The recently unveiled Mercedes-Benz CLA has taken the title of Europe’s longest-range and most efficient electric vehicle.
Set to arrive later this year, the base model CLA 250+ featuring EQ Technology promises an impressive range of up to 492 miles per charge according to Mercedes. If driven solely on highways, however, it should still achieve approximately 431 miles on a single charge.
Even though it still needs official approval, these numbers suggest that the CLA EV will outperform every other electric car currently available in the UK market. This even puts it ahead of Mercedes' top model, the EQS 450+, which offers an impressive range of 481 miles using a 118 kWh battery but comes with a hefty price tag of £112,610—approximately £70,000 more than what is anticipated for the base model of the CLA EV.
The impressive range can be attributed to Mercedes' work on reducing the CLA EV's energy use; it features an NMC battery with a capacity of only 85 kWh made from nickel-manganese-cobalt.
This indicates that the CLA EV boasts an efficiency rate above 5.0 miles per kilowatt-hour, a metric that numerous producers view as crucial for advancing electric vehicles to the next stage.
PUNCHY BUT FRUGAL
The remarkable range of the CLA EV can largely be attributed to its aerodynamic design. Despite being bigger than its predecessor across all dimensions—25 millimetres wider, 25 millimetres higher, and 30 millimetres longer—a significant amount of effort was dedicated to reducing its frontal profile and ensuring smooth airflow over its body.
For instance, the wheels are positioned more towards the inside of the wheel arches compared to its predecessor. The small intakes on the front bumper (with matching exits at the back) direct airflow smoothly around each corner, minimally disrupted by the sleek, flat surfaces of the alloy wheels.
The attempts yield a low drag coefficient (Cd) of 0.21, slightly higher than the EQS at 0.20 but better than the Tesla Model 3 with a Cd of 0.22.
The newly installed rear-facing permanent magnet motor in the CLA EV significantly enhances its efficiency. This model features an advanced silicon-carbide inverter, which delivers higher performance within a more compact design, thereby decreasing overall weight. According to the engineering team, the torque density has been increased thanks to the arrangement of the magnets in a dual V-configuration, which intensifies their magnetic field.
The motor also gets a Porsche Taycan-style two-speed gearbox, rather than the usual single-speed reduction gearing. This has a short (11:1) first ratio for improved off-the-mark acceleration and better efficiency at town speeds and a significantly longer (5:1) second ratio for less consumption at a cruise.
The engine generates 268 horsepower, enabling the CLA 250+ to accelerate from 0 to 62 mph in 6.7 seconds.
The all-wheel-drive CLA 350 4Matic featuring EQ Technology includes an extra 107bhp engine paired with a single-speed transmission on the front axle, resulting in a total power output of 349bhp. This enhancement reduces its acceleration from zero to 62mph to just 4.9 seconds, outpacing the V8-powered C55 AMG from two decades past when it comes to speed in a straight line.
This additional motor is decoupled from the front axle when it isn’t needed, reducing energy losses to friction by 90%. This means the four-wheel-drive CLA EV can still manage 478 miles per charge – a smaller disparity compared with the rear-driven version than is typical of most other EVs.
Braking primarily relies on the motors’ regenerative effect (which can provide up to 200kW of stopping power), helping to keep the battery topped up.
The CLA EV can be rapid-charged at rates of up to 320kW, thanks to its 800V electrical architecture, allowing for a 186-mile top-up in just 10 minutes.
In addition to the 85kWh battery, a 58kWh lithium-iron-phosphate (LFP) pack will be added to the line- up shortly after launch.
This will almost certainly bring a significant price cut but also reduce the CLA EV’s range to around 300 miles.
can reveal that a hot AMG CLA 45 EV is inbound, too, with a pair of Yasa-developed axial flux motors providing more than 500bhp and a raft of extensive modifications aimed at bolstering its performance and dynamics.
ADVANCES IN COMBUSTION TOO
The new CLA will also be offered in hybrid form. Specifically designed to fit in the same space as the EV’s front motor, its powertrain pairs a new 1.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine with a small, 1.3kWh battery and a 27bhp electric motor. These combine to send either 134bhp or 161bhp through the front wheels or, in the range-topping 4Matic model, 188bhp to all four wheels.
Mercedes claims that the engine offers " diesel-like fuel efficiency," indicating an MPG figure well above 50.
In an effort towards equal pricing from Mercedes, CEO Ola Källenius has stated that the hybrid CLA model will now have a similar price tag as the CLA electric vehicle. These savings can be attributed to a reduction of approximately 30% in battery manufacturing costs, which consequently lowers the total expense of the electric version by about 15%.
With this in mind, the anticipated starting price is likely to fall within the £40,000 region. The electric vehicle version will hit the market initially, approximately in October, whereas the hybrid model will be launched several months after that.
Subscribing to the saloon lineup will be a fresh CLA Shooting Brake. Set to make an entrance into the British market in the initial months of the following year, this station wagon variant will offer both engine choices. Consequently, its debut is expected to occur during the September edition of the Munich Motor Show.
STAR-SPANGLED
For the first time, Mercedes will have the CLA hybrid and CLA EV looking nearly indistinguishable both internally and externally, while also sharing a model designation. This signals the conclusion of Mercedes' approach to developing completely separate electric vehicles intended to coexist with their gasoline-powered counterparts, like the E-Class and EQE models.
The CLA also introduces a strikingly fresh design aesthetic for upcoming Mercedes vehicles, highlighting the brand’s iconic three-pointed star emblem.
The design theme appears in both the CLA's headlamps and rear brake lamps. Additionally, the electric version includes a smooth front grill adorned with at least 142 illuminated stars. These encircle the primary front emblem, which emits light as well. However, in the US, the exterior rim of the logo illuminates too, though European regulations prohibit this feature here.
The distinctive feature of the CLA hybrid is its classic open grille, which is essential for supplying cool air to the engine.
NEW-LOOK INTERIOR
Inside, the updated CLA adopts a sportier aesthetic compared to its more opulent siblings. For instance, the front seats feature prominent side bolsters, and there are bolder material selections like a mix of black and white Alcantara paired with artificial leather adorned with red stitching.
The dashboard features an updated version of Mercedes' Superscreen, which includes three digital screens spanning its full width. There’s a 10.25-inch display for the instrument cluster positioned in front of the driver, a central 14.6-inch screen for entertainment purposes, and an optional additional 14-inch screen for passengers sitting up front.
Thanks to Mercedes' newest MB.OS operating system, the displays can now be utilized for playing video games like Fortnite during travel or streaming TV shows and movies through Netflix and similar platforms.
The system also includes the newest version of Mercedes' virtual assistant, combining multiple AI functionalities (such as ChatGPT, Google Gemini, and Microsoft Bing) to deliver more precise responses to queries.
In cars without the Superscreen, the passenger screen will be replaced with a glass panel with LED-backlit star logos, which match the interior’s ambient lighting.
Boot space is rated at 405 litres, which is 55 litres down in the old CLA’s but, in a first for a modern Mercedes, the EV gets a frunk that adds another 101 litres of storage space.
