New Mercedes CLA: full details and first ride in Merc’s next-gen EV

• All-new Mercedes CLA saloon
• Fully-electric, with hybrid model to follow later
• New EV tech promising 466 miles of range

The next-generation Mercedes CLA will soon be revealed, ushering in a new era of electric technology for the German brand. It promises more range, better efficiency and faster charging speeds than any electric Mercedes that’s come before, with the aim of dethroning Europe’s favourite executive EV, the Tesla Model 3.

Mercedes hasn’t turned away from combustion power entirely, though. As demand for electric cars in Europe has fallen short of industry expectations, Mercedes has decided to develop new petrol-hybrid engines for the CLA and future models. More details on that car will be revealed in due course, but for now, here’s what we know about the electric CLA. We’ve even had a quick ride in a prototype, which you can find out more about below.

What’s so important about the new Mercedes CLA?

We wouldn’t describe the outgoing Mercedes CLA as one of its mainstream models, but the new generation has an important job to do. It will be the first model to use Mercedes’ new ‘MMA’ platform, designed for both EVs and hybrid cars.

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This will serve as the building blocks for four new ‘entry luxury’ cars from the brand, starting with the CLA but also likely to include replacements for the GLA, GLB, EQA, EQB and CLA Shooting Brake. Those models make up a fair chunk of Mercedes sales, so the MMA architecture needs to impress.

On paper, things are off to a good start. It’s been designed with an EV-first approach, and the CLA will debut with a choice of 58kWh and 85kWh batteries. The latter is currently penciled to deliver up to 466 miles of range – a mighty figure that beats even the most efficient Mercedes EQS.

Efficiency is the key word here. Mercedes has set a target of around 5.2 miles/kWh for the new CLA, which would make it the most efficient EV on sale. A new two-speed automatic gearbox helps to optimise efficiency at high speeds, a bit like the Porsche Taycan. That’s backed up by cutting-edge charging speeds, too, which top out at 320kW. In testing, Mercedes managed to squeeze out 789 miles of range out of the CLA with just two 10 minute charging stops.

Performance figures haven’t been confirmed yet, but we know there will be both dual and single-motor models. The latter will use a 272bhp motor to power the rear wheels, and we suspect this model with the larger battery will achieve the most range. A 4Matic four-wheel drive model will add an extra 109bhp for the front wheels, probably bringing more speed at the expense of range.

What about the hybrid CLA?

We’re still largely in the dark when it comes to the hybrid CLA. Mercedes CEO Ola Källenius provided us with a few clues, claiming that the CLA would use “world-beating four-cylinder engines,” but performance and efficiency figures are still under wraps.

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He explained that Mercedes “will have the choice for consumers of electric vehicle, high-tech combustion and plug-in hybrid,” so we could see both mild hybrid and plug-in hybrid versions of the CLA.

New Mercedes CLA exterior and interior design

Mercedes previewed the design of the new CLA last year with the Concept CLA Class. The production model will sport similar sleek proportions, with a focus on aerodynamics to boost range.

Since we saw the concept, we’ve spied a few prototypes undergoing testing – including in an official video from Mercedes. The CLA’s sharp headlights are clearly visible, featuring daytime-running LEDs that mimic the famous Mercedes three-pointed star logo. Like the concept, the CLA is also to get a giant Mercedes badge at the centre of the front grille, along with flush door handles and a panoramic glass roof.

Concept car interiors are always on the whacky side, and Concept CLA Class was no exception. We expect the production model to tone things down somewhat, but still featuring a largely digital dashboard with the latest MBUX infotainment software.

How much will the new Mercedes CLA cost?

We can only estimate pricing for the new Mercedes CLA at the moment, but a starting figure of around £45,000 to £50,000 seems reasonable. That would position it above the Tesla Model 3 and Polestar 2, which will be the CLA’s key rivals when it hits the market next year. 

Hybrid models are expected to be cheaper, perhaps costing from under £40,000. For context, the outgoing CLA starts from just under £33,000.

New Mercedes CLA prototype ride – Richard Ingram

We were given the chance to go for a brief passenger ride in the new CLA in the Austrian Alps earlier this year. With temperatures hovering at around -15 degrees, it was hardly the ideal scenario for testing a new EV, but it left us with some good first impressions.

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On the move, it was clear that the CLA is a softer riding EV than the Polestar 2. That should translate well to our pitted UK roads, although we doubt it’ll be quite as fun to drive as a BMW i4. Project leader for the CLA, Oliver Zolke, describes it as “very sporty and agile”, but our test ride suggested that it leans more towards safety and security rather than outright fun.

Still, our dual-motor car had no trouble keeping up with the convoy of Mercedes-AMG models on a slippery road. There was little more than a shrug and a smile from Zolke when we pressed him about a future AMG-badged version of the CLA.

Mercedes has spent time refining the regenerative braking system for the new CLA, which has often been an area of weakness for its EVs. As far as we could tell, there was no hesitation when transitioning between the regeneration system and the friction brakes, and the strongest setting was able to bring the car to a complete stop on our slippery test road.

The interior of our prototype was entirely covered up, but we got the sense that it felt just as enclosed as the outgoing CLA. That was never a particularly roomy car, and little has changed for the new model, despite its marginally larger dimensions.

We’ll have to reserve full judgement for when we drive the new CLA ourselves, without its camouflage and hopefully with a bit more sunshine.

Find out about the longest-range electric cars currently on sale…