The electric Mercedes CLA promises a maximum range of nearly 500 miles, and can recoup 200 miles of range in just 10 minutes. Or, if you need to keep racking up loyalty points at your local petrol station, the hybrid version is now available.
Now that the electric version of the new Mercedes CLA is on sale, the German brand has announced prices and specs for the petrol version.
Despite the CLA being one of Mercedes’ entry-level models, the German brand has thrown the kitchen sink at its new car, promising “more space, more refinement, more comfort, more intelligence and more efficiency” than before.
Prices and specifications
Hybrid
The introduction of the petrol models brings the starting price of the CLA range down to £38,700. Entry-level Sport cars include a comfort-focused suspension setup, a fixed glass roof, LED headlights with high-beam assist, heated seats and blind-spot monitoring. Additional features, which require you to be logged in to a Mercedes me ID account, include the Distronic family of driver assistance tech, park assist and Apple CarPlay/ Android Auto.
You'll need to stick with the Sport trim to avoid paying the luxury car tax for the first five times the tax is renewed.
Sport Executive adds keyless entry, wireless phone charging and 64-colour ambient lighting for £41,550.
The first of three AMG Line trims is the £44,000 AMG Line Executive, which gets sportier styling and more sculpted seats. AMG Line Premium is a £1,900 jump and brings bigger wheels, powered seats, a powered bootlid, two-zone climate control (we're surprised this isn't standard across the range) and an additional 14-inch screen for the front passenger. Top-spec Premium Plus is knocking on the door of £50,000 for its Burmester stereo and head-up display.
Electric
The cheapest electric CLA is the Sport Edition trim at £45,615. This features broadly the same kit as the entry-level petrol car, albeit with the additions of an illuminated grille and extra bits on the accompanying phone app to cover cabin pre-heating and EV route guidance.
AMG Line Edition is £49,375, AMG Line Premium Edition costs from £51,770, and top-spec AMG Line Premium Edition+ (yes, it's written differently to the top-spec petrol car...) starts at £53,120.
Styling
At first glance you wouldn’t know the new CLA is electric. It still features a wide star-studded grille, which now sits beneath some curvy headlights that are joined by an LED lightbar. The new look is akin to Mercedes’ current EQ electric models.
There’s a similar look around the back, with the light clusters and bumper treatment aiming to create a premium look. Take a closer peek and you’ll spot that both the headlights and brake lights feature Mercedes’ three-pointed star logos within them.
Inside, the CLA takes the screen real estate to the next level. As these pictures show, you can have wall-to-wall screens if you wish, although the 14-inch passenger touchscreen is optional. It does, however, feature streaming apps such as Disney+, and can even be linked to a games controller so your passenger can shoot zombies while you’re on the motorway.
Infotainment
The screens mark the debut of Mercedes’ brand-new MB.OS operating system, and a fourth-generation MBUX infotainment package. Mercedes proudly claims that the new CLA is the “cleverest” car it’s ever made, and the tech on board is a real step on from the current model, which feels just like a humble A-Class inside. The new CLA’s built-in sat nav runs Google Maps and chooses route guidance based on the state of charge, the efficiency of the battery at each charging stop and the topography of the route. Through the screen, you can even reserve a charging point, but for now this is limited to dedicated Mercedes charging parks.
There’s also MBUX Surround Navigation, which shows you a real-time view of the car in amongst its surroundings – essentially showing you the capabilities of the driver assistance systems, as we’ve seen in recent Tesla and MG models. These systems are still usually less useful than simply looking around with your eyes, mind.
The CLA offers Level 2 semi-autonomous driving capability, with new features including Lane Change Assist. Currently this needs you to ask for a lane change by using the indicators, but Mercedes claims the system will be automatic in the future.
AI assistants
Two AI virtual assistants are packed into the touchscreen, reportedly allowing conversational language and follow-ups. One of Mercedes’ examples is “Hey Mercedes, what is a black hole? Explain it so that children can understand” – which could make kids’ endless ‘why’ questions a bit easier to answer.
Battery technology
For usability, the powertrain tech might be even more exciting than the interior gizmos. Running an 800V architecture (the first Mercedes to do so), the most efficient version of the CLA promises a 483-mile range, and the ability to regain 201 miles of charge in 10 minutes at a 320kW charger. A heat pump is standard to improve cold-weather efficiency.
The CLA additionally offers huge amounts of brake regeneration – Mercedes says that “almost all braking processes are carried out entirely through recuperation”. The body shape is one of the most aerodynamic of any car, there’s a 40% reduction in the car’s carbon footprint and the CLA supports bi-directional charging for Vehicle-to-Load (V2L) and Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G) power flows.
Performance and powertrain options
The electric model is called the CLA 250+. An 85kWh battery is standard; it's linked up to a 268hp electric motor for a 0-62mph time of 6.7 seconds. Towing capacity stands at 1.5 tonnes.
Like a Porsche Taycan, the CLA uses a two-speed transmission for low-speed performance and high-speed efficiency. The CLA 350 can disconnect the front electric motor when it’s not needed to increase range, too.
Alternatively, the hybrid models feature a 1.3kWh battery and a 1.5-litre Mercedes-developed engine with three power outputs, plus a choice of front or four-wheel drive. The CLA 180, 200 and 220 hit the 0-62mph mark in around nine, eight and seven seconds respectively.
Dimensions
The new CLA is 35mm longer and 25mm wider than the outgoing car, and has a 61mm longer wheelbase (the distance between the front and rear wheels). The result is a much-needed increase in passenger space. Disappointingly, the 405-litre boot is 55 litres smaller than before, although electric models counter that with a 101-litre frunk under the bonnet.
Can’t wait for the new CLA? Shop our exciting range of used Mercedes CLA cars for sale or read our Mercedes CLA review.
