Mercedes CLA review
The electric Mercedes CLA represents a huge step forward for the brand’s EVs, and the hybrid version is very competitive too
Our opinion on the Mercedes CLA
Mercedes made something of a stuttering start when it came to its electric-vehicle family. The EQC, EQE and EQS – plus their SUV equivalents – featured rather underwhelming driving dynamics, overbearingly large touchscreen tech and a general feeling that the level of finish fell below what you’d expect from a Mercedes.
The CLA has emphatically put all of these things right - whether you go for the EV or the hybrid. Its chassis feels superbly engineered in a way that previous EQ models didn’t, and efficiency is class-leading. Plus it has a sophisticated interior, an abundance of tech and exceptional cruising ability. Although it’s expensive and we’re still waiting for true performance thrills to come from the AMG variant, the CLA is one of Mercedes’ most convincing new offerings in recent years.
About the Mercedes CLA
This is ‘the big one’ for Mercedes. Not in terms of size, because the CLA will in effect be the new entry-level model for the brand’s EV and internal-combustion engined ranges, but in terms of impact, as the first of four fresh models on a brand-new MMA architecture. It’s also the first to feature a next-generation electronic brain that’ll underpin all forthcoming models – this is Germany’s first ‘software defined vehicle’.
Used - available now
In the case of the all-electric CLA 250+ with EQ Technology, as it’s formally known, this compact saloon is close to offering 500 miles from a single charge, with ultra-fast charging capability to boot. Both of these attributes served the CLA in good stead when it placed higher than several other electric cars (including the Tesla Model Y and Audi A6 Avant e-tron) during our winter EV range test.
Not only that, the CLA EV also conquered the Tesla Model 3 in a compact executive shoot-out when we tested them against each other.
Adding to the CLA’s appeal, the hybrid-powered model is a great option for those not ready for an EV. It returned tremendous efficiency in our hands and while the gearbox is a small blight on refinement, the CLA hybrid is mostly spot-on. There’s even a Shooting Brake version, although the swooping bodystyle means it’s not massively spacious in the boot, even as an estate.
In terms of rivals, the CLA’s high range figure and compact size mean it sits in a bit of a vacuum in terms of direct competition. It’s priced above the slightly larger Tesla Model 3 and on par with the Polestar 2, but offers more range than both. Audi doesn’t really have any saloon-like EVs in this space for the moment and BMW’s larger i4 costs from around £51,000, but offers nowhere near the range at just 311 miles. Looking at more eccentric rivals, the new DS No8 offers a similar combination of range and posh-ness at a remarkably similar price, although it looks very different.
Mercedes CLA prices and latest deals
Mercedes launched the CLA as an EV, but a hybrid saloon and pure-electric Shooting Brake estate joined the line-up shortly after.
The electric saloon starts at £45,615 in 250+ Sport Edition guise, rising to £53,120 in AMG Line Premium trim. The electric CLA Shooting Brake starts at £44,250 in the more basic Sport trim, although you can get the Shooting Brake in dual-motor 350 4Matic form, costing up to £57,350 in AMG Line Premium Plus guise.
The hybrid powertrain comes only in the saloon bodystyle, priced at £38,700 in Sport, then £40,000 for the more powerful CLA 200 Sport. Those two are front-wheel drive, but you can get an even more potent all-wheel-drive CLA 220 4Matic Sport from £43,500, rising to £53,400 in AMG Line Premium Plus.
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Performance & driving experience
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It’s fair to say that Mercedes had some work to do on its cars’ driving experience, because most of its previous electric models were a bit off the pace. We’re happy to report that in just about every quantifiable measure the new CLA is a significant improvement over Mercedes’ older EVs. The company has taken the decision – rightly, we feel – to focus not on the sharpest dynamics or Tesla-like immediacy, but on a more measured and consistent feel right across the board.
The new CLA finally seems to live up to the promise of the three-pointed star on the nose, with a level of refinement and comfort you’d expect from a brand such as Mercedes. Compared with the previous CLA and A-Class, it’s in a different league, and comfortably ahead of a Tesla Model 3 or Polestar 2.
| Model | Power | 0-62mph | Top speed |
| Mercedes CLA Hybrid 180 Sport | 164bhp | 8.8 seconds | 135mph |
| Mercedes CLA 350+ Shooting Brake | 349bhp | 5 seconds | 130mph |
| Mercedes CLA Hybrid 200 Sport | 193bhp | 8 seconds | 144mph |
Performance, 0-60mph acceleration and top speed
Mercedes’ new MMA platform, which is used in the CLA, caters to both pure-electric and hybrid powertrains.
The electric CLA arrived first and the 250+ has a single motor driving the rear axle with 268bhp and 335Nm of torque – figures that put it a little behind the entry-level BMW i4 eDrive35.
On the road, we found that performance is more than enough to keep up with fast-moving traffic. It’s comparable to single-motor versions of the Tesla Model 3 and Polestar 2, and while never alarmingly fast, it’s more than adequate, given that it pairs the lowest-powered e-motor with the biggest and therefore heaviest (85.5kWh) battery. Speaking of which, Mercedes quotes a total weight figure of 2,055kg, which is impressive considering the size of that battery pack.
Then there’s the dual-motor CLA 350 that’ll be arriving in 2026. There’s an extra motor up front, which compromises on a bit of storage space under the bonnet, but ups the power output to 349bhp, therefore cutting the 0-62mph time from 6.7 seconds to just 4.9 seconds. The extra performance is certainly felt, and thanks to the instant punch of the e-motors, it probably wouldn’t have too much trouble keeping up with previous-generation AMG models.
The hybrid version of the CLA may have arrived slightly later, but in no way does it seem like this model was an afterthought, because it features a brand-new 1.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine that was designed to be as compact as possible.
The hybrid powertrain is available in three states of tune – 134bhp, 161bhp or 187bhp – but in every case it’s paired with a 30bhp electric motor that’s integrated directly into the eight-speed dual-clutch transmission and powered by a 1.3kWh battery under the front seats.
Town driving, visibility and parking
In town, the CLA electric glides over smaller imperfections in the road as if they weren’t there, making it much more comfortable than not only a Tesla Model 3, but also other more fidgety alternatives such as the Polestar 2 and Hyundai Ioniq 6. Only short, sharp jolts over drain covers cause any sort of kerfuffle, but even then the knocks and noises from the suspension are well isolated from the cabin.
A tight turning circle of 11.2 metres and light steering help the CLA to wiggle around tight spots, and while the latest CLA is a modest 35mm longer than its predecessor, it still feels fairly compact on the road.
Country road driving and handling
The CLA is not particularly fun or engaging to drive, but that’s not really the point with a hyper-efficient EV – a more aggressive and powerful AMG version will answer that call when it arrives later on.
The rear-driven chassis of the electric CLA strikes a sweet balance through a series of turns, with enough power to push the car from the back axle without being dramatic or too lively to handle. Grip is strong, and the steering is very well suited to the response of that chassis. The CLA doesn’t dart towards an apex like a Tesla Model 3, but it feels far more natural, and therefore it’s easier to both trust what the car is capable of, and to build up a smooth flow along a more challenging road. The quality of the suspension helps with the latter, too; it absorbs bumps very well and doesn’t get fazed by mid-corner undulations.
We tested the hybrid CLA in 4Matic, all-wheel-drive form and found the handling to be pretty neutral and tidy; there’s a slight amount of body lean when cornering, while the steering has the perfect balance between being not too heavy and not too light, not too slow and not too quick. The all-wheel drive system provided excellent traction out of corners and on the wet, snowy roads in Austria. We’ll wait and see if it's a similar story for the front-wheel-drive 180 and 200 models.
The CLA electric features an all-new braking set-up, seamlessly blending the friction and regenerative systems into one that can almost make you think it was a purely friction set-up. We’d still like to see some paddles behind the steering wheel to adjust the level of regen on the fly, however.
The only bug with the CLA hybrid was coming to a complete stop, because the pedal seems to run away from you just as you want to come to a halt. It’s something owners will adapt to, but it is a little annoying.
Motorway driving and long-distance comfort
Where the CLA impresses most behind the wheel is with the ride, which is superbly judged: controlled and composed while still offering a plush and cosseting quality. The 18-inch wheels fitted to most models in the UK are perfectly sized to steamroll over a majority of road imperfections, backed up by springs and dampers that perfectly complement the overall driving experience.
General refinement is excellent, both on account of the completely silent powertrain (aside from a little bit of computerised warble in certain modes) and the impressive aero efficiency, which keeps wind noise to a minimum. To achieve this, the wing mirrors had to be pretty small, but visibility down the car’s side is still good, although the rearward view is little restricted by the shallow rear windscreen.
The CLA hybrid is almost as quiet as the EV because it can run on its electric motor when less than 30bhp is needed. If you work it hard, the four-cylinder petrol engine can emit a gruff tone, but it doesn't have the same droning or coarse quality as other small-capacity engines, and it feels very smooth.
“Our only major issue with the CLA’s drivetrain is its gearbox, which we would describe as stubborn. The shifts are certainly smooth, but they’re also slow and the eight-speed auto has a tendency to hold onto gears for longer than we’d have liked, so you have to listen to the engine revving high.” - Ellis Hyde, news reporter.
Range, charging & running costs
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The headline figures for the CLA’s efficiency certainly come with the EV, but the hybrid is impressive too.
In the all-wheel-drive 220 4Matic, we managed to average more than 70mpg on a route including city streets, twisty country roads and motorways; this is much higher than the 52.4mpg suggested by Mercedes. The CLA hybrid’s ability to recuperate up to 25kW of energy when slowing down, in any gear, to recharge the battery will have helped, too.
Front-wheel-drive CLA hybrids are more fuel-efficient and when the hybrid powertrain is available in the Shooting Brake, we don’t expect too much of a drop-off in economy, judging from our experience in the EV.
| Model | MPG | CO2 | Insurance group |
| Mercedes CLA 180 Sport | 56.5mpg | 114g/km | N/A |
| Mercedes CLA 220 4Matic | 50.5mpg | 127g/km | N/A |
| Mercedes CLA 200 Sport | 56.5mpg | 114g/km | N/A |
Electric range, battery life and charge time
When we spoke to the CLA’s chief engineers, it’s clear that the central ambition on this project was to eke as much range out of it as possible. On that metric, the CLA is a huge success. Mercedes quotes a peak range figure of 483 miles on a CLA 250+ fitted with the aero-focused 18-inch wheels - helping to a drag coefficient of 0.21. This drops a little on the AMG Line models, but never below 461 miles, even with the larger 19-inch wheels.
But the actual figures you’ll see in the real world are a different matter, and we’re happy to report that while the CLA won’t quite match those numbers, it does get closer than you might expect. When we tested the car across a range of motorways, A-roads and city driving, we managed an impressive 4.8m/kWh, which would translate to a range of 408 miles. At around 80 per cent of the WLTP figure, this is a huge result.
In a twin test of the CLA against the Model 3, we saw this drop to 351 miles and in our long-range EV test under tougher conditions, the Mercedes dropped to 303 real-world miles. However, this was still better than its four competitors.
To put the Mercedes’ amazing claimed figures into context, a Tesla Model 3 Long Range will top out at 436 miles on the WLTP cycle, with Polestar’s long-range 2 only just breaking the 400-mile mark at 408 miles. Don’t expect either to crack 400 miles in everyday use, though. The only rival in the CLA’s pricing orbit that currently gets close is the DS No8, which has a 483-mile range on paper, thanks to a bigger 100kWh battery.
But the MMA platform doesn’t sacrifice ease of use to reach those numbers, because the 800V architecture allows 320kW charging, which will see the car add around 200 miles in just 10 minutes of charging. However, there was a huge caveat to this top-line fast-charging figure and that’s because Mercedes has launched CLA without the ability to charge at 400V DC fast-charging stations, which make up the vast majority of public chargers in the UK. That’s since been fixed by Mercedes however with a no-cost 800V charging option to add to new cars.
During our EV range test, the Mercedes also won the battle of the chargers, because it took on the fastest charging speed at 326kW - almost twice as fast as the competition from MG, Audi and Tesla.
| Model | Battery size | Range | Insurance group |
| Mercedes CLA with EQ Technology+ | 85kWh | 461-483 miles | N/A |
Tax
As with other EVs, the CLA currently makes a huge amount of sense for company-car drivers. Sitting in the three per cent Benefit-in-Kind (BiK) bracket means that it’ll cost a few hundred pounds in annual deductions – thousands less than a similarly priced petrol or diesel car.
Even though it’s efficient, it has no official EV range, so the CLA hybrid is in the 28 per cent Benefit-in-Kind (BiK) bracket. For the first year’s road tax, all CLA hybrids will cost the same - £440 with £195 in the years following.
Depreciation
It’s still early days for the CLA Electric, but current estimates suggest that the 250+ will hold onto between 46 and 50 per cent of its original value after three years or 36,000 miles, with the dual-motor and Shooting Brake models faring the worst. Overall, it’s pretty much identical to single-motor versions of the Tesla Model 3, though.
Interior, design & technology
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Along with the powertrain, another part of this CLA’s fresh-ness is the digital interface and operating system, which is also all-new for this car and due to be spread right across the Mercedes range. In the case of CLA, the main dashboard is one piece of gloss-black plastic integrating a 14-inch touchscreen and 10.25-inch driver’s display. Some models have a second 14-incher on the passenger side, but most will do with just the one and the passenger side featuring a black panel with glowing stars.
Interior and dashboard design
The CLA’s screens are so vast that there hasn’t been much space left for anything that looks ‘designed’, leading to a vibe that’s more Curry’s PC World than boutique hotel. Below the black panel sits a centre console with two cup-holders, behind which is a small cubby. There are some flourishes, such as the intricate door cards and glass roof, but digital real-estate aside, there’s not much else going on.
In some ways, Mercedes has improved the CLA’s ergonomics over its other recent efforts. The door-mounted electric seat controls, which have been irritating touch-sensitive buttons on other cars in its range, have once again become physical switches, and this small change alone feels like progress. However, on the same panel, Mercedes has introduced the kind of annoying dual-function electric window switches that we’ve complained about in various electric Volkswagens over the past few years. It surely could not have been hard to incorporate individual rear window switches rather than a pair of buttons that control both front and rear.
Materials and build quality
Lots of parts that are frequently touched inside the CLA – the window switches, the steering wheel, the air vents – all feel suitably expensive. However, areas lower down, including the glovebox and its handle, feel like they’re made from a rather cheap, hard plastic. The huge slab of piano-black trim is something that looks flashy in a brand-new car, but we’re not convinced it’ll look so smart after a few years’ use.
Infotainment, sat-nav and stereo
On the face of it, the CLA’s infotainment system looks and reacts much like the units found on pretty much all other Mercs, but a new electronic architecture underpins all of its operations. This is one of Europe’s first so-called ‘software-defined vehicles’, with all the various tech working off the one base system and a deep-rooted but flexible connection to the cloud. This brings benefits such as over-the-air updates, enhanced online services and an AI-assisted voice command system.
It works very well, with super-fast responses and enough digital real estate to house all the main controls without any issues. The homescreen always displays a navigation screen that can be mirrored onto the driver’s display, with little tiles giving quick access to your phone, media and more – not unlike the dock on an iMac. The real boon here, though, is that the responses and clarity of menus are just as good as on a smartphone or tablet.
The air-con and ventilation controls are digital, but can be accessed on the main screen. The tiles are a touch small, and there’s nowhere to rest your hand to help guide your finger whilst driving, but it’s a reasonably elegant system that’s intuitive and easy to use in a way other recent Mercedes systems aren’t.
There are then more controls, such as a volume slider and drive modes, on a black panel at the base of the screen alongside a phone charging pad. We found that these are a little difficult to reach, but certainly aren’t the worst. Would we prefer physical controls? Yes. But with so much digital real-estate, it’s not the buzzkill that it has been in the past.
"Mercedes clearly didn’t want buyers confusing the latest CLA with anything other than a Mercedes. To this extent they’ve gone overboard with the three-pointed stars - which you’ll find slathered over the grille, within the headlights and passenger-side dash. It’s a bit garish." - Alastair Crooks, senior news reporter.
Boot space & practicality
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It’s important to remember the CLA is more compact than a Tesla Model 3-sized saloon, evidenced by the relatively cramped cabin and limited boot space. That’s not to say the CLA is tiny – in actual fact the longer wheelbase, glass roof and flat floor make the second row a much nicer place to spend time than that of the previous model – but it’s not generous and won’t, for example, be particularly suitable as a fleet vehicle that needs to take passengers in the rear seat.
Dimensions and size
As with the previous model, this latest CLA is more of an Audi A3 saloon rival than a competitor for cars such as the Tesla Model 3 and Polestar 2, despite costing the same or more than that pair. The CLA is also relatively tall and narrow for a car of this capability, which is good news for drivability in towns and cities, but leads to an awkward exterior design because of the technical package.
Dimensions comparison | |||
| Model | Mercedes CLA | Tesla Model 3 | BMW i4 |
| Length | 4,723 mm | 4,720 mm | 4,783 mm |
| Width | 1,855 mm | 1,850 mm | 1,852 mm |
| Height | 1,468 mm | 1,440 mm | 1,448 mm |
| Wheelbase | 2,790 mm | 2,875 mm | 2,860 mm |
| Boot space | 405 - 1,290 litres | 425 litres | 470 litres |
Seats & passenger space
While the dash appears a little monolithic, it’s not as absurdly high as the dashboards in previous Mercedes EVs such as the EQE and EQS. As a result, the view out of the front is reasonable, and there’s plenty of room for adjustment in the driver’s seat and the steering wheel. The rear window is reasonably sized, but its lower edge is quite high, so rear visibility isn’t too generous.
Hop into the back and the good news for former CLA owners is that there’s a little more space in almost every direction. However, those coming from other similarly priced EVs – in particular, the Volkswagen ID.7 – will find accommodation a little at a premium. Knee room is fine if not outstanding – roughly the same as in a Volkswagen Golf – and headroom is a little tight due to the structure that surrounds the huge panoramic glass sunroof. The floor is flat but just a touch high, which means that longer-legged occupants will find under-thigh support a little short. Fitting child seats is fairly straightforward, thanks to Isofix mounting points that are easy to reach behind folding covers.
Boot space
The 405-litre boot is a fine size for a car in this class, and the Merc’s saloon opening is a little larger than that of the Tesla Model 3. There’s a modest amount of underfloor space to house charging cables, while single-motor models get a generous 101-litre frunk, which is an ideal place to hold the charging cables. The rear seats drop down too, allowing for a long – if slim – storage area.
The Shooting Brake’s sloping roofline means luggage space only rises to 455 litres or 1,290 litres with the second row folded flat. This is a 30-litre reduction over the previous-generation CLA Shooting Brake, or 60 litres with the seats down. That said, it can be supplemented on electric models with a further 101 litres of storage space under the bonnet.
An added bonus is improved headroom in the second row on account of the higher roofline.
Towing
All CLAs offer an 1,800kg towing capacity, apart from the all-wheel-drive hybrid, which can haul up to 2,000kg.
“The Sport has old-school door handles, unlike every other CLA trim and all its range test rivals. They won’t help the efficiency figure, but will aid sales in the world’s biggest car market, given that China is banning flush door handles on safety grounds.” - Phil McNamara, editor-at-large.
Reliability & safety
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A superb second-place finish out of 31 manufacturers in our 2025 Driver Power satisfaction survey – kept off the top spot by only Subaru – shows that Mercedes owners are delighted with their cars and how easy they are to live with.
The CLA is a brand-new generation of car, so there’s no real data about its reliability just yet, but an added bonus of the simplified electronic architecture is that it should help keep the bugs at bay.
All Mercedes models come with a three-year warranty – not a great length by today’s standards – but it is backed up by an unlimited-mileage offer. There’s also the unmatched breakdown cover, which runs to a whopping 30 years. The CLA EV’s battery is covered by a separate eight-year or 100,000-mile warranty that guarantees a minimum battery capacity of 70 per cent of its original.
Mercedes offers a service plan for the CLA, but compared with most other EVs, service costs are quite high. A three-year plan will set you back £1,152.
| Euro NCAP safety ratings | |
| Euro NCAP safety rating | Five stars (out of five) |
| Adult occupant protection | 94% |
| Child occupant protection | 89% |
| Vulnerable road user protection | 93% |
| Safety assist | 85% |
Buying and owning
Best buy: Mercedes CLA Sport Edition
There’s no reason to spend more on the more unattractive, less efficient and very un-sporty AMG Line trim. The key elements of the CLA are all there in the Sport Edition: a panoramic roof, the same charging speeds and the 14-inch infotainment system. The real question is whether to go for the pure-EV or hybrid model, with the electric car’s maximum range making this a harder decision than in many other rival models that offer both powertrains.
Mercedes CLA alternatives
This is where things get tricky, because the CLA is an exceptional car in isolation. However, considered in the context of other cars in the market, its inflated price and superb range mean it’s outgrown its former class and now butts into the sector above without the dimensions to support it.
A Tesla Model 3 Long Range is around 50 miles down in range, on paper, has a more basic-looking and feeling cabin and doesn’t feel half as well tuned for European roads, but it’s cheaper, has more space inside and comes with the added bonus of the firm’s Supercharger network. In engineering terms, we’d suggest the Mercedes is the superior car, but Tesla’s overall package is still a tough one to bet against.
Things get easier against cars such as the Polestar 2, which offer less of everything important, apart from space and practicality, for much the same price. We love the eccentric flair of the DS No8, and its range and price are pretty similar to those of the Mercedes, despite the car being bigger. However, it’s quite a bit slower in a straight line, and less efficient, because it takes another 15kWh of battery size to match the Merc’s range figure.
Deals on the Mercedes CLA and alternatives
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- NameCLA 250+ 200kW EQ Tech AMG Line Ed 85kWh 4dr Auto
- Gearbox typeAuto
- RRP£49,955
