatly sums up the all new CLA: while advanced technology might grab the headlines, some of its most appealing innovations are simply about making your everyday driving life easier.