Mercedes CLA and GLA plug-ins revealed

• • PHEV powertrain with 215bhp
• •Electric range of 40-43 miles
• •On sale in the UK this spring

The Mercedes CLA Coupe, CLA Shooting Brake estate and GLA SUV will all be getting plug-in hybrid 'EQ Power', slashing CO2 emissions and improving fuel economy. All three models will go on sale in the UK this spring, with first deliveries a few weeks later.

All three plug-in hybrid models use a 1.3-litre four-cylinder petrol engine, electric motor and 15.6kWh water-cooled lithium-ion battery, which combine to provide 215bhp. The same plug-in hybrid (PHEV) powertrain is already available in the Mercedes A 250 e hatchback and comes with an eight-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox as standard.

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Differing weights and shapes mean that performance and economy figures for the three cars vary slightly. The CLA Coupe 250 e gets from 0-62mph in 6.8 seconds and is capable of travelling up to 43 miles on electricity alone, boosting fuel-efficiency to 201.7mpg. Thanks to its sleek design, it's both the fastest and most economical of the trio.

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The Shooting Brake estate version adds 0.1 seconds to the benchmark sprint, while fuel economy ranges from 176.5-201.7mpg, with an electric range of 42 miles. Extra height and weight mean the GLA 250 e SUV is slightly slower, taking 7.1 seconds to get from 0-62mph, with an economy figure of 157-177mpg. Its electric range shrinks to 40 miles.

The battery of the plug-in hybrid powertrain can be charged from 10-80% in under two hours using a home 7.4kW wallbox charger. A public 24kW DC fast-charger can take it from 0-80% in just under half an hour.

Mercedes claims boot space in all three models is only slightly affected. The PHEVs will get sat nav that plans how to deploy electric power based on the route, using the battery during the most appropriate sections of the journey. Drivers can also opt to prioritise electric driving or save the battery charge for later and rely on the combustion engine.

Interested in a compact Mercedes? Read our in-depth Mercedes CLA Coupe, A-Class hatchback and GLA SUV reviews.