2026 Mercedes-Benz Electric CLA: 792 km WLTP Range and 320 kW Charging

The Mercedes-Benz CLA with EQ Technology is the electric version of the brand's four-door coupe, unveiled in Rome on 13 March 2025 as the first model of a completely new vehicle family. Mercedes says it is the first car to run entirely on its in-house MB.OS software platform, and its CLA 250+ and CLA 350 4MATIC launch models pair an 800-volt architecture with an 85 kWh usable NMC battery for up to 792 km of WLTP range and DC fast charging at up to 320 kW. The rear-drive CLA 250+ makes 200 kW (272 PS / 268 hp) and was listed from €55,858.60 in Germany at order opening, while the dual-motor CLA 350 4MATIC makes 260 kW (354 PS / 349 hp) and started at €60,380.60. A CLA Shooting Brake wagon joined the range when European orders opened on 25 November 2025, and the car was named European Car of the Year 2026 and earned five stars from Euro NCAP. The tri-motor Mercedes-AMG CLA 45 4MATIC+ is a separate, much more powerful model and has its own article; this one covers the standard electric CLA in sedan and Shooting Brake form.

Performance & Specs

Every electric CLA is driven primarily through the rear axle. Mercedes developed the permanent-magnet synchronous motor in-house, derived from the unit in the VISION EQXX concept, and quotes an efficiency of 93 percent from battery to wheel on long-distance driving. The motor works with a two-speed gearbox: a short 11:1 first gear for launch, towing and city efficiency, and a 5:1 second gear for motorway cruising and top speed. In the CLA 250+ the motor delivers 200 kW (272 PS, about 268 hp) and 335 Nm, good for 0–100 km/h in 6.7 seconds. The CLA 350 4MATIC adds an 80 kW (about 107 hp) permanent-magnet motor on the front axle that acts as a boost drive and can be disconnected for efficiency; together the two motors give a system peak of 260 kW (354 PS, about 349 hp) and 515 Nm, and the sprint drops to 4.9 seconds. Both versions are electronically limited to 210 km/h. Mercedes quotes a drag coefficient from 0.21, regenerative braking of up to 200 kW through a one-box brake system, and kerb weights of 2,055 kg (CLA 250+) and 2,135 kg (CLA 350 4MATIC). With the optional part-electric tow bar, the electric CLA can pull up to 1.8 tonnes braked. Below the two launch models, Mercedes also sells a CLA 200 with a 165 kW (224 PS, about 221 hp) motor, a smaller 58 kWh LFP battery, up to 541 km of WLTP range and a 7.5-second 0–100 km/h time, plus a CLA 250 with the same 200 kW output as the 250+ but a 71 kWh battery and up to 674 km of range.

Powertrain	Single rear motor RWD BEV, two-speed gearbox
Power	200 kW (272 PS / 268 hp)
Torque	335 Nm
0–100 km/h	6.7 s
Battery	85 kWh usable (NMC)
Range	up to 792 km (WLTP)

Dimensions & Practicality

Length	4,723 mm
Width	1,855 mm (2,021 mm with mirrors)
Height	1,468 mm
Wheelbase	2,790 mm
Boot / frunk	405 L / 101 L

The electric CLA sedan is 4,723 mm long, 35 mm longer than the previous CLA, and its wheelbase grew by 61 mm to 2,790 mm. Mercedes quotes 11 mm more front legroom, plus 16 mm more headroom in the front and 28 mm in the rear, helped by a higher roofline and the standard panoramic glass roof. The rear boot holds 405 litres (VDA), and the electric CLA adds a 101-litre front trunk under the bonnet, which Mercedes describes as its first frunk on a modern car and big enough for a cabin trolley or a crate of bottles. The CLA Shooting Brake keeps the same 2,790 mm wheelbase and 4,723 mm length but stands 1,469 mm tall and offers 455 litres of boot space, growing to 1,290 litres with the 40:20:40 rear seats folded, plus the same 101-litre frunk. Its roof carries up to 75 kg and trailer loads reach 1,500 kg for the rear-drive model and 1,800 kg for the 4MATIC, and rear headroom is 26 mm better than in the sedan. In its review, electrive found the rear seats cramped and interior storage for small items limited, so the extra space is mostly in the boot rather than the back seat.

Charging & Battery

Both launch models use the same 85 kWh usable lithium-ion battery with nickel-manganese-cobalt chemistry and silicon oxide in the anode, built from four large cell modules in a flat housing. Combined with the 800-volt system it supports DC charging at up to 320 kW. Mercedes quotes 22 minutes for 10–80 percent on a 500-amp charger, and says ten minutes at the plug adds 285–325 km of WLTP range in the CLA 250+ and 275–315 km in the CLA 350 4MATIC. In electrive's test the CLA 250+ peaked at 305 kW and went from 6 to 82 percent in 23 minutes 25 seconds. WLTP consumption is 12.2–14.1 kWh/100 km for the CLA 250+ and 12.5–14.7 kWh/100 km for the 350, but electrive's test, run at around 10 °C on winter tyres, averaged 17–18 kWh/100 km over short trips, country roads and motorway stretches, which works out to roughly 485 km on a full charge. AC charging is rated at 11 kW, about nine hours from 10 to 100 percent. At launch electrive reported that the sedan cannot fast-charge at 400-volt stations, while Mercedes lists an optional DC converter for 400-volt infrastructure on the Shooting Brake. Mercedes guarantees the battery to keep at least 70 percent of its capacity for eight years or 160,000 km, and says the car is prepared for bidirectional charging (vehicle-to-home and vehicle-to-grid) through a later over-the-air update, subject to local rules.

Design & Interior

The electric CLA introduces a shark-nose front with an illuminated grille panel that carries 142 chrome-look stars around the central star, plus star-shaped daytime running lights when the optional MULTIBEAM LED headlights are fitted. The silhouette is a flowing fastback with a long wheelbase, short overhangs, a GT-style tail and a full-width tail-light band, and the frameless doors can be paired with optional flush pop-out handles. Wheels range from 17 to 19 inches in ten designs, and the front and rear track measure 1,605 and 1,574 mm. Every car arrives in Progressive Line trim with comfort seats in ARTICO faux leather and fabric, heated front seats with four-way lumbar support, single-zone THERMATIC climate control, four 100 W USB-C ports and a panoramic roof as standard. AMG Line and AMG Line Plus packages add sportier bumpers, larger wheels and interior sport accents, and the press photos shown here use those packages. The cabin design takes its cue from a Zen garden, with a floating two-level centre console, door panels that appear to hover, and optional ambient lighting. Mercedes says the CLA's carbon footprint across the value chain is 40 percent lower than that of its non-electrified predecessor, and the floor covering is made from Econyl yarn that is 100 percent recycled material.

Technology & Features

The CLA is the first Mercedes that runs entirely on MB.OS, with a central supercomputer connected to the Mercedes-Benz Intelligent Cloud for regular over-the-air updates, including driver-assistance functions. The fourth-generation MBUX interface is built on real-time Unity graphics, and its virtual assistant draws on ChatGPT-4o with Microsoft Bing search and on Google Gemini, which Mercedes presents as the first infotainment system to integrate AI from both companies. Navigation is based on Google Maps with Mercedes Electric Intelligence, which plans routes including charging stops and preconditions the battery before a fast charge. The optional MBUX Superscreen combines a 10.25-inch driver display with a 14-inch central touchscreen and an optional 14-inch passenger screen, and the MBUX Zero Layer shows suggestions and recently used apps on the main display. A Burmester 3D surround sound system with 16 speakers and 850 watts is available, apps such as Disney+ can run on the passenger screen, and the MB.CHARGE Public service gives access to a large public charging network with a single contract. The Shooting Brake's updated steering wheel also brings back the rocker and roller controls that many customers asked for, replacing some touch-sensitive surfaces.

Safety & ADAS

Euro NCAP awarded the electric CLA five stars and named it the Best Performer of 2025, with 94 percent for adult occupant protection and 89 percent for child occupant protection. Mercedes fits a centre airbag between the front seats as standard, which it says is a first in this class, and the battery housing is built into the crash structure with spaced cells and an early-warning sensor that also monitors the pack while parked. Standard equipment in Europe includes the DISTRONIC distance assistant. The optional MB.DRIVE ASSIST adds steering assistance for an SAE Level 2 system and a lane-change assistant that moves the car over with a tap of the indicator, while MB.DRIVE PARKING ASSIST detects spaces on both sides of the road and an optional 360-degree package adds a surround view.

Available Versions

Pricing & Availability

Mercedes opened orders for the CLA 250+ and CLA 350 4MATIC on 29 April 2025 in Germany and other European markets, with German list prices (including 19 percent VAT, excluding delivery) of €55,858.60 and €60,380.60, and says the electric CLA has been available in Europe since mid-2025. The Shooting Brake followed on 25 November 2025 from €57,096 (CLA 250+) and €61,653 (CLA 350 4MATIC). The entry CLA 200 lists from €49,421, and Mercedes' German site showed a promotional price of €46,950 for it in October 2026. Later reports put the two launch sedans a little lower: electrive quoted €55,727.70 for the CLA 250+ in April 2026 and Autobild listed €55,728 and €60,285 in October 2026, so the launch figures above may no longer match the current list exactly. In the United States the 2027 CLA 250+ with EQ Technology starts at $47,950 and the CLA 350 4MATIC at $50,500 (MSRP before destination), according to Mercedes-Benz USA; the 2026 launch prices were $47,250 and $49,800, with EPA ranges of up to 374 miles and 312 miles. In Israel, importer Colmobil's price list for the CLA EQ, checked in October 2026, runs from ₪309,900 for the CLA 200 Icon to ₪479,900 for the CLA 350 4Matic Signature AMG Line, with a ₪3,899–5,499 registration fee on top. The CLA 250 Plus costs ₪379,900 in Elite, ₪409,900 in Elite AMG Line, ₪429,900 in Signature and ₪449,900 in Signature AMG Line trim, while the CLA 350 4Matic costs ₪419,900 in Elite and ₪449,900 in Signature trim. Israeli coverage at the November 2025 launch quoted prices from about ₪300,000, so the current list is higher.

How It Compares

The CLA's real European competition is other premium electric sedans, but freshmotors' own catalog is almost entirely Chinese, so the useful contrast here is value. The ZEEKR 007 offers 416 hp at $30,974 (RMB 209,900 at its December 2023 launch), which is closer to the 349 hp CLA 350 4MATIC in output than to the CLA 250+ while costing far less in its home market, and the 2026 IM L6 Max lists 329 hp (245 kW) and 725 km for about $29,750 (RMB 199,900). Those range figures use China's more generous CLTC test cycle and are not directly comparable with Mercedes' WLTP numbers, and the prices are for the Chinese market, so neither car is a like-for-like cross-shop with a CLA bought in Europe. What the Mercedes offers instead is a premium badge, 320 kW charging backed by an 800-volt system, a five-star Euro NCAP result, and the choice of a wagon body that neither of the two Chinese sedans provides.