Mercedes-Benz CLA Electric Review 2025: Prices, specs and verdict

What is the Mercedes-Benz CLA Electric?

The all-new version of Mercedes-Benz’s smallest saloon, launched first in fully electric form. Or, to give it it’s rather clunky full name, the Mercedes-Benz CLA with EQ Technology.

Although it might look like a facelift of the old CLA from the outside, this new model is a clean-sheet design that debuts tech set to be used across Mercedes-Benz’s small car range.

But why launch it with the CLA first, and not the more common A-Class? Well, the CLA’s slippery four-door coupe body shape is the best out there for aerodynamic efficiency, hence why the larger EQE and EQS electric saloons have a similarly curvy look.

Combining this svelte design with advanced new electric underpinnings has made the new CLA one of the longest-range electric cars on sale. Soon, we’ll also see a petrol hybrid version, and a more practical CLA Shooting Brake too.

So, is the new CLA now the premium electric saloon of choice? We’ll find out in this in-depth review.

Verdict: is the Mercedes-Benz CLA Electric a good car?

Overall, we reckon the CLA is the best Mercedes-Benz electric car to date. It’s reasonably priced, packed full of clever tech and offers a comfortable and quiet drive. But it’s the EV credentials that impress most: the CLA has an incredibly long range but achieved using efficiency boosting tech rather than just a huge, expensive battery. It also charges rapidly too, but the lack of 400-volt charging capability could be a big turn-off for some.

Pricing, specs & rivals

List prices for the electric Mercedes-Benz CLA kick off at £45,615 for the sole variant available so far: the long range 250+ model.

That price gets you into entry-level Sport trim, and looks competitive alongside the Tesla Model 3 (which starts under £40k but is £45k with the comparable Long Range Rear-Wheel Drive model) and the BMW i4 (which starts at over £51,000). It’s also very close to the base price of the BYD Seal.

Standard equipment is generous even in the entry-level Sport Edition. This gets adaptive beam LED headlamps with an animated LED front panel, 18in alloys, dual-zone climate control, heated front seats, a 14in touchscreen display and a panoramic glass roof.

Interestingly, this base trim has traditional manual door handles, whereas the next step up, AMG Line Edition (priced from £49,375), brings flush-fitting handles that pop out electrically when you approach with the key.

You also get keyless go with digital key compatibility, a Nappa leather steering wheel, ambient lighting, wireless phone charging and extra exterior lighting functions.

Top-spec AMG Line Premium Edition (from £51,770) upgrades to 19in alloys, matrix LED headlamps, electric memory front seats and the brand’s Night Package exterior upgrades.

Rivals

In its electric-only launch form, the Mercedes-Benz CLA has a handful of key alternatives you’ll want to consider. The long-standing (and excellent) BMW i4 is probably the main one, but you’ll undoubtedly be mulling over the Tesla Model 3 too.

Other options include the high-tech MG IM 5, the BYD Seal, the Polestar 2 and the considerably roomier (but similarly priced) Volkswagen ID.7.

Mercedes-Benz CLA: Interior comfort, quality & technology

The best way to describe the interior of the new CLA is ‘technology-led’. Previous Mercedes-Benz interiors oozed plenty of design appeal, but this new model feels a bit more Tesla-like.

That’s either a good thing or a bad thing depending on your view. It’s a lot more minimalist than before, with a large, flat gloss black dashboard panel in place of any styling flourishes.

That cliff face of a dashboard isn’t an issue for visibility because you sit higher in this new CLA than the old one, giving you a good all-round view out but meaning you feel less cocooned in the car. Still, the front seats are very comfortable and widely adjustable.

The CLA’s interior quality is generally pretty good, with nice metallic trim on the door cards and enough soft-touch materials. However, there are some cheaper plastics on show in the cabin, as well as disappointing cost saving such as VW ID.3-style dual window switches instead of the usual four, meaning a BMW i4 feels far more luxurious inside. But then it is more expensive.  

Infotainment, sat-nav, stereo and connectivity

Every CLA comes equipped with a dash-dominating 14in central touchscreen along with a 10.25in digital driver’s display. You can also specify a 14in touchscreen for the passenger, unusually.

Mercedes-Benz makes a big deal at how advanced this new generation of in-car software is. The brand calls the hardware that runs it a ‘supercomputer’ because it can process up to 280 million functions per second. It also combines Google Gemini and ChatGPT AI voice assistants which mostly work well.

There’s a whole host of functions and features to play with, while the screen’s responses are super-fast and the graphics are slick. The system works so well that you might not miss the lack of physical buttons, but there are still occasions where not being able to adjust the climate control with a dial is a bit more fiddly.

Similarly, the CLA still uses the brand’s somewhat awkward haptic steering wheel touchpads that are easy to brush by accident while driving. The CLA Shooting Brake was revealed with rotary switches on the wheel, which are expected to feature on the saloon from next year.

The optional passenger screen is mainly used for entertainment functions. It’s a shame it isn’t shielded from view of the driver to avoid distractions, but the system will detect if the driver is looking at it and turn it off. If you don’t spec it, you get a black plastic panel with glowing stars.

Of course, you get Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone mirroring along with in-built cameras. The CLA also gets a camera on top of the main touchscreen, which can be used for video meeting or even selfie taking (when parked, of course).

You won’t find a wireless phone charging pad on the base Sport trim, but all CLAs get four USB-C connectors with ultra-fast 100-watt charging. The standard stereo’s sound is so good that you may not feel the need to spend extra on the upgraded Burmester system.

How practical is the Mercedes-Benz CLA?

The new CLA’s dimensions of 4,723mm in length, 1,855mm in width and 1,468mm in height make it a tiny bit longer and taller (but quite a bit narrower) than a Tesla Model 3.

It certainly isn’t as spacious inside, however. The CLA has plenty of room up front for a driver and passenger of all sizes, even with the panoramic glass roof. But the rear is a different story.

Firstly, the door opening make getting in and out a bit tight for those over six-foot. And, once back there, space is a fair bit less than the Tesla and even the hardly generous BMW i4.

Firstly, headroom is okay for average-sized adults but those over six foot will find it lacking. There’s also limited space to slide your feet under the seat in front thanks to a high floor, which also means a lack of under-thigh support. At least kneeroom is good enough for tall adults.

Sitting three adults across the back won’t be easy, either, because shoulder room is tight and the raised seat reduces headroom even further. Still, two kids in booster seats will be fine back there.  Expect the CLA Shooting Brake estate to improve practicality.

Storage and boot space

There’s a good amount of storage in the front of the CLA, with Mercedes-Benz making use of the centre console with a deep under-armrest cubby, a pair of cupholders and further storage underneath the console itself.

The glovebox is an okay size, and the door bins are decent too. In the rear the door bins are smaller (but still usable), while you also get nets on the front seatbacks for storage and a pair of cupholders in the centre armrest.

We do like the 40/20/40 split-folding rear seats, which are more versatile than many electric saloons. That’ll come in handy to increase the luggage space because the CLA’s 407-litre boot is quite a bit smaller than a Model 3’s. It also gets the same narrow saloon-style opening, but overall it’ll still take the weekly shop without much issue.

Another bonus is the CLA’s large 101-litre ‘frunk’ under the bonnet – bigger than a Model 3’s and enough for a carry-on suitcase. If you need more space, the CLA Shooting Brake has a larger boot as well as a wider opening.

Performance & drive: What is the Mercedes-Benz CLA Electric like on the road?

While Mercedes-Benz is expected to offer slower or faster versions of the electric CLA in time, the current range is limited to just two options: the single-motor 250+ and the dual-motor 350 4Matic.

The CLA 250+ (expected to be the volume seller) powers the rear wheels only via a 272hp electric motor. Despite this supposedly compact saloon weighing just over two tonnes, that’s enough for a 0-62mph time of 6.7 seconds.

Performance certainly isn’t breathtaking if you’re used to the fastest Teslas, but in real-world driving it delivers enough pace to effortlessly get up to the national speed limit. It’s perky off-the-line, too.

The 350 4Matic, as the name suggests, combines all-wheel drive with 354hp and a substantial 180Nm more torque than the 250+. That gives you a much bigger shove in the back, bringing the 0-62mph time down to 4.9 seconds.

Both CLAs come with a novel two-speed gearbox, only found in much more expensive EVs like the Porsche Taycan and Audi e-tron GT. Don’t worry, you don’t have to change gear – the idea is you have one gear for acceleration and low-speed running and a second gear for more efficient cruising.

You can notice the car swap cogs at between 60-70mph, but progress is otherwise smooth, and a nicely weighted throttle pedal means it’s easy to gently cruise around town.

The brake pedal, too, is much less grabby than in some electric cars. Of course, you also have regenerative braking, with three modes ranging from full coasting to strong braking effect. There’s also a fourth ‘auto’ mode which monitors traffic and obstacles ahead to smoothly apply braking when needed.

Power, 0-62mph times (H4)

• Mercedes CLA 250+: 272hp/ 6.7 secs
• Mercedes CLA 350 4Matic: 354hp/ 4.9 secs

Ride and handling

While posher, more expensive electric Mercedes-Benz models get fancy air suspension or adaptive dampers, the CLA makes do with a simpler set up. However, it’s very well judged.

That means you get comfort and softness when you want it, with a low-speed ride that soaks up lumps and bumps well without the high-speed ride feeling floaty and bouncy. That’s even the case with the 19in wheels.

But you also get decent handling when you’re in the mood for it, too. Granted, it’s some way short of delivering the all-round driver appeal of the BMW i4, but there isn’t too much body lean in tight corners and the steering is accurate, if a bit light in Comfort mode. Sport mode adds a bit more weight, giving you a little more confidence in placing the car on twisty roads.

Noise and refinement

The CLA’s slippery shape doesn’t just make it very efficient at motorway speeds, it also reduces wind noise to the point where you barely notice it.

You might notice a bit of tyre roar on poor surfaces (more so with the 19in wheels) and a touch of suspension noise over really cracked roads, but both are very far from being intrusive. Overall, this is a very quiet car that compares well with the best in class.

Euro NCAP: is the Mercedes Benz CLA a safe car?

The latest CLA has yet to be put through its crash test paces by Euro NCAP. However, we’re confident it will generate a good safety rating when tested given the brand’s strong recent record in this area.

A full suite of 11 airbags is included, along with a claimed high-strength bodyshell and a comprehensive array of safety systems.

All electric CLAs feature automatic emergency braking with evasive steering assist, lane keeping assist, driver attention monitoring, blind spot monitoring and traffic sign recognition.

Mercedes-Benz’s Car to X communication system was demonstrated to us by accident on the test route. A CLA up ahead of our car slammed on the brakes to avoid some wildlife, and within a split second that car had warned our car of a potential hazard ahead, flashing up a warning. Handy, although only if a compatible car is up ahead.

Charging, range and running costs

The biggest indicator of how far electric cars have come in only a few years is the CLA’s range on a charge.

Even with a large (but not excessively so) 85kWh battery pack, the CLA 250+ manages an outstanding 484 miles on a charge according to official WLTP testing. Even the 350, with its four-wheel drive, still manages 478 miles before needing to plug in because its second motor is decoupled from the wheels when not needed.

For context, both CLA’s have enough range to cruise from London to Dundee with a bit spare. That’s far ahead of the Mercedes-Benz EQA with its 345-mile range.

It makes the CLA one of the longest-range electric cars on sale, let alone in its class. The longest-range Tesla Model 3 manages 436 miles, with the Polestar 2 managing up to 408 miles and the BMW i4 371 up to miles. Only the new DS No.8, with its massive 100kWh battery, matches the CLA for outright range.

The DS also highlights the CLA’s other key trick: efficiency. Mercedes-Benz has history with long-range EVs, with the EQS and its 481-mile range. But that was achieved with a huge 118kWh battery. The CLA beats that range figure with just 85kWh thanks to clever tech making it – on paper – one of the most efficient electric cars on sale.

Range on a charge (WLTP figures)

• Mercedes-Benz CLA 250+: 484 miles
• Mercedes-Benz CLA 350: 478 miles

Charging the CLA is a story of good and bad. The good is the car’s high-tech 800-volt charging system (akin to that in electric Kias, Hyundais and Porsches) gives it a rapid charging advantage over cars like the Model 3.

With a quoted peak DC charge rate of up to 320kW, a 10-80% charge is possible in as little as 16 minutes. That’s half as long as it takes to achieve the same charge in a Mercedes-Benz EQS, among the fastest of any EV. EV Database has seen over 350kW speeds from the CLA in practice, too.

So, what’s the bad? Well, 800-volt charging is great, but early versions of the CLA don’t have the ability to use older, 400-volt EV chargers. A converter is being added to new CLAs from Spring 2026 onwards, but it won’t be retrofitted to these early customer cars.  

Why is that a problem? Well, in the UK, the majority of public rapid chargers (estimated at over 60%) still use older 400-volt tech, meaning the CLA can’t currently charge on them.

As the number of 800-volt chargers in the UK increases over time, this will be less of an issue. And the car will only show you compatible chargers on its navigation system. But it’s still something to think about if you intend to visit rural areas where different charging options are limited.

However, most CLA owners are expected to charge at home or at work most of the time. A typical home wall box will take just over 13hrs to fully charge the car.

Charging speeds

(Figures from EV Database)

• 7kW charging: 13hrs 30 mins
• 11kW charging: 9hrs 15 mins
• 50kW rapid charger N/A
• 350kW rapid charger (10 to 80% charge): 16 minutes

How much does the Mercedes-Benz CLA cost to insure?

We only have insurance group data for the CLA 250+ so far, which kicks off in group 41 for both Sport and AMG Line versions and rises to group 42 with the Premium package added.

That’s a few insurance groups higher than an equivalent BMW i4, but lower than the MG IM5 and about in line with an equivalent Tesla Model 3.