Finally, after plenty of fanfare, the game-changing Mercedes-Benz CLA is here. Featuring a barrage of new technology, both inside and out, it begins a new family of electric and hybrid models. Billed as ‘The most emotional and efficient, intuitive and intelligent Mercedes-Benz ever’, it certainly has a lot to live up to but it should leave the likes of Tesla and Audi quaking in their boots.
Effortless to Live With (In Theory)
There are two models at launch: the 250+ and the 350 4MATIC, both of which are all-electric. It’s the former that will dominate the headlines, featuring a range of up to 491 miles. The CLA 350 is instead positioned as the performance version at the top of the model range, with 349bhp (81 more than the base model) and a 0-62mph time of 4.9 seconds.
Both models feature an 800-volt architecture that allows for charging speeds of up to 320kW. In practice, this means the CLA 250+ can garner up to 202 miles of range in just 10 minutes. The new battery generation also reduces the carbon footprint by 30% per cell, in comparison to previous generations.
If all-electric is still a no-go, there will be the option of a hybrid with 48-volt technology and an electric motor integrated into the transmission. It will be available with a choice of three levels of dynamism and front-wheel drive or 4MATIC all-wheel drive.
Efficiency Doesn’t Come at the Expense of Style
A particularly slippery drag coefficient of 0.21 contributes to the impressive range of both CLA EVs. The muscular design features short overhangs and muscular shoulders.
The front features a lightbar and more stars than the sky at night (although that’s not saying much these days), which fortunately all light up, in case anyone didn’t know it was a Mercedes. The rear looks copied and pasted from the CLE, with a lightbar running the full width and a clean design.
There’s more to the impressive ‘one-litre’ efficiency than the design. The two-speed gearbox enables instant acceleration and efficiency around town, while the second gear is targeted towards higher speeds and motorway cruising.
The new heat pump offers more efficient pre-conditioning, using ambient air as well as waste heat from the battery and drivetrain.
All-in on Luxury and Technology
The interior of the new Mercedes-Benz CLA represents a move upmarket for the model. Fitted with a panoramic roof as standard, premium materials feature throughout – with the options of open-pore wood, brushed aluminium and a new seat upholstery with a pearl effect. Is it too late to cancel that EQE order?
There’s a floating centre console, featuring cup holders and a wireless charger, while the door centre panels are clad in leather and also seem to float.
Screens dominate the cabin of the new CLA, as the driver gets a 10.25-inch display which is paired with a large 14-inch central display. More impressively, there’s the option of the MBUX Superscreen which adds a 14-inch display for the passengers – meaning the dashboard is entirely covered by screens when optioned with it.
Wait, There’s Even More Technology?
The new CLA is the first Merc to use the new Mercedes-Benz Operating System (MB.OS), which is connected to the Mercedes-Benz Intelligent Cloud. This enables regular over-the-air updates, and it also marks the start of the fourth MBUX generation.
This new generation features AI from both Microsoft and Google, and a Virtual Assistant that harnesses the power of ChatGPT (nothing can escape its clutches) and Bing to answer any questions that a CLA owner may have.
Technophobes may be overwhelmed by the sheer size of the screens, but Mercedes has ensured that the CLA’s features won’t drown in complexity. The MBUX Zero Layer on the central display shows the most important information and recently used apps, while apps can be moved and grouped like on a smartphone. Additionally, it takes just two swipes, or a prod of the home button, to return to the Zero Layer.
They really have thought of it all, haven’t they?
