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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; this 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 134bhp or 161bhp through the front wheels or, in the top 4MATIC version, 188bhp to all four wheels. Diesel-like economy is promised. What Mercedes really wants to talk about though, is the EV model, in volume form clumsily named the 'CLA 250+ with EQ Technology'. There's nothing clumsy about the technology on offer here though, based around an 85kWh nickel-manganese-cobalt battery said to be capable of taking the car up to 492 miles between charges. Lots of clever engineering lies behind that attention-grabbing stat, a 268bhp 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 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 with EQ Technology'. This gets an extra 107bhp motor with a single-speed gearbox on its front axle, giving a combined output of 349bhp, which cuts the 0-62mph sprint time to just 4.9s. Range remains impressive at 478 miles. For the future, there'll be an entry-level 58kWh CLA EV with a lower price but less advanced LFP lithium-ion-phosphate cells and a shorter range (expect about 300 miles). And a flagship Mercedes-AMG CLA 45 4MATIC+ EV with a pair of Yasa-developed axial flux motors developing over 500bhp.

Design and Build

Looks can be deceiving. This truly is a completely new GL be, even though the straight edged, to box SUV silhouette might be familiar from before. This time round, combustion and EV variants share the same design, though there front ends are different. The petrol hybrid has a conventional grille with chrome star pattern and an illuminated frame. On the EV, that's replaced by an illuminated panel featuring 94 individual stars that light up in different patterns as you approach or leave the car. More important than all that is the increased size of this MKII model - it's around hundred MM longer than before thanks to the new MM a underpinning platform. Which helps give the car more confident stance, emphasised by SUV body cladding. Still the same bluff rear end though, with a fullwidth light bar that looks similar to that of another Daimler group segment rival, the smart five. The cabin is very different from before and the entire dashboard can be covered by screens. All models get the 10.25 inch drivers instrument display and a big 14 inch central touchscreen. Opt for the super screen layout and these monitors are also joined by a further 14 inch touchscreen for front passenger. The centre screen hosts the latest fourth generation MBO S version of the MBO's infotainment system. This now has Google maps integrated directly into the navigation and an AI powered virtual assistant. Passengers will notice a big difference with this second-generation deal be to. Thanks to a 60 MM wheelbase length increase, the significantly more secondary legroom and there 64 MM more secondary headroom to, even with the standard panoramic glass roof fitted etched into which are 158 stars. All UK jobbies will be seven seats and that wheelbase length increase makes it much easier to access third row; and makes it slightly more suitable for adults when you get there, though it's primarily meant for kids. Adults will fit though if second row folk make use of their sliding bench base, which can move by up to 140 MM. 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 (reads '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 versions 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, Virtual Assistant voice control using generative AI and Google Maps built-in. What else? Quality is 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 £40,000-£55,000 bracket. The big news here is that in a push for parity, Mercedes is trying to price the Hybrid CLA on a par with the CLA EV. This is apparently thanks to cost savings of around 30% in battery production, bringing the EV's overall price down by around 15%. As usual with Mercedes sporty models, expect a choice of various kinds of 'AMG Line' trim. 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+ with EQ Technology 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 it's 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 new all-electric CLA is reduced by 40 percent over the entire value chain compared to its non-electrified predecessor. At the right public charging station, this third generation CLA can be DC rapid-charged at up to 320kW thanks to its adoption of an 800V electrical architecture. This enables 201 mile top up in just 10 minutes. What about the combustion Hybrid model? Well Mercedes claims that it can deliver 'diesel-level' efficiency (think over 50mpg in regular use), with a system that 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.