Brand New Mercedes-Benz CLA

The Mercedes CLA is a very different proposition in third generation form. Jonathan Crouch takes a look.

Ten Second Review

Once a niche Mercedes compact model, the CLA has gone mainstream in this impressively advanced third generation form. It's still a streamlined small saloon (or estate), but now comes with a very efficient pair of propulsion options - full-Hybrid or full-EV.

Background

Welcome to a new kind of small Mercedes-Benz; this car, the third generation CLA. First launched back in 2013, with a second generation version following in 2019, the CLA model line has turned out to be both popular and profitable for the Stuttgart maker. Which perhaps was what prompted the brand to use this third generation version, announced in early 2025, as the launch pad for a whole new generation of electrified technology. Gone are the combustion petrol, diesel and PHEV units of the MK2 design. In their place, we've got an all-new 1.5-litre full-Hybrid; or a full-EV powertrain so efficient that from launch, it positioned the most frugal version of the CLA as Europe's longest-ranging and most efficient electric car. There's also one of the most slippery body shapes ever made in this segment. And the cabin that truly democratises luxury sector technology. Let's take a closer look.

Driving Experience

There are plenty of headlines here. A self charging full-Hybrid engine at last in a compact Mercedes, mated to an equally new 8-speed eDCT auto gearbox. And the biggest headline of all, an EV version offering what at the time of this model's launch was the longest range from any European market electric car. Mercedes makes no apology for the fact that the Hybrid CLA had to fit very much into the design parameters of the EV; the petrol version's 1.5-litre engine was specifically created to fit into the same front-end space as the EV's front motor. This four cylinder unit seems uncompromised as a result though, assisted by a little 1.3kWh battery energised by a 27bhp electric motor. These work together to send either 136hp or 163hp through the front wheels or, in the top 4MATIC version, 190hp to all four wheels. Diesel-like economy is promised. What Mercedes really wants to talk about though, is the EV model, offered with a choice of three powertrains. The base CLA 200 electric has a 221hp front motor energised by a 58kWh battery which offers up to 331 miles of range. The single motor alternative is the mid-level CLA 250+ electric, which has a 268hp motor energised by a larger 85kWh battery which offers a range of up to 483 miles. Lots of clever engineering lies behind these attention-grabbing stats, the front-mounted motor working with a Porsche Taycan-like two-speed gearbox, rather than the usual single-speed EV transmission. The idea is that this provides a short first ratio for quick launches and extra efficiency at town speeds; and a much longer second ratio to improve consumption at a cruise. 0-62mph in the 250+ takes 6.7s on the way to 130mph. As you'd expect, the brand also offers a twin motor EV model, the CLA 350 4MATIC electric. This gets an extra 107bhp motor with a single-speed gearbox on its front axle, giving a combined output of 349hp, which cuts the 0-62mph sprint time to just 4.9s. It also uses the larger 85kWh battery and range remains impressive at up to 447 miles. For the future, there'll be a flagship Mercedes-AMG CLA 45 4MATIC+ EV with a pair of Yasa-developed axial flux motors developing over 500bhp.

Design and Build

Prior to this car's introduction, Mercedes had always created entirely bespoke EV models to sit alongside their combustion counterparts. But that policy changes with this third generation CLA, which apart from front grille and badging differences, looks near-identical in either EV or Hybrid forms. Previous generation CLAs championed futuristic styling over generally mundane mechanicals. Here, if anything, it's the other way round. The sleek design is smart but unremarkable and, as previously, can be had either as a four-door coupe (read 'small saloon') or in 'Shooting Brake' form (read 'small estate'). Previous models were cramped and claustrophobic in the back, so Mercedes has made this MK3 35mm longer, 25mm wider and 29mm taller than its predecessor; and added a standard-fit panoramic glass roof. There are some nice detail touches - like the three-pointed stars in the headlights and tail lamps. And the EV version's front grille is illuminated with a 142 individual LEDs. The silhouette is super-slippery, its drag coefficient an impressive 0.21Cd. Inside at the wheel, you're faced with a huge full-width panel that incorporates a 10.25-inch driver instrument cluster and a 14-inch central infotainment display. In this panel's full (optional) 'Superscreen' form, there's a further 14-inch passenger-side display on which your fellow traveller can watch films, go online or set navigation destinations. With the standard set-up, this passenger screen is replaced by a glass panel with LED back-lit star logos which match the ambient lighting. Media connectivity is of course cutting-edge; there's the brand's very latest MB.OS software, with Virtual Assistant voice control using generative AI and Google Maps built-in. What else? Quality has taken a step up and the style of the seats and steering wheel champion a sporty vibe, particularly if you select one of the more exuberant cabin colour choices. That bigger body (with its 2,790mm-long wheelbase) will noticeably improve rear seat space. But disappointingly, boot capacity has fallen substantially - from 462 to 405-litres. Though in the EV version, that won't matter so much because you'll also have a 101-litre under-bonnet 'frunk', the first Mercedes has ever offered.

Market and Model

Expect CLA pricing this time round to sit in the £39,000-£60,000 bracket, with near pricing parity between the electric and Hybrid models. Either way, there are five trim levels - 'Sport', 'Sport Executive', 'AMG Line Executive', 'AMG Line Premium' and 'AMG Line Premium Plus'. If you don't want the four-door coupe body shape, there's the alternative of a 'Shooting Brake' estate - at a premium of £2,150. There's an awful lot of new technology included here. Take MBUX Surround Navigation for instance, which the brand describes as a feature that 'seamlessly integrates the driver assistance view with a 3D representation of the surroundings and route guidance in real time on the driver display'. Then there's the Virtual Assistant with its generative AI system, which uses ChatGPT and Microsoft Bing for internet searches for the questions you might ask it. Drive assist tech has also taken a step forward. All CLAs come with the brand's DISTRONIC Distance Assist and there's the option of the company's latest 'MB.DRIVE ASSIST' system. This complements Distance Assist DISTRONIC with Steering Assist, making it a state-of-the-art Level 2 driving assistance system. New in the CLA is Lane Change Assist, which facilitates lane changes with a simple click of the indicator lever. Standard safety features include active brake assist, lane keeping assist, speed limit warning, attention assist and a reversing camera.

Cost of Ownership

Proof that this CLA in EV form takes frugality onto the next level is delivered by a claimed efficiency figure for the CLA 250+ electric model that manages to better 5.0mpkWh. Mercedes says that three keys to achieving that impressive stat include the slippery drag coefficient (0.21Cd), the advanced two-speed gearbox and a clever rear-mounted permanent magnet motor. The latter uses a new silicon carbide inverter that develops greater output from a smaller package, reducing weight. And the engineers claim its torque density's boosted by the magnets being inserted in an innovative double-V formation, concentrating their field. There's also a powerful regen braking system that can provide up to 200kW of stopping power off-throttle, helping to keep the battery topped up. And the 4MATIC EV model retains impressive range because its additional front motor is decoupled from the front axle when it isn't needed, reducing energy losses to friction by 90%. The carbon footprint of the all-electric CLA is reduced by 40% over the entire value chain compared to its non-electrified predecessor. At the right public charging station, this third generation CLA's 85kWh battery can be DC rapid-charged at up to 320kW thanks to its adoption of an 800V electrical architecture. This enables a 201 mile top-up of the CLA 250+ in just 10 minutes and a 10-80% charge in 22 minutes. A full AC charge from a 7.4kWh home wallbox takes 13.45 hours. The 58kWh CLA 200 electric has a 200kW DC charging speed and can be DC-charged from 10-80% in 20 minutes. A full AC charge from a 7.4kWh home wallbox takes 9.25 hours. What about the combustion Hybrid model? Let's get to the figures. Both the CLA 180 and the CLA 200 return 56.5mpg on the combined cycle, with CO2 emissions of 114g/km. For the CLA 220 4MATIC, Mercedes claims 52.4mpg and CO2 emissions of 123g/km. The Hybrid system can provide several miles of engine-off propulsion. So much so that the brand has decided not to offer a Plug-in Hybrid derivative this time round. "We think Hybrid is the best combination we can offer for those who aren't completely ready for electric", says transmission engineer Jan Becker.

Summary

Previous generation CLA models were really more about fashion than function. This MK3 design still looks smart, but its priorities have shifted very firmly in favour of engineering technology. Here at last is a Hybrid really does deliver diesel standards of economy. And an EV that really does deliver a compact electric car with close to the operating range of petrol one. New standards have been set here and rivals will need to up their game to keep up. That being the case, it's a pity that this third generation CLA doesn't look quite as eye-catching as its predecessors once were. Because of that, this MK3 model won't necessarily bring a new kind of customer to Mercedes; just a cleverer one.