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Last Updated on: 14th March 2025, 12:15 am
You may not notice the difference between the new Mercedes CLA and the prior version; they look pretty similar to the eye. But beneath the sheet metal, the third generation car shares almost no parts with its predecessor. According to Jalopnik, the new CLA is built on the modular MMA platform developed by Mercedes to accommodate both fully electric and hybrid powertrains, but with the primary emphasis on battery electric versions. It incorporates many of the features of the Mercedes EQXX, which means the goal was maximum efficiency. That begins with 800 volt architecture for faster charging and longer range, and a two speed transmission — something only offered in the Porsche Taycan until now.
Mercedes says, “First gear enables excellent acceleration from a standing start, a high towing capacity and plenty of efficiency in city traffic. Second gear is designed for power delivery at high speeds and for high efficiency on the motorway. It ensures excellent range and comfort on long journeys.” For long-distance driving, Mercedes claims a 93% efficiency rate from the battery to the wheel. It also says the towing capacity is 1.8 tons.
The result is a car that, when equipped with the larger of two available batteries and a single electric motor driving the rear wheels, has a range of up to 792 kilometers in the WLTP combined cycle. That, dear readers, is 492 miles, and, yeah, we get it — WLTP is not EPA, so in the US, the range quoted will be less. How much less? Inside EVs says, on average and including a little Kentucky windage, subtract 22 percent, meaning the EPA range will be more like 390 miles. No matter how you slice it and dice it, the battery electric CLA has one of the longest range EVs you can buy (with the exception of the Lucid Air). Does it cost more than a Tesla Model Y? Yes it does, about $10,000 more, but being able to charge at up to 320 kW of power and having all the engineering goodness Mercedes is known for just might be worth it.
Electrive says the electric version of the CLA (the company will also sell a mild hybrid version with a turbocharged 4 cylinder engine) will be offered with two batteries — 58 kWh with LFP cells and 85 kWh with NMC cathode and silicon oxide admixture in the anode graphite. Mercedes developed the electric motor for the rear axle in-house and equipped it with a two-speed transmission to increase efficiency and better range. The all-wheel-drive version adds an electric motor sourced from an outside supplier at the front. Mercedes says the software package for the car is completely new. The AWD package reduces range only slightly, to 771 km thanks to a decoupler unit that allows the front motor to be switched on or off in fractions of a second, thus achieving a balance between efficiency and dynamics.
Regenerative braking is controlled by the transmission mode selector lever. Moving it backwards increases the amount of regen. Pushing it forward reduces it. There are four levels to choose from — ‘D Auto’ (intelligent recuperation), ‘D+’ (no recuperation/coasting), ‘D’ (standard recuperation up to 1 m/s2), and ‘D-’ (increased recuperation up to 3 m/s2). For reasons of efficiency, almost all braking is done entirely by the regen system, and Mercedes says regen works with ABS and on slippery road surfaces.
The New Mercedes CLA
The new CLA is the first Mercedes to have a multi-source heat pump as standard. This air-side heat pump no longer takes a detour via a water circuit and can also use three energy sources in parallel: the waste heat from the electric drive, the battery, and the ambient air. “By using this ‘free’ heat, the air-to-air heat pump contributes to the high efficiency of the CLA. It requires about a third of the electrical energy that a comparable auxiliary heater would need for the same output,” Mercedes says.
A focus of the 800 volt technology is fast charging. In conjunction with the new battery generation with silicon in the anode, charging times should be reduced “significantly,” the company says. The rear-wheel-drive CLA 250+ should add 325 km in ten minutes, while the all-wheel-drive CLA 350 4MATIC should be able to add 315 km in 10 minutes. Mercedes guarantees that the battery will retain 70 percent of its capacity for 8 years and 160,000 km.
On the inside, passengers will find two screens — an instrumentation screen in front of the driver and a center-mounted touchscreen. A third screen in front of the passenger is optional. “Developed as part of the Google and Mercedes-Benz partnership, the navigation solution in the CLA is one of the first systems to integrate Google Cloud’s new Automotive AI Agent for in-vehicle use with Google Maps,” says Mercedes. The navigation system with “Electric Intelligence” is designed to plan “the fastest and most comfortable route, including charging stops, based on numerous factors.” It will also take into account traffic jams or a change in driving style. Mercedes even wants to include the predicted wind conditions along the route. In addition, data on topography, route, ambient temperature, speed, heating, and cooling requirements will be taken into account.
The CLA is also V2G and V2H capable when “connected to a compatible bidirectional DC charging station.” Don’t try that with your Tesla! The bidirectional charging function will be available at a later date after the market launch with the help of an over-the-air update. “The use of bidirectional charging may be subject to market-specific conditions with regard to legislation and the requirements of energy suppliers,” says Mercedes.
New Inside & Out
The new CLA offers its passengers more space with more headroom and legroom in front and slightly less room in the back. Since an electric motor, including power electronics and the two-speed transmission, is now located under the trunk, the carrying capacity is reduced at the rear, but a 2.5 cu. ft. frunk makes up for some or the loss. As a major distinguishing feature, the CLA has a black panel at the front with illuminated Mercedes stars, “which reinterprets the classic chrome grille.” The illuminated radiator grille welcomes and bids farewell to the driver with various animations. Depending on the country-specific legal regulations, the central star is also fully or partially illuminated. In the USA, Canada, China and the Gulf States, the central star is fully illuminated. “In Western Europe and the ECE, as well as the rest of the world, the central star is partially illuminated (without the ring), while in South Korea and Taiwan, illumination is not allowed,” the company says.
The rear LEDs are also integrated into the animated welcome and farewell scenarios. And here, too, the brand emphasizes its heritage: “As is usual for sporty Mercedes-Benz vehicles, the licence plate is located in the bumper.” However, the rear diffuser is available in two variants, depending on whether the car is equipped with the semi-electric trailer coupling. There are also ten wheel designs to choose from that vary in size between 17 and 19 inches.
The change in design is more pronounced in the interior. “Instead of the previous sculpted automotive design, there is a new design concept that follows the principle of reduction to the essentials. It puts the basic body in the background and focuses on a few iconic high-tech elements. This radical reduction characterizes the avant garde style of the interior,” says Mercedes. The interior is characterized by the optional “MBUX Superscreen,” which extends across the entire width of the car. There is also a panoramic glass roof that blends seamlessly into the rear window. It features a coating that absorbs infrared light to keep passengers from baking on sunny days.
Overall, the Stuttgart-based company emphasized how “modern luxury” has been reimagined. A lot of recycled materials were used, but without affecting the overall luxurious feel of the interior. Mercedes will continue to offer many customization options in terms of colors and materials, which will allow buyers to tailor the CLA to their personal tastes while other manufacturers are moving towards a simpler product structure and pre-configured equipment packages.
Writing for Jalopnik, Daniel Golson sums up the new CLA this way: “In addition to being even more slippery, the new CLA’s design looks really damn good as well. I’ve always been a fan of the CLA, but the new one is certainly Mercedes’ best effort yet and a major step up from the outgoing CLA in terms of proportions, details and overall premium look and feel.” Mercedes’ early attempts at electric cars have failed to attract buyers in sufficient numbers. But rather than throw up their hands in disgust, Mercedes has gone back to the drawing board and this time they seem to have gotten their sums right. The new CLA EV just may be the electric car people have been waiting for. Deliveries in the US are expected to begin mid-year. Although, bone headed tariffs could interrupt or even cancel those plans.
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