With global sales on the rise in each and every market, including the U.S., Mercedes-Benz->ke187 decided to capitalize on this and bring everyone's attention to their least-expensive offering in the U.S., the CLA->ke3130 four-door coupe. But since December 2014, the CLA250 no longer starts at under $30,000, as its U.S. pricing has gone up, likely thanks to increased demand. But even a little "over" $30,000 still sounds great next to $30 million, right? I'll buy two!

The new CLA commercial was shot at the Mercedes-Benz proving-ground test track in Untertürkheim, Germany, which is famous for its 90 degree bank. Every driver that has experienced the turn has said that it feels very much like riding the so-called "Wall of death," and after seeing footage from there I can believe it.

The commercial's premise is not exactly groundbreaking, since it simply accentuates that the CLA250 is still pretty cheap for a Mercedes-Benz, especially when compared with the W196R that not long ago auctioned for just under $30 million. The humor is lacking a bit, sadly, but the point still stands – the CLA is the cheapest Mercedes-Benz that you can buy in the U.S. For many buyers, that's probably all that matters.

Click past the jump to learn more about the Mercedes-Benz CLA.

Why it matters

Launched in the U.S. at the end of 2013 with a starting price of just $29,900 without destination charges, the CLA is the first Mercedes-Benz sedan (OK, four-door coupe) based on a front-wheel-drive platform. The "sub-30 thousand dollars" sticker only lasted until December 2014, when MB USA quietly announced the new $31,500 starting price for 2015 models and onward. For that money you get a front-wheel-drive CLA250, which is powered by a turbocharged, 2.0-liter, four-cylinder engine that generates 208 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque.

Despite not being overly powerful, the model can hit 60 mph from a standing start in a respectable 6.9 seconds, mostly thanks to its efficient, seven-speed, dual-clutch transmission that comes standard. The 4Matic all-wheel-drive version of the CLA250 is $2,000 more expensive, while for the bonkers CLA45 AMG you will have to pay at least $48,500 MSRP before the destination charge. During 2014, MB USA managed to sell over 25,000 CLA models, making it the fifth-best-selling car in its U.S. lineup.

Mercedes CLA-Class