The CLA line in 2017 came as the four‑door coupe and as the Shooting Brake (estate) — confirm which body you’re looking at before buying. Most petrol CLAs use turbocharged 1.6/2.0 engines paired to Mercedes’ 7‑speed dual‑clutch automatic; the DCT can be jerky at low speeds if not maintained and turbocharged engines are sensitive to irregular oil changes. Parts and dealer servicing cost more than mainstream cars, but components are widely available in Ireland.

• Automatic (7‑speed DCT) behaviour: watch for clutch shudder, jerky low‑speed shifts, long pulls or limp‑home mode and ask if any DCT software/recall work was done.
• Turbo and oil signs: check for blue smoke on cold start, oil in intercooler pipes and oil leaks around the turbo drain/hoses.
• Suspension and steering: listen for knocks, worn drop‑link/bushing noise and check for uneven tyre wear which indicates worn bushes or tracking issues.
• Rear occupancy and boot (especially if claimed as Shooting Brake): check rear headroom/legroom, boot seal/tailgate alignment and for any water ingress around the boot glass seals.
• Electricals and parking aids: verify camera, parking sensors, automatic wipers/mirrors and HVAC operate correctly (electrical gremlins are common on older premium cars).