Trunk comparison: Mercedes Benz CLA Shooting Brake vs Durchschnitt Subcompact
Key Differences and Implications for Usability
The Mercedes-Benz CLA Shooting Brake offers
than an average subcompact and also provides
with the front seats upright. Practically, this means longer items (slats, skis, furniture pieces, or long boxes) can be accommodated much more easily and usually completely inside the vehicle. Those who frequently transport bulky, elongated cargo or often travel fully loaded will noticeably benefit from the CLA Shooting Brake. In contrast, the average subcompact has
than the CLA Shooting Brake. This makes loading tall or bulky items (stacked moving boxes, tall cartons, large plants) easier because more vertical space is available at the opening. Despite the longer cargo area in the CLA, the smaller opening dimension can make handling tall items more difficult. Additionally, the depth between the loading edge and the trunk floor in the CLA Shooting Brake is
. This results in more usable interior height behind the loading edge, allowing cargo to sit deeper and more stable and making better use of volume — advantageous when stacking and for bulky items that must not press against the opening. Smaller differences (e.g., loading edge height +0.8 in / 3% in the CLA, narrowest trunk width +2.8 in / 7%, opening width +1.6 in / 5% in the subcompact) are minor and only marginally affect practical usability. Conclusion: For transport tasks involving long or voluminous, flat loads, the CLA Shooting Brake is clearly advantageous. For frequent loading of tall, bulky items, the average subcompact can offer easier handling due to the higher trunk opening.