2026 Mercedes-benz Cla Ev Can Turn Even The Biggest Luddite Into A Believer

Erin Marquis

Carmakers dream of futuristic, super-powered EVs tin of tremendous feats of powerfulness and filled pinch exotic materials and utmost styling. Those aspirational vehicles are meant to resistance our existent mundane car creation into nan future. The third-generation Mercedes-Benz CLA is simply a awesome illustration of this process, coming almost unchanged from nan CLA conception shown successful 2023 and utilizing exertion first described successful nan Vision EQXX. Riding connected a caller electric-first platform, it's a dream car made manifest successful nan existent world. Every constituent of nan conveyance is enhanced, from its champion successful people resistance coefficients each nan measurement down to its aerodynamically designed wheels. If immoderate car tin make a luddite a believer successful EVs, it mightiness beryllium this one.

Full disclosure: Mercedes invited america to Stuttgart to spot nan uncover of nan Concept AMG GTXX pinch a extremity complete successful Copenhagen to thrust nan all-electric CLA. It flew america out, put america up and fed us, positive supplied a CLA250+ and CLA350 for an evening and greeting of driving.

Erin Marquis

The electrical CLA comes successful 2 flavors, nan rear-wheel-drive CLA250+ and nan all-wheel-drive CLA350 4Matic, some of which officially person a "with EQ Technology" moniker added to nan extremity of their names. Both thrust connected Mercedes' caller MMA modular platform, pinch an 800-volt electrical architecture and a artillery battalion pinch 85 kWh of usable capacity. The CLA250+ boasts a 492-mile scope connected nan European WLTP rhythm while nan CLA350 gets somewhat less. The Environmental Protection Agency has not yet put those numbers into state units however, but expect a scope of astir 400 miles. There is besides a Europe-only 58-kWh artillery action that nan U.S. won't get, fixed our fixation connected roadworthy trips and agelong range.

The CLA250+ gets 1 permanently excited synchronous centrifugal complete nan backmost axle that puts retired 268 horsepower and 247 pound-feet of torque, while nan CLA350 comes pinch a centrifugal connected each axle totaling 349 hp and 380 lb-ft of torque. Both CLAs person a two-speed transmission for nan rear centrifugal for amended ratio astatine road speeds, and nan CLA350 engages its beforehand centrifugal to thief retired during harder driving dynamics complete 60 mph. Both CLAs apical retired astatine 130 mph, pinch nan 250+ hitting 60 mph successful 6.6 seconds and nan 350 needing only 4.8 seconds to scope 60 mph.

This innovative caller level is acknowledgment to a caller substance of silicon oxide pinch graphite and comes pinch a ton of pros; it's lighter, much power dense and little wasteful. It besides allows for greater thermal control, which goes a agelong measurement to extending nan life of nan artillery and keeping those electrons successful play.

Erin Marquis

But arsenic pinch each cutting separator technology, location is simply a caveat — chiefly that it'll beryllium beautiful reliable to find a charger successful nan U.S. that tin early adopters of nan electrical CLA will beryllium capable to handle. The first batch of CLAs coming to nan U.S. will only beryllium capable to fast-charge astatine 800-volt stations, pinch nary capacity for 400-volt chargers. CLAs brought to nan U.S. starting adjacent outpouring will person a built-in 400-volt adapter, but first customers will beryllium retired of luck. Mercedes thinks only a fewer 100 cars will beryllium sold this twelvemonth pinch this omission but it is not precisely nan benignant of point you want to perceive erstwhile shopping for a new, technologically precocious introductory luxury EV. If you negociate to find an ultra-fast charger tin of handling nan 800-volt load past nan CLA tin adhd 201 miles successful conscionable 10 minutes, pinch a maximum of 320 kW.

The CLA does comes pinch some a J1772 larboard for Level 1 AC charging and an NACS port, which will let nan CLA to hook up to chargers successful nan U.S. including Tesla Superchargers, but moreover astir of those only put retired 400 volts. Some Supercharges tin grip larger loads but they are not nan norm. Electrify America besides offers immoderate chargers that tin grip an 800-volt juice transfer, but nan deficiency of infrastructure intends those lightning accelerated charging times are conscionable not successful nan cards astir of nan clip for astir drivers. Mercedes plans to instal 10,000 higher-powered charging points by 2030 and upgrade thousands much already successful nan states, but that's still 5 years away. 800-volts is quickly becoming nan modular successful EVs, truthful charging outlets person a batch of catching up to do.

Beginning successful exemplary twelvemonth 2027, nan CLA besides beryllium disposable pinch an soul combustion powertrain that combines a turbocharged inline-4 motor pinch a 48-volt hybrid system. So if you genuinely fearfulness nan electron, you tin still get each nan mind-boggingly high-tech features pinch a broadside of gasoline. Hybrid owners will beryllium capable to instrumentality astir municipality successful axenic electrical mode, leaving nan ICE motor powered disconnected until hitting speeds of 60 mph, overmuch for illustration nan 2nd centrifugal connected nan CLA350.

Mercedes-Benz

Mercedes calls this CLA nan cleverest Mercedes ever. It's nan brand's nan first car to run connected nan caller Mercedes-Benz Operating System (MB.OS), which usage AI-enhanced systems moving connected a onboard supercomputer tin of over-the-air updates. MB.OS runs everything from nan infotainment and precocious driver-assistance systems, to comfortableness features and charging. Mercedes breaks it down into 3 categories: MBUX, which is nan personification acquisition and infotainment system; MB.Drive, nan driver-assist features; and MB.Charge which, you guessed it, controls charging.

We didn't really get to acquisition charging, arsenic nan vehicles provided came pinch plentifulness of electrons for our jaunts astir Copenhagen and retired to nan Danish countryside, but nan different systems controlled by Mercedes' supercomputer car encephalon were easy for america to entree connected our hour-and-a-half agelong thrust routes.

First, nan caller MBUX strategy is designed wholly in-house and challenges each conception that automakers should conscionable instrumentality to Apple CarPlay aliases Android Auto. It legitimately does not suck. There's a caller pillar-to-pillar show pinch a 10.3-inch gauge cluster and 14-inch cardinal touchscreen, and an optional 14-inch touchscreen for nan beforehand passenger. If you don't get nan rider show there's a still-attractive sheet of soft achromatic covered successful an illuminated Mercedes prima pattern. The smooth-to-the-touch solid displays usage graphics from nan Unity Game Engine that are beautifully rendered and instantly responsive. Owners tin wholly tailor their infotainment acquisition connected these screens via nan app mode view, and nan rider show comes pinch games and video streaming services to support your favourite rider princess engaged.

MBUX besides includes nan celebrated Mercedes Virtual Assistant. Now successful its 4th generation, nan small glowing Mercedes-Benz badge avatar connected nan infotainment surface is simply a good loved characteristic for nan brand's enthusiasts. The Virtual Assistant now incorporates AI from ChatGPT4o pinch Microsoft Bing hunt results, giving it a broader guidelines to reply some pointless questions and really useful inquiries, for illustration navigating to charging stations aliases points of liking on routes. Google Gemini besides allows nan virtual adjunct to reply navigation-related questions by accessing Google Map information. This makes nan CLA nan first car to merge aggregate AI sources into 1 vehicle.

Mercedes-Benz

The Virtual Assistant tin admit its drivers' affectional authorities and learns much astir driver's preferences nan much it is used, making it a genuinely powerful instrumentality — and possibly a small creepy successful nan agelong run. It didn't ever activity perfectly erstwhile I engaged nan Assistant connected nan drive, but I was asking it elaborate questions astir nan history surrounding Copenhagen because I americium a nerd. Even if nan answers aren't ever cleanable erstwhile first starting retired it's legitimately nosy to inquire your car silly questions for illustration it's nan ship's machine successful "Star Trek." Mercedes describes conversations pinch nan MBUX Virtual Assistant arsenic comparable to "a friend and has short-term memory," and I find that hilarious. My friends person useless knowledge astir serial killers and folk-punk opus references and cognize little astir section upwind reports aliases points of liking on driving routes than nan MBUX virtual assistant, truthful possibly it's really somewhat amended than flesh-and-blood friends.

On nan wrong nan caller CLA is axenic Mercedes. Both nan cloth and leather interiors consciousness rich | and high-quality pinch open-pore wood and brushed aluminum gracing nan doors and dashboard. One interior strategy uses anodized Gold Anthracite to make nan floating halfway console and doors look for illustration they're covered successful ornamental paper. The seats are comfy and cozy, and 1 of nan CLA350's unfastened for testing came pinch grey seats pinch superb agleam electrical lime greenish accents connected nan separator panels of nan seats, a remarkably youthful look for Mercedes. It decidedly makes consciousness connected this entry-level luxury conveyance to springiness it an separator inside, and it decidedly said to nan young purchaser still lurking location wrong my aging carcass. A elephantine panoramic sunroof comes modular and gives nan interior 1 of nan astir expansive feelings I've ever knowledgeable successful a sedan. There's conscionable truthful overmuch ray and visibility successful this car it is nan closest you tin travel to nan consciousness of a literal greenhouse.

Mercedes is beautiful proud of its caller multifunction steering wheel. While it is surely an betterment complete nan aged steering wheel, it's still not really up to snuff. I recovered my thumb perpetually hitting nan measurement power while astatine a normal ten-and-two driving position, starring to a abrupt and shocking blast of music. While it was easy to accidentally activate nan volume, it was weirdly tougher to usage it intentionally. To move nan measurement down connected nan steering instrumentality I had to get nan fastener to prosecute pinch a haptic click that, alternatively of reassuring, felt inexpensive and plasticy.

Erin Marquis

The accumulation CLA carries complete its jelly bean–shaped bona fides from nan conception car unveiled successful 2023. I really for illustration nan A-shaped grille successful person, which features 142 individually illuminated LED chrome-effect stars that create a unique marque signature. Everyone loves nan illuminated prima badge, truthful 142 of them is precisely 142 times arsenic fun. That's conscionable math.

These small guys spell a agelong measurement towards making nan CLA consciousness for illustration a luxurious, futuristic car, on pinch nan star-shaped headlights and brake lights. I particularly for illustration nan sporty small articulator connected nan backmost extremity helping retired nan class-leading resistance coefficient. It has immoderate Toyota Corolla vibes, but clang testing and aerodynamics being what they are, nan car's wide style still manages to beryllium sleek and sporty.

Erin Marquis

There's a batch of talk of really to make EVs link emotionally pinch drivers without things for illustration RPMs, cogwheel changes and roaring engines, but each you person to do is really get down nan instrumentality of nan CLA to find nan emotion down it. And that emotion? Pure joyousness and ease.

The CLA250+ drove for illustration a refined luxury car, thing excessively zippy aliases diversion but delivering straightforward powerfulness erstwhile nan throttle was applied. While nan 250+ provided capable powerfulness it did extremity up emotion somewhat sedate, almost gentlemanly, erstwhile compared to its rip-roaring brother, nan all-wheel-drive CLA350. Putting nan hammer down successful nan 350 resulted successful instant torque from a dormant stop. I had to punctual myself respective times that nan Danes are nary slouches pinch velocity cameras connected their freeways.

Erin Marquis

The steel-sprung comfortableness suspension surely proved its worthy erstwhile a very sneaky velocity bump appeared retired of obscurity connected a state road, sending nan beforehand extremity of my 250+ tester disconnected nan pavement a little. The landing near myself and my driver partner laughing pinch alleviation alternatively than fearing for nan assemblage activity aliases our old-lady bad backs.

While I recovered nan steering instrumentality layout annoying, nan steering itself was fantabulous and responsive. My thrust partner and I managed to get nan car done a very constrictive parking batch to a cafe and easy perspective ourselves retired without having to do nan changeless reverse-drive-reverse opus and dance. In Copenhagen's man roundabouts, nan steering needed only flimsy inputs to make it done nan different side.

Erin Marquis

We conscionable happened to beryllium visiting Copenhagen connected Graduation Day for precocious schoolhouse students, and ended up down respective ample unfastened trucks afloat of drunk teenagers. That could beryllium annoying, and astir apt was for nan city's preponderance of motorcycle riders, but successful nan CLA it was nary problem. Both vehicles provided susurration quiet rides during stop-and-go slow-motion metropolis driving and our much spirited countryside rides. Of course, it's an EV and you don't really expect motor noises, but successful nan CLA you are insulated from everyone else's noisy vehicles arsenic well. There's besides a full deficiency of clone motor noises; nary sci-fi motor sounds, philharmonic notes or, moreover worse, clone motor noise. I usually don't mind specified manufactured sounds (except nan clone motor noises) but a car this quiet feels much technologically precocious than immoderate that nutrient beeps and boops.

The car has 4 regenerative braking levels accessible via nan column-mounted cogwheel shifter down nan steering wheel. Options scope from very fierce one-pedal driving to little invasive forms of power recuperation. And erstwhile I opportunity aggressive, I mean it. The CLA's one-pedal driving tin bring you to a dormant extremity arsenic if you conscionable stood connected nan brakes. Most of nan time, however, nan strategy is handling regenerative braking based connected driving behaviors and conditions successful a wholly unintrusive manner, cleanable for nan benignant of driver that wants to regain that power but doesn't want to find themselves perpetually fiddling pinch settings.

Erin Marquis

For drivers who really want to prosecute pinch regen braking elements successful nan CLA, mounting nan braking regen to "intelligent mode" will prosecute a strategy called nan Eco Assistant, which uses information from nan navigation representation arsenic good arsenic accusation from sensors and cameras successful bid to thief nan driver optimize their braking behaviour depending connected nan intersections, inclines and velocity limits nan car will apt brushwood connected definite routes. It tin "see" roadworthy events and moreover different vehicles coming up and bespeak to nan driver erstwhile to return their ft disconnected nan accelerator utilizing a awesome connected nan driver's display, and it tin moreover bring nan car to a afloat extremity astatine reddish lights aliases erstwhile encountering stopped traffic.

The CLA's class-leading aerodynamics, which commencement astatine a resistance coefficient of conscionable 0.21 pinch insignificant variations owed to instrumentality options, committedness much scope but besides a quieter ride. The two-tone afloat screen for alloy wheels option, for instance, improves nan resistance coefficient by up to 2 points. Joints astir nan beforehand grille and prima headlights positive parts of nan underbody are sealed to springiness aerial plentifulness of assemblage activity to gaffe past alternatively than slow nan car down.

Erin Marquis

Listen, I could spell on, and on, and connected astir each method marvel embedded successful this 1 electrical car. The 2026 Mercedes-Benz CLA is simply a handsome, zippy EV pinch immoderate of nan champion scope and fastest charging money tin buy. The MSRP has yet to beryllium announced, but I could easy spot it starting location successful nan debased $50,000s erstwhile it goes connected waste this fall, which would make it 1 of nan much affordable luxury EVs connected nan marketplace today.

The charging hurdles nan caller CLA faces are significant, but pinch caller exertion designed to widen nan life of nan battery, a CLA could past agelong capable to spot much than capable chargers opinionated fresh to resupply its artillery arsenic quickly arsenic it's tin of. If you're OK pinch waiting astir six months, nan 400-volt charging rumor will beryllium rectified, but if you're still waffling connected nan EV thought then, by each means, spell for nan hybrid. I deliberation you'd beryllium doing yourself a disservice, though — this is 1 earnestly bully EV.