Mercedes-Benz CLA

The new CLA is longer, wider, and taller than the current model. LED light bars run across the front and rear. Unlike the egg-shaped EQE and EQS, the CLA has a more traditional sedan profile. But it comes with retractable exterior door handles, which add a potentially frustrating point of failure. Special editions, including the Night Package and AMG Line, change the color and amount of exterior trim.

Mercedes says the hybrid and EV models will be nearly indistinguishable. The only real difference is that the hybrid model will get a traditional grille trimmed in chrome, while the EV will have a more futuristic LED-laden front end.

EVs will have a small “frunk” front trunk under the hood, a feature that current Mercedes EVs lack.

The interior is dominated by an evolution of the multiscreen concept that Mercedes has been using for about five years now. There are only a few physical controls—most tasks will require swiping and tapping. The CLA appears to use the same complex touch-sensitive steering wheel controls that we’ve found maddening in other recent Mercedes vehicles. Overall, we fear that the setup will be distracting and take a driver’s eyes off the road for too long. A Superscreen that includes a touchscreen for the front passenger is optional.

Every CLA gets a fixed glass sunroof that spans the entire length of the vehicle’s roof. There’s no physical shade to block light from coming in, but Mercedes says it’s covered in a film that blocks heat and glare.

The company says the CLA will include several AI-powered systems, including an audio app featuring virtual DJs you can interact with.

Mercedes says the CLA was designed from the beginning to be an electric vehicle. The all-electric CLA with EQ Technology goes on sale first, and we know the most about it so far. It’s an all-electric design that comes with both a J1772 charging port for Level 2 charging and a NACS port for DC fast charging.

The CLA 250+ with EQ Technology is a rear-wheel drive version with 268 horsepower that the automaker says can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in 6.6 seconds. The all-wheel-drive CLA 350 4Matic with EQ Technology gets a second electric motor and is good for 349 horsepower and a 4.8-second 0-to-60-mph sprint.

Mercedes says that the CLA 250+ will get up to 492 miles on a charge and the CLA 350 4Matic will get up to 479. But those numbers come from an optimistic range test protocol that’s not used in the U.S. We expect the real-world range to be closer to 350 miles, which is still extremely impressive. The CLA is built on an 800-volt architecture, which allows for a seriously quick 320 kW maximum DC fast-charging rate. On paper, it could be among the fastest-charging EVs on the market.

Every electric CLA gets an 85-kWh lithium-ion battery and bidirectional charging capabilities. In other words, it can provide a battery backup for your house when the power goes out.

One cool feature -- Drivers will be able to reserve a spot ahead of time at Mercedes-operated EV charging stations. We can see this reservation concept rolling out across other EV charging networks. MB.OS can also plan charging stops along a navigation route using Google Maps.

The hybrid CLA goes on sale later. It has a new 48-volt hybrid setup that combines a 1.3-kWh battery, an electric motor, a 1.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine, and regenerative braking for improved fuel efficiency and electric-only driving at city speeds. The eight-speed dual-clutch transmission and electric motor are integrated into a single unit, which Mercedes calls eDCT. More information about the hybrid—such as total system horsepower and fuel economy numbers—will be available closer to when it goes on sale.

The CLA gets eight cameras, five radar sensors, and 12 ultrasonic sensors that power all the usual active safety features. It also comes standard with adaptive cruise control. Buyers can opt for lane centering assistance, automatic lane changing, surround-view cameras, and parking assistance. We will be sure to evaluate these features in our extensive tests of advanced driver assistance systems.

Perhaps the most interesting feature is the ability to remotely update active safety and driving assistance software, the same way that Tesla sends out software updates for its Autopilot system. That way, tomorrow’s drivers aren’t stuck with software that’s state of the art for 2026. But we would be surprised if these updates are free.