Mercedes-Benz CLA electric review: New beginnings

Cars don’t come much more important for a brand than this, the all-new Mercedes-Benz CLA electric. It heralds in a new electrified era for the German brand, the first EV created on the brand’s all-new MMA (Mercedes-Benz Modular Architecture) platform.

While that sounds like boring engineering guff, it’s worth noting that while MMA has been developed as an electric-first platform – and will underpin the forthcoming GLA and GLB range of electric SUVs – it also supports hybrid-combustion powertrains, not only helping to amortise production costs, but also broaden the brand’s portfolio.

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We’ve already seen the CLA mild-hybrid in Australia, built on the same MMA architecture. It’s a brilliant car, blending petrol power with an effective mild-hybrid system that delivers real world fuel efficiency gains.

Now it’s the turn of the pure battery-electric Mercedes-Benz CLA, which has started arriving in showrooms around Australia with the weight of expectation on its haunches. It’s the entry-point into what is effectively the German brand’s second generation of electric vehicles, banishing the underwhelming ‘EQ’ branded range of EVs to the history books.

And it does so with a new era of technology that brings next generation battery tech with improved charging architecture along with the type of driving range that was the stuff of engineers’ dreams only a few short years ago.

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How much is the Mercedes-Benz CLA electric?

Australia scores just two variants – the entry-level CLA 200 ($72,200) and the all-wheel drive flagship CLA 350 4Matic which starts from $91,300, both prices before on-road costs. Tellingly, both models come in under Australia’s Luxury Car tax threshold for EVs, set at $91,661 for the 2026-27 financial year. Smart move.

Despite its entry-level positioning, the CLA 200 electric tested here brings plenty of Mercedes hallmarks to the party. Under the skin, Merc’s all-new electric architecture translates to a single 165kW/335Nm electric motor driving the rear wheels, powered by a 58kWh lithium-iron phosphate (LFP) battery delivering a claimed 470km of WLTP tested driving range. That’s not earth-shattering by any stretch and to score the headline number of 663km, buyers will need to plump for the CLA 350 4Matic and its energy denser and larger 85kWh nickel manganese cobalt (NMC) battery pack.

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Both batteries support 800-volt architecture, the CLA 200 capable of 200kW DC fast charging, allowing for a 10-80 per cent top-up in 21 minutes. The CLA 350 supports 320kW DC charging for a 10-80 per cent refill time of 22 minutes.

Is there anything interesting about the Mercedes-Benz CLA electric’s design?

Mercedes-Benz isn’t ruffling any feathers with the design of the CLA electric, the sleek four-door ‘coupe’ near-identical to its petrol-hybrid powered stablemate. The biggest difference comes up front, where the EV’s nose features a solid ‘grille’ festooned with 142 illuminated stars. The petrol-hybrid’s array of stars on its functional grille are plastic, finished in chrome.

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Inside is pure Benz, with loads of premium materials – such as the Artico faux leather blended with Microcut suede-like seat upholstery with racy red contrast stitching – a Nappa leather perforated steering wheel and faux brushed aluminium interior garnishes. There are some harder plastics lower down on the door cards and under the dash, but overall the CLA’s interior looks proper premium.

The seats themselves are comfortable, although do sit up a smidge higher than in petrol models, thanks to the presence of the EV’s battery under the floor.

That marginally higher floor has also impacted on second-row comfort. While there’s plenty of room in the second row, the low seat bases mean thighs and knees are unsupported, absolutely fine on short journeys but potentially uncomfortable on longer drives. Head room in row two, despite the presence of a full-length panoramic roof, is good, benefiting from those same lower seat bases. 

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Boot space is adequate at 405 litres although Mercedes-Benz doesn’t quote volume with the second row folded in 40:20:40 fashion. There’s an additional 101 litres of storage under the bonnet.

What technology comes with the Mercedes-Benz CLA electric?

A big talking point of the entire CLA range, including the 200 electric we have here, is the in-your-face dimensions of Mercedes’ MBUX Superscreen which runs the width of the dash. It’s no shrinking violet, an illuminated behemoth that can be customised to your mood through several different backgrounds.

Housed inside its massive width is a 14-inch infotainment touchscreen along with another 14-inch screen for the driver display/instrument cluster. There remains the option of a third 14-inch touchscreen for the front passenger, allowing them to interact with apps, games and stream video (provided the car is stationary) but it’s a gimmick at best. 

Mercedes’ in-house developed MB.OS operating system is not-quite easy to use at first glance but prolonged use does bring a level of familiarity to the point where changing climate settings, or disabling pesky safety tech, becomes second nature.

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Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, both wireless and cabled, are standard across the range as is satellite navigation, wireless smartphone charging and an AI-powered voice assistant that integrates ChatGPT, Google Gemini and Bing tech and is claimed to deliver “natural conversation and contextual responses”. It doesn’t. A little more learning is needed.

While big screens and cutting-edge technology are all well and good, the true measure of the CLA electric is to be found on the road. It doesn’t disappoint.

What’s the Mercedes-Benz CLA electric like to drive?

The CLA 200 might be the baby of the electric range, but that doesn’t mean it’s not a mature and well-measured electric car when it comes to its on-road manners – effortless, predictable, and refined.

Around town, the urge from the 200’s single electric motor is more than enough to easily flow with traffic. Mercedes claims a 0-100km/h time of 7.5 seconds, more than enough for most situations.

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An innovative two-speed transmission (most EVs feature only a single-speed tranny) is on-hand to improve performance while also maximising efficiency. It’s been calibrated to maximise acceleration during urban driving, while simultaneously optimising energy efficiency, by reducing the electric motor’s RPM, at highway speeds.

The steering feels light navigating urban enclaves, while the chassis remains poised and comfortable, the CLA’s beautifully damped steel sprung suspension working nicely in ironing out scratchy and patchy road surfaces.

A lot of engineering has gone into the chassis, with a new three-link front axle, at once lighter and stiffer thanks to the use of forged aluminium. At the rear, the CLA has pilfered engineering from larger – and by extensions, more expensive – Mercedes models with a newly-developed multi-link setup said to enhance ride comfort and balance. 

And it works, with ride comfort nothing short of superb. Better still, body control is kept nicely in check during cornering or navigating roundabouts. It’s Mercedes’ technology trickle-down economy used to good effect.

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Refinement takes centre stage out on the motorway at highway speeds. The CLA’s teardrop shape and its drag coefficient of 0.21Cd plays a starring role, with minimal wind noise permeating the cabin.

Body control at highway speed is as good as it is at lower speeds. There’s no wallowing through undulations while the comfort-focussed suspension keeps road noise to a minimum. It’s – almost – like riding in an S-Class for CLA money.

Faced with some corners, the rear-drive CLA 200 is more than capable of injecting some fun into the drive. It’s not especially fast, but it doesn’t need to be either. Instead, the well-sorted chassis serves to keep the CLA flat through corners, while its nicely-weighted steering telegraphs what is happening at the wheels. Hot hatch fast? No. Balanced and tied-down through corners? Most assuredly.

The CLA’s brakes feel natural and progressive, despite Mercedes claiming that “most braking processes are handled through energy recovery”. In other words, not pads on discs. But that hasn’t dulled the good old-fashioned ‘pedal feel’ which remains smooth and linear, allowing for modulation during cornering, all while harvesting outputs of up to 200kW to feed back into the battery.

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There are several levels of regeneration too, from coasting to an aggressive single-pedal model that brings the car to a complete stop without ever touching the brake pedal. My preference remained on the lighter side of the recuperation ledger, the car feeling more natural to drive (and stop) than if left to its own devices in single-pedal mode which felt too aggressive. The transition between regen and friction brakes is flawless.

What’s the driving range of the Mercedes-Benz CLA electric?

Energy harvesting is vital to the CLA meeting its range claims. In the CLA 200 that claim reads 470km, the headline 663km reserved for the flagship 350 4Matic. Mercedes-Benz also claims the CLA 200 electric will consume electrons at the rate of 14.4kWh/100km.

A week behind the wheel putting the CLA 200 through its many paces – school runs, sports fields, shopping centres, visiting friends and a lengthy highway run – returned 14.5kWh, coming within a whisker of meeting Merc’s claim. That’s not a bad return on energy investment.

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Interestingly, a long stretch on the motorway at 100km/h – the natural enemy of EV batteries and energy consumption – saw an indicated 13kWh/100km. Impressive stuff.

What’s the verdict on the Mercedes-Benz CLA electric?

And that’s my underlying feeling around the CLA 200 electric. It’s an impressive car, and arguably its most cohesive EV yet. It puts its ‘EQ’ forebears in the shade, and does so with a refined and enjoyable driving experience, and exceptional ride comfort all wrapped in a premium cabin that plays to the brand’s primo strengths. It showcases the future direction of Mercedes-Benz’s electrification, and to good effect.

Mercedes-Benz CLA electric specs