Mercedes-Benz CLA 2026 review | One of the best compact electric cars

What is the Mercedes-Benz CLA?

The Mercedes-Benz CLA with EQ Technology (catchy name, right?) is the first of a new generation of EVs for Mercedes. The sleek, four-door ‘coupe-saloon’ sits below the C-Class and replaces the petrol-only second-generation CLA. It uses a bespoke electric architecture designed for efficiency above all else.

At launch, UK buyers could choose only the CLA 250+ in a saloon body style. It’s a rear-wheel-drive model, powered by a 268bhp electric motor and an 85kWh (usable) lithium-ion battery. Drive carefully and you might manage up to 484 miles on a full charge, which equates to 5.7 miles per kWh (think of this in a similar way as you would for miles per gallon). Plus, it allows rapid charging at up to 320kW, making this one of the fastest-charging electric vehicles you can buy.

A few more models have now joined the CLA lineup. First of all, there is the CLA Shooting Brake, or simply the estate version if you’d rather keep things simple. Furthermore, a smaller 58kWh battery option has arrived as the entry point to the range, along with an all-wheel-drive CLA 350 4Matic. On top of these, there are now petrol-hybrid models, plus a flagship Mercedes-AMG CLA 45 4Matic+. The latter serves up a frankly ridiculous 671bhp.

How practical is it?

Despite the CLA’s sleek, coupe-like styling, it’s surprisingly usable day-to-day. The saloon’s 405-litre boot is slightly smaller than found in a Tesla Model 3 or BMW i4, but its floor is long and flat, and the rear seats fold in a useful 40:20:40 split. There’s also a big ‘frunk’ beneath the bonnet, which is ideal for storing charging cables.

A narrow boot opening is the saloon’s biggest compromise, but Mercedes has a solution in the form of the CLA Shooting Brake. Not only does its rear hatch allow much better access for bulky items, there is also 455 litres of storage capacity with the rear seats up and 1,290 litres with them folded.

Inside, the CLA has enough space for four adults, although headroom is a bit compromised in the back due to the raked roofline. Anyone over six-feet tall will feel a bit cramped. The small door aperture can also make sliding into the rear seats a bit tricky. In addition, while legroom is decent, foot space under the front seats is tight. Going for the higher-roofed Mercedes CLA Shooting Brake brings a little more cranium space, but the CLA as a whole is compromised by its swoopy design. For the best practicality, look towards a regular saloon or estate car, such as the Mercedes C-Class, or indeed a Mercedes SUV.

Up front, things are much roomier and more accommodating, even if you happen to be very tall. The seats are supportive and electrically adjustable as standard. Visibility is OK for a car of this type, and there are thoughtful storage areas dotted throughout the cabin.

The only real disappointment is a dashboard that feels a bit plasticky for a car at this price. Most of the materials are fine, but the bluff slab of plastic in front of the passenger seems a touch tacky for a premium car, even when backlit by Mercedes-Benz three-pointed stars (unless you option an additional screen for the passenger). There’s a bit too much piano-black glossy plastic, and while it doesn’t feel cheap, the Polestar 2 and BMW i4 both have smarter, classier interiors.

The CLA can be a perfectly suitable tow car should you need it to, but you need to pick your powertrain carefully. All models will tow 750kg unbraked, but the hybrid CLA 180 has a braked limit of 1,600kg, followed by the CLA 200 at 1,800kg and the CLA 220 4Matic at 2,000kg. With battery power, you’re limited to 1,500kg braked in the CLA 200 and 250+, or 1,800kg in the 350 4Matic.

What’s it like to drive?

We’re focusing here on the CLA 250+ saloon with EQ Technology, as that’s the version we’ve driven thus far. As you might imagine, it’s all about efficiency and refinement rather than outright performance. That said, with 268bhp and 247lb ft of torque, even the 250+ isn’t slow, sprinting from 0-62mph in 6.7 seconds. In our minds, that feels spot on: responsive and punchy, without being over the top.

Unlike most EVs, the electric CLA uses a two-speed gearbox on the rear axle, similar to what you’d find in the Porsche Taycan, but employed here for efficiency rather than performance. We certainly couldn’t feel the CLA’s gearbox doing its thing, as the power delivery is the uninterrupted, powerful stream that is typical of most EVs. It’s all very smooth and easy to modulate, as are the various brake regen’ modes, including a one-pedal driving mode.

This isn’t a car that begs to be thrashed, but it’s responsive and sure-footed, with a lovely rear-driven balance and plenty of grip (in the dry conditions of our test, at least). The steering is precise and well-weighted, and ride comfort is remarkably good.

You can’t get adaptive suspension for the CLA, but you don’t need it because the standard passive setup is excellent at isolating you from poor road surfaces. It also keeps the car’s body from leaning too much, even during quick direction changes. It really is a lovely, light-footed and enjoyable car to drive – up there with the BMW i4 in terms of ride and handling balance, despite the BMW being a far more expensive proposition.

We haven’t driven the other EV models yet, but the 200 has 221bhp and will hit 62mph in 7.5 seconds, while the 350 4Matic has 349bhp and will reach 62mph in 4.9 seconds. Both the 200 and the 250+ are rear-wheel drive, whereas in the 350 4Matic, as denoted by the final part of its name, is all-wheel drive.

As for the AMG CLA 45 4Matic+, it is one of the most bonkers Mercedes vehicles ever made on paper. Where the old CLA was already a very fast car, able to hit 62mph in 4.0 seconds, the new car’s three electric motors combine to deliver 671bhp and a 0-62mph time of 2.7 seconds. Is that fun? We shall have to wait and see for now, but we’ll certainly need to do some neck-strength exercises before getting behind the wheel.

As for the petrol hybrid versions of the CLA, they all use a 1.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine with a 48V mild-hybrid set-up. It’s the tuning of the petrol engine that affects the overall power output, however, so whereas the hybrid system produces 30bhp across the board, the petrol engines in the CLA 180, 200 and 220 4Matic produce 134bhp, 161bhp and 187bhp respectively. Zero to 62mph takes 8.8, 8.0 and 7.1 seconds, with the CLA 180 and 200 being front-wheel drive and the 220 4Matic all-wheel drive.

Technology, equipment and infotainment

Dominating the dashboard of the CLA 250+ with EQ Technology we tested is Mercedes’ MBUX Superscreen: a wall of glass integrating a 10.25-inch digital instrument display, a 14.0-inch central touchscreen and another 14.0-inch display for the front passenger. There’s built-in ChatGPT voice assistance, intelligent navigation that plans charging stops, and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity. It’s all fairly easy to use, but you are very dependent on the screen, where you will find the air-con and heating controls, plus just about every other function available.

It’s worth noting that the Superscreen is only available on AMG Line Premium and AMG Line Premium Plus versions of both the CLA EV and hybrid. Otherwise, you get the same 10.25-inch driver’s display and 14.0-inch central screen, so it’s not like you wikk uncover a cassette player and a corded telephone.

Touch-sensitive pads on the steering wheel are fairly helpful for hopping between icons on the screen, and the graphics and response times are very good. We’d say the systems in a BMW i4, Kia EV6, Alpine A390 or Hyundai Ioniq 6 are all easier to use, but with a bit of familiarity, the Mercedes’ infotainment is straightforward to live with. The inclusion of a selfie camera might divide opinion, but the CLA feels very modern and tech-focussed: a new era of Mercedes-Benz that is deliberately targeted at a younger audience.

Equipment levels for the CLA are pretty generous. Even the entry-level Sport Edition includes a panoramic roof, heated front seats, adaptive high-beam headlights, a parking camera, and the aforementioned 10.25-inch driver display and 14.0-inch MBUX touchscreen infotainment system.

Step up to the AMG Line trim and you get racier body styling, sport seats, 64-colour ambient interior lighting and wireless phone charging. The AMG Line Premium Edition tops things off with 19-inch alloys, multi-beam adaptive LED lights and a ‘Night Package’ featuring 142 individual illuminated stars in the grille. It’s a neat party trick that does look cool at night. although we'd hate to think about how much it will cost to repair after a front-end shunt…

Mercedes-Benz CLA running costs

The electric Mercedes-Benz CLA is competitively priced next to rivals such as the Tesla Model 3, Polestar 2 and Hyundai Ioniq 6, and it drastically undercuts the BMW i4. While others offer cheaper monthly PCP and leasing deals, the Mercedes still feels like decent value given its equipment, technology, range and brand swagger. It should also prove to be one of the more efficient electric cars to run – and therefore one of the best when it comes to electricity costs.

The hybrid Mercedes CLA’s pricing looks a bit punchy next to alternatives like the Audi A3 saloon, but it undercuts bigger executive saloons such as the BMW 3 Series. It’ll cost you more to fuel than the EV, but if plugging in isn’t possible where you live, it provides the best real-world solution. All versions will manage more than 50mpg in official tests.

Servicing intervals are every 12 months or 10,000 miles, and Mercedes-Benz offers pre-paid service plans, although they’re not cheap. Depreciation should be gentle by EV standards, given the badge appeal and the CLA’s outstanding range. It shouldn’t be a massive issue with hybrid models, either.

Mercedes-Benz CLA reliability

Mercedes offers a three-year, unlimited-mileage warranty on all of its new cars, plus eight years or 100,000 miles for the high-voltage lithium-ion NMC battery in the electric CLA (the batteries in the hybrid are covered for the same length of time). That’s pretty standard for many car brands, but it’s worth pointing out that Tesla, Lexus, Kia and Hyundai all offer much longer standard warranties. You can pay for an extended warranty via Mercedes, though, and you get three years of roadside assistance as standard.

It’s too soon to know how reliable this car will be in the long-term, but Mercedes as a brand came 22nd out of 31 manufacturers in the What Car? 2025 Used Car Reliability survey. That is way below BMW, Tesla, Kia and Hyundai, but tied with Audi.