Mercedes-Benz Unveils Next-Gen CLA EV and Hybrid

The next-generation CLA will offer both electric and hybrid propulsion, but the big news is the EV – delivering up to 492 miles of range and 0–60mph in as little as 4.9 seconds.

Mercedes-Benz is calling the new CLA its ‘cleverest car yet’. And when a manufacturer with the S-Class, 190E, SL and original A-Class in its back catalogue makes this kind of statement, it warrants a closer look.

So why all the fanfare? Two models will hit showrooms first – the single-motor CLA 250+ with EQ Technology rear-wheel drive, producing 268bhp, and the twin-motor, all-wheel-drive CLA 350 4MATIC with EQ Technology, boasting 349bhp. Nothing revolutionary there.

The real story is how those numbers are achieved. Built on Mercedes’ new 800V architecture, the CLA is the first European EV to break the 5.0mi/kWh barrier – the tipping point where electric cars finally surpass combustion engines not just in terms of WLTP figures, but in real-world efficiency. At motorway speeds – where most EVs see their range plummet – the CLA 250+ still delivers 431 miles.

This efficiency brings a virtuous circle of benefits. Rather than cramming in bigger, heavier battery packs to go the distance, the CLA’s 85kWh battery can match the range offered by Mercedes’ flagship EQS despite a 33kWh capacity deficit. A smaller battery also cuts weight, costs and the car’s carbon footprint.

A key component in unlocking this newfound efficiency is the CLA’s two-speed transmission – a solution already proven in the Porsche Taycan and Audi e-tron GT. The extra ratio improves high-speed efficiency while maintaining strong low-end acceleration. Despite the additional transmission losses, Mercedes-Benz claims a 93% energy efficiency rating.

Another major contributor to the CLA EV’s efficiency is its new rear-mounted permanent magnet motor. It features a silicon carbide inverter, which increases output while reducing size and weight. Engineers have also boosted torque density by arranging the magnets in a double-V formation, concentrating the magnetic field for sharper response and improved efficiency.

The CLA’s aerodynamics play a huge role too. Research by Warwick University claims up to 47% of a battery’s energy is used up overcoming wind resistance at 70mph. Reducing a car’s frontal area is therefore critical. With a drag coefficient of 0.21, the new CLA bests the recently revised Tesla Model 3 (0.22Cd). Small aerodynamic touches include inlets on the front bumper, channelling airflow around the car, with corresponding outlets at the rear. The alloy wheels also sit further inboard than before and feature a more flush-faced design.

And it’s not just how the CLA moves through the air that makes it cleaner – Mercedes is claiming a 40% reduction in CO₂ output over the car’s lifecycle. Advances in renewable energy-powered cell production and greater use of low-cobalt chemistry have cut battery manufacturing emissions by 30%. An air-to-air heat pump also enhances the CLA’s green credentials.

This is despite the car growing significantly in size. The new CLA is one inch wider and taller, but a significant 61mm has been added to the wheelbase. Overall length now stretches to 4,723mm, meaning the CLA dwarfs its traditional rival, the BMW 2 Series Gran Coupé.

The 800V underpinnings also enable rapid charging. In the standard-bearer ten minutes, the new CLA can absorb 200 miles of range with a peak input of 320kW.

The CLA is the first model built on Mercedes-Benz’s Modular Mercedes Architecture (MMA), a next-generation platform designed for both electric and hybrid powertrains. While the spotlight is on the EV’s efficiency, Mercedes is also set to introduce a 48V hybrid variant.

To keep packaging uncompromised, the hybrid CLA slots a new 1.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine into the same space as the 350’s front motor. It’s paired with a 1.3kWh battery and a 27bhp electric motor, producing 134bhp or 161bhp in front-wheel-drive form, while the range-topping 4MATIC version boosts output to 188bhp.

Mercedes says fuel efficiency will match the best diesels, hinting at 50mpg-plus economy. No diesels will be offered in the new CLA.

Despite the differences under the skin, Mercedes is pricing the hybrid CLA on a level with the EV. CEO Ola Källenius says a 30% cut in battery production costs has helped lower EV prices by around 15%, putting both powertrains within striking distance of each other on price.

Visually, little separates the two versions of the CLA, the front grille being the main differentiator. On the hybrid, it’s open, whereas on the battery car, it’s blanked off and features 142 backlit three-pointed stars – meaning fellow motorists won’t have any chance of mistaking the new baby Mercedes for a rival. Just to be extra sure, the three-pointed star motif also features in the headlights, and brake lights.

Inside, the talking point of the new CLA is the full-length ‘Superscreen’, made up of three digital displays – a 10.25in one for the driver, a 14.6in central infotainment screen, and an optional 14in one for the front passenger. In cars without the third screen specified, a glass panel with LED-backlit star logos will sit in its place, matching the interior’s ambient lighting.

The new CLA also comes with the latest MB.OS infotainment, incorporating ChatGPT and Microsoft Bing for searches, and uses Google Maps for navigation. Passengers can also stream Netflix and even play computer games such as Fortnite. Over-the-air updates will also be available. 

More models are anticipated to join the range in due course, including a high-performance AMG EV. The new Mercedes-Benz CLA EV will go on sale this summer, with the hybrid following shortly after. In 2026, a CLA Shooting Brake estate is also due, and the slimmed-down compact car range will follow. It used to be the case that the advanced tech launched in the S-Class and filtered down through the range, but now it’s the new entry-level CLA which sets the standard for upcoming Mercedes-Benz models to follow.