Mercedes CLA (2020)

Estimated running costs and MOT pass rates from 11,039 MOT tests in 2024.

Annual Cost

£1,853

£154/month

MOT Pass Rate

91%

Excellent

Road Tax

£200

Standard rate/year

Est. Insurance

Grp 8-20

1332cc Petrol

Great Choice

91% pass rate, £1,853/year to run. 9 points above average.

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Petrol1332cc6 years old11,039 tests36k miles avg

Annual Running Costs

Fuel (Petrol, 1332cc)

~42 mpg

£1,398

Road Tax

Standard rate (from April 2017)

£200

MOT Test

£55

Predicted Repairs

Low estimate due to excellent reliability

£200

Total per year£1,853

Per month£154/mo

Per week£36/wk

Estimates based on 7,400 miles/year (UK average), petrol at 174.57p a litre (GOV.UK weekly average, week of 19 October 2026), GOV.UK road tax rates and repair likelihood from MOT data. Insurance not included. Cars registered from April 2017 pay the £200 standard rate, plus £440 a year for five years (from the second year) if they cost over £40,000 new (over £50,000 for electric cars).

Reliability Verdict

91% MOT pass rate(Excellent)

0%All-model avg: 82%100%

Excellent reliability. Very few MOT failures. That's 9 points above the average of 82% across all models in our data. It also outperforms the Mercedes brand average of 87%.

91% of MOT tests on Mercedes CLAs from 2020 ended in a pass in 2024, when they were about 4 years old. That's based on 11,039 tests across the UK, retests included. The average mileage recorded at those tests was 35,990 miles.

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How Does It Compare?

Rank among 2020 models1475th of 2,554(bottom half)

Rank among Mercedes models538th of 1,376(top half)

vs average of all models+9%(82% avg)

vs 2020 models average-1%(92% avg)

vs Mercedes average+4%(87% avg)

Mileage Analysis

35,990

Average miles

29,600

Expected for age

The average 2020 Mercedes CLA had 35,990 miles on the clock at its 2024 MOT, which is above the expected 29,600 miles for a 4-year-old car. Higher-mileage cars often have more motorway miles, which is generally less harmful than stop-start urban driving.

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Best Year to Buy?

Of the years with at least 100 tests, the 2021 model has the highest MOT pass rate at 92%, while the 2013 model has the lowest at 84%. The 2020 scores 91%. Newer cars usually pass more often simply because they are younger, so compare years of a similar age.

Mercedes CLA by Year

Year	Pass Rate	Tests	Avg Mileage
2022	96%	744	25,883 mi
2021	92%	12,888	28,983 mi
2020	91%	11,039	35,990 mi
2019	90%	17,419	41,662 mi
2018	89%	18,059	51,592 mi
2017	87%	19,333	63,934 mi
2016	87%	18,327	74,073 mi
2015	86%	16,532	82,370 mi
2014	85%	11,121	89,018 mi
2013	84%	5,182	93,382 mi

Similar Cars to Consider

Ford Fiesta

2018 · 998cc Petrol

£1,630/year

90%

-1%

Volkswagen Golf

2019 · 1498cc Petrol

£1,853/year

92%

+1%

Vauxhall Corsa

2018 · 1398cc Petrol

£2,003/year

85%

-6%

Nissan Qashqai

2018 · 1200cc Petrol

£1,780/year

87%

-4%

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About the 2020 Mercedes CLA

The 2020 Mercedes CLA is a premium car. Our records list a 1332cc petrol engine, though engines vary between versions. 11,039 MOT tests were recorded on this model in 2024, making it one of the most commonly tested models on UK roads. Among all models from 2020, the average MOT pass rate is 92%, and this model falls short of that benchmark.

With an average of 35,990 miles recorded at its 2024 MOT tests, Mercedes CLA owners cover more miles than the average driver.

2020 Mercedes CLA Fuel Costs

The 1332cc petrol engine offers a reasonable balance between performance and economy. Expect around 42 mpg in mixed driving, which works out to roughly £1,398 per year with petrol at 174.57p per litre (GOV.UK weekly average, week of 19 October 2026; based on 7,400 miles per year).

What does it cost to own a 2020 Mercedes CLA?

Total estimated annual running cost is £1,853 (£154/month), broken down as £1,398 fuel, £200 road tax, £55 MOT, and £200 predicted repairs. The low repair estimate reflects the excellent 91% pass rate. These cars rarely fail their MOT, so unexpected bills are less likely.

Mercedes CLA Reliability Trend

Newer Mercedes CLAs pass their MOT more often than older ones, by 4 percentage points on average, which is mostly down to age and wear.

Buying a Used 2020 Mercedes CLA

At 6 years old, the Mercedes CLA offers good value with plenty of life remaining. Most manufacturer warranties will have expired, so a pre-purchase inspection is worth the cost. If you're flexible on year, the 2021 model has the highest pass rate at 92%. With 11,039 MOT tests in our data, there's strong statistical confidence in these figures.

Common Issues to Watch For

These are typical issues for cars of this age, fuel type and engine size, not faults recorded on this model's MOT tests. Use them as a checklist when you view one.

Service History

Low risk

Always request a full service history. Regular servicing is the single best indicator of how well a car has been maintained, regardless of mileage.

Running Costs Compared

How the 2020 Mercedes CLA stacks up against similar cars for estimated annual running costs, insurance group, and tax.

Car	Pass Rate	Fuel/yr	Tax/yr	Est. Ins. Group	Total/yr
Mercedes CLA(2020)	91%	£1,398	£200	Grp 8-20	£1,853
Ford Fiesta(2018)	90%	£1,175	£200	Grp 1-8	£1,630-£223
Volkswagen Golf(2019)	92%	£1,398	£200	Grp 12-25	£1,853same
Vauxhall Corsa(2018)	85%	£1,398	£200	Grp 8-20	£2,003+£150
Nissan Qashqai(2018)	87%	£1,175	£200	Grp 5-15	£1,780-£73

Estimates based on 7,400 miles/year, GOV.UK average pump prices for the week of 19 October 2026, GOV.UK road tax rates and MOT data. Insurance groups are our rough estimate from engine size, not official groups. Actual costs vary by driver, location, and usage.

Questions about the 2020 Mercedes CLA

Is the 2020 Mercedes CLA reliable?

Excellent reliability. Very few MOT failures. 91% of MOT tests on 2020 Mercedes CLAs ended in a pass, from 11,039 tests (DVSA MOT data for tests in 2024, retests included). That's 9 points above the average of 82% across all models in the same data.

How much does a 2020 Mercedes CLA cost to run?

Our estimate is £1,853 a year (£154 a month): £1,398 fuel, £200 road tax, £55 MOT and £200 predicted repairs, based on 7,400 miles a year. Insurance is not included.

What is the MOT pass rate for a 2020 Mercedes CLA?

91% of 11,039 MOT tests on the 2020 Mercedes CLA ended in a pass (DVSA MOT data for tests in 2024, retests included). That ranks it 1475th of 2,554 models first registered in 2020 (bottom half).

Which year Mercedes CLA has the best MOT pass rate?

Of the years with at least 100 tests, the 2021 Mercedes CLA has the highest MOT pass rate at 92% and the 2013 the lowest at 84%. Newer cars usually pass more often simply because they are younger and have done fewer miles.

What is the average mileage for a 2020 Mercedes CLA?

The average mileage recorded at MOT tests on the 2020 Mercedes CLA is 35,990 miles, which is above the expected 29,600 miles for a 4-year-old car. Higher-mileage cars often have more motorway miles, which is generally less harmful than stop-start urban driving.