The amount of Mercedes-Benz CLA safety systems on offer is staggering. The firm has long been an advocate of cutting-edge innovations in this field, and the CLA is absolutely no exception to the rule. It’s for that reason the car has been awarded a five-star Euro NCAP crash test score.

Attention Assist is a standard-fit system which senses when the driver is getting drowsy and provides a warning.

Collision Prevention Assist uses a radar to sense when an accident is imminent, preparing the brakes for the optimal pressure. When coupled with the Distronic Plus system it becomes Collision Prevention Assist Plus, which can automatically brake for you if the car senses a collision is about to occur.

Other safety systems available include automatic high beam headlights, a blind spot warning system, lane keeping assist, a brake hold function which holds the brakes on for a small period of time when the driver releases them at a standstill before the accelerator is applied, a reversing camera, radar-guided cruise control and a speed limiter.

Mercedes claims the CLA will seat five adults, but we’d say four will sit in relative comfort, the two rear-most seats only really suitable for people under six feet in height.

There’s ample storage space in the front, with pockets in the doors, a pair of cup holders joining a cubby under the arm rest and two hidden ones under the flaps next to the heater controls.

The 470-litre boot can be expanded by folding down the split rear seats to carry larger loads. Since it’s a saloon, the opening isn’t quite as tall as a hatchback’s, but it is of a fair size and we doubt you’ll find yourself caught out in that respect.