Battery sizes: 85 kWh
E-Rating™: A+
Max charge rate: 320kW
WLTP range: 484 miles
Introduction and model history - 2026 Mercedes CLA
Mercedes-Benz is revolutionising its compact 'coupe-like saloon' - the CLA - by offering it in fully electric guise for the first time. Set to take on rivals like the Polestar 2, Tesla Model 3, BMW I4 and BYD Seal, the new, electric Mercedes CLA isn’t holding back on the specification.
Base versions of the electric Merc CLA, which we will get first in the UK, will feature rear-wheel drive and one motor, with a 85kWh battery. Later models are set to get a smaller 58kWh battery, with higher spec models gaining a 4Matic four-wheel drive with a decoupling front motor. A two-speed gearbox, 800 Volt technology, intelligent brake regeneration, a multi-source heat pump and up to 320kW DC charging power is technology derived from Mercedes-Benz’s record-breaking Vision EQXX concept car.
Range, battery and charging
This CLA 250+ with EQ Technology has an 85 kWh battery feeding a 272 hp electric motor on the back wheels. In the CLA it’s all about efficiency. As a result, the Merc has an official consumption figure of 5.7 miles per kWh – that’s better than most small electric hatchbacks. It means the Sport Edition version of the CLA has a range of 484 miles. That’s enough for more than three weeks of driving for the average Brit.
These figures will inevitably shrink in the real world, especially if you opt for bigger wheels. But when I drove the car on mild day I was getting 4.8 miles per kWh on mixed roads. That's enough for more than 400 miles of real world range.
If you do get half way up the country and want to charge, the Merc can accept up to 320 kW, which means you can boost the range by over 200 miles of range in just 10 minutes. Compared to the obvious rivals, that’s a big deal. The BMW i4 has a 174 miles less range, and even a long range Tesla Model 3 will conk out 48 miles before the Benz. Neither of them can charge as fast either.
But - Mercedes has decided that you can currently only charge at 800v rapid points, and not use the 400v units which make up a large number of rapid chargers in the UK. That really limits your options. Now it may be that the massive range means you will rarely need to charge anywhere except on your driveway most of the time. You’ll be able to drive from London to Leeds and back without needing a top up, after all.
Mercedes really don’t think it’s a problem as the sat nav will only show you the compatible points. But this is a bit like saying you can only fill up your petrol car at Shell stations and thinking it’s not a problem. It is limiting your choice. And many of you will have bought Teslas precisely because it gives you the biggest number of opportunities to charge.There is a fix on the way, which means CLAs ordered after Spring 2026 in the UK will be able to use any charger. I’d say it’s worth the wait.
Practicality and boot space
Despite being a slinky, four-door coupe-saloon kinda thing, the CLA gets a useful 405-litres of boot space, which is more than you get in the ID.3, for instance, but isn't quite as big as the boot in the BMW i4 and Tesla Model 3. There’s a shooting brake style estate and an SUV version coming if you need a bit more space.
As for the space inside? Again, think decent accommodation that'll take four normally-proportioned adults - but only just. That swoopy roof line hurts the headroom and I couldn’t recommend it for anyone taller than my 5 foot 8. Or anyone shorter with big hair.
Watch out if you have big feet too. Even my size nines are a tight squeeze in the footwell, especially as there is nowhere to put them under the seat in front. Best to keep it for kids and make your tall mates take an Uber.
Interior, design/styling and technology
The interior of the new, 2026 Mercedes CLA is one of the really interesting things. You can really personalise the interior (which you certainly can't do with a Tesla or any other current executive car). There's about eight different seat finishes, and you can even choose from lots of different centre console finishes; there's a paper version with 'zen garden style' finish, or a wood finish, or pin stripes, or the aluminium finish of the car in our pictures is really lovely, too, if a bit more conventional.
And the screens? It's not three screens, it's the 'MBUX superscreen'. To the rest of us, that means that there are three massive screens, plus optional head-up display. The two central screens are your main focus, and they've got built-in ChatGPT, it'll do intelligent route planning factoring in charging times, and it is all really clever. Mind you, that voice control... Well, check out the video to see how responsive it was!
Plus, there's games, movie streaming, games console connectivity and more - as well as the usual wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. It's got everything you could ever think of wanting in your car. The fact that the interface is so much like a mobile phone is also good, as it is easy to use (and very configurable). Clever, eh?!
There are some irritations though - like Mercedes decided to copy the much-hated haptic buttons and switched windows from Volkswagen to save costs.
Motors, performance and handling
The CLA 250+ with EQ Technology I drove has an 85 kWh battery feeding a 272 hp electric motor on the back wheels. There’s nothing of note there. But the clever bit is that it has a gearbox. Electric motors are usually so efficient that they don’t need one, as they are flexible enough to have instant power as you move off and still be spinning efficiently at motorway speeds. But the Mercedes hails from a country where they like to go really fast on the autobahns, so they’ve added another gear so the motor to make it more efficient.
I know the Porsche Taycan has had the same for a few years, but that was mainly for the performance. In the CLA it’s more about efficiency. As a result, the Merc has an official consumption figure of 5.7 miles per kWh – that’s better than most small electric hatchbacks. You don’t have to change gears yourself of course, although that could be fun. The car decides when to swap the cog.
The performance? Well the CLA 250+ can accelerate from zero to 62 mph in 6.7 seconds and has an unusually high top speed of 130 mph, which might be important if you visit Germany or want to keep up with traffic on that long stretch of the M40 where everyone seems to do 120mph.
Running costs and pricing
The CLA 250+ with EQ Technology Sport Edition starts from £45,615. A Tesla Model 3 Long Range rear wheel drive is £44,990, and the larger BMW i4 is more expensive at around £52,000. The posher AMG Line is from £49,375 and the Premium Edition is £51,770. First customer deliveries are expected in Autumn 2025.
Verdict
It’s clear that Mercedes-Benz is aiming to take a sizeable chunk of the smaller, premium electric car marketplace - and it looks like it could do that quite convincingly, too. The CLA loads up a lot of innovate, efficiency-enhancing technology to deliver a useful potential range, allied with the possibility of rapid charging, too. And that styling and interior? Blimey, it's lovely, and really does feel like a much more premium prospect even than a Polestar 2 - never mind a Tesla Model 3.
But we'd suggest waiting until after Spring 2026 so you get the car which is able to use any charger
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