Is the Mercedes CLA the EV That Changes Everything? 500 Miles Says Yes.

The all-new Mercedes Benz CLA has arrived, and it’s making waves as an all-electric vehicle that promises to address many of the common concerns around EVs. From incredible range and rapid charging to a surprisingly competitive price, this sleek saloon might just be the smartest electric car Mercedes has ever built. In this review, we’ll explore everything from its design and interior to its cutting-edge technology and driving experience, helping you decide if the CLA is more than just a pretty face on the road.

Breaking Away from the Past: Mercedes’ Electric Leap

Mercedes’ launch of the new CLA in Copenhagen is fitting, drawing a parallel with the city’s famous Little Mermaid. Just as she gave up everything to embrace an uncertain future, Mercedes is boldly moving away from combustion engines toward electrification—seeking a future that’s still unfolding. Their previous EQ electric models, like the EQE, EQS, and EQA, didn’t quite ignite the market, but this new CLA feels like a fresh start that could win over drivers.

Range, Charging, and Price: The Numbers That Impress

The CLA will be available as both a hybrid and a full electric vehicle, with the EV version starting at around £45,000. For that price, you get an enormous 85.5 kWh battery, delivering a remarkable range of nearly 484 miles. Even more impressive is the 320 kW charging capability, allowing you to add 200 miles of range in just 10 minutes. These figures suggest that the CLA could outmatch many petrol equivalents, especially for long-distance drivers.

Sleek Yet Subtle Design with Aerodynamic Excellence

At first glance, the CLA doesn’t dramatically deviate from the familiar silhouette of the regular CLA, sporting a subtle facelift rather than a radical redesign. However, beneath the surface, it’s built on Mercedes’ new MMA platform designed specifically for electric and hybrid models. One standout feature is its aerodynamic efficiency—the most in its class—with a drag coefficient of just 0.21.

The front end is notably smooth, featuring a grille embedded with 142 individually backlit Mercedes LED stars that animate, alongside multiple three-pointed star emblems integrated into the lighting design. If you’re a fan of Mercedes’ iconic star motif, this car certainly doubles down on that theme, including stylish light bars across both the front and rear.

Practicality and Storage: A Mixed Bag

Though the CLA is a saloon rather than a hatchback, it offers a respectable 405 liters of boot space. The rear seats fold down to accommodate longer items, and for those who need more, Mercedes is developing an estate version for added convenience.

One of the most generous storage features is the front boot (or “frunk”), which provides over 100 liters of space—perfect for storing charging cables or smaller shopping bags. Interestingly, even the hybrid version will include a front trunk despite having an internal combustion engine, which is an uncommon but welcome addition.

Rear Seat Comfort: Stylish but Slightly Cramped

The rear interior impresses visually with white leather, red stitching, and Alcantara accents, complemented by sporty red seatbelt details. However, rear passengers may find the seating position a bit uncomfortable. The battery placement means the seats sit low, forcing legs to angle upwards, creating a somewhat curled-up posture that feels more like a yoga pose than a relaxed ride.

Another common gripe is the middle rear seat, which remains uncomfortably hard compared to the outer seats—a small but notable inconvenience.

Additional rear amenities include sleek air vents, two USB ports, and a center armrest with cup holders and a curious phone holder that’s awkward to use for watching media.

Interior Design and Features: A Premium Experience

Step inside, and the CLA’s cabin impresses with high-quality materials that feel far from the typical “lower-end Mercedes” experience. The seats are sporty yet comfortable, wrapped in a blend of Alcantara and white leather with striking red stitching. A standout innovation is the headrests, which don’t move up and down but instead extend in and out—a clever design that adds to the car’s premium feel.

The doors are lined with realistic-feeling faux leather and tasteful trim, while physical seat controls provide satisfying tactile feedback, a welcome change from the usual touch-sensitive panels.

The center console features a removable cup holder and ample storage space, including powerful USB ports capable of charging devices like laptops. There’s also a large wireless charging pad for phones.

Cutting-Edge Technology: Entertainment and AI Integration

The CLA boasts a 10-inch driver display and a 14-inch central infotainment screen, with an optional passenger display for movies and games. The interior is peppered with Mercedes’ signature star patterns, extending even to the trim for a unique aesthetic.

The car runs on Mercedes’ latest MBOS operating system with the MBUX user interface, offering a “zero layer” home screen focused on navigation and frequently used apps. Features include a 360-degree parking camera, Android Auto, Apple CarPlay (though it doesn’t fill the full screen), FM/DAB radio, Bluetooth, and customizable ambient lighting with multiple color options.

Additional tech highlights include a built-in Vivaldi web browser for online shopping and a quirky selfie mode that uses a front-facing camera to take pictures or videos of the driver.

Mercedes has also integrated AI assistants from Microsoft and Google, giving the CLA a kind of personality. You can ask the car questions, get local info, or request restaurant reviews. The system even shares interesting facts, like Copenhagen’s historical amusement park, Bakken.

Gaming on the Go

Gamers will appreciate the CLA’s powerful processor, capable of running cloud-based games via apps like Boosteroid. Titles such as Fortnite can be played on the car’s infotainment screens, controllable with a phone or Bluetooth controller. Impressively, the system can run two games simultaneously on separate screens, making it a mobile entertainment hub.

Driving Experience: Smooth, Refined, and Fun

The CLA delivers a remarkably refined and quiet ride, with suspension so plush it glides over Danish roads like a Rolls-Royce—despite using conventional springs and dampers rather than air suspension. Steering is light and easy to maneuver, with smooth accelerator and braking inputs that make driving effortless.

One interesting feature is the regenerative braking system, which offers different modes: normal, strong, intelligent, and none. Intelligent mode applies braking only when necessary, such as approaching a bend or a slower vehicle, while strong mode enables aggressive one-pedal driving, slowing the car down quickly when you lift off the accelerator.

The seats provide excellent support, holding occupants comfortably through corners. The Burmester sound system impresses with rich bass, clear midrange, and crisp treble, enhancing the driving atmosphere.

Performance and Handling

This rear-wheel-drive model with a single motor accelerates from 0 to 62 mph in about 6.7 seconds—not the fastest EV out there, but still nippy enough to enjoy. The acceleration is progressive and natural, avoiding the abrupt punch common in many electric cars. The car’s dynamic feel through corners puts a smile on your face, thanks to its responsive handling and rear-wheel-drive setup.

Unique Sound Experiences

Mercedes has added “sound experiences” to the CLA—customizable noises that play during acceleration and braking. My favorite was “Granular Fuzz,” which sounds futuristic and spaceship-like. Other options include “Serene Breeze,” offering a more subdued auditory backdrop.

Real-World Efficiency and Range

Efficiency is where the CLA really shines. On a mix of B roads (up to 60 mph) and town driving (around 30 mph), I achieved approximately 5.6 miles per kWh, which multiplied by the 85.5 kWh battery gives a real-world range of about 483 miles—virtually matching Mercedes’ claims.

On the motorway at a steady 70 mph, the car managed 4.7 miles per kWh, equating to just over 400 miles of range—still impressive and better than what the petrol CLA theoretically offers.

Charging: Fast but Not Quite as Advertised

Mercedes claims the CLA supports charging speeds up to 320 kW thanks to its 800-volt architecture. In testing, after preconditioning the battery and using a 400 kW charger, the peak charging rate reached around 256 kW, slightly below expectations.

This discrepancy could be due to charger infrastructure limitations or battery state-of-charge factors. Despite this, the car added roughly 160 miles of range in about 12 minutes at 173 kW charging speed, which is still very respectable.

Final Thoughts: A Phenomenal Step Forward

Overall, Mercedes has delivered a phenomenal electric car with the new CLA. It feels like their best EV yet, surpassing previous EQ models in comfort, refinement, drivability, efficiency, and price. The CLA is comfortable, easy to drive, and packed with next-level tech, making it a strong contender in the electric saloon market.

Bringing it full circle to the Little Mermaid’s story, Mercedes is dreaming of life as a true electric innovator—and with the CLA, it finally feels like they’ve found their legs.