The new electric Mercedes CLA has arrived, and good heavens, what an entrance! This isn’t some mundane four-door coupé your grandma would drive to her bridge club. No, this is a sleek, tech-laden rocket on wheels that looks like it rolled straight out of a sci-fi blockbuster. But as the champagne flows in Stuttgart, one question looms like a storm cloud: how much is this toy going to cost? Let’s pop the hood on this shiny newcomer and see if it’s worth its weight in gold.
Let’s start with the looks, because let’s be honest, with a Mercedes, it’s all about the swagger. The CLA is a stunner, with lines so sharp you could slice bread with them. The grille has been replaced by a glowing panel studded with 142 LED stars that twinkle like a Christmas tree on steroids. The headlights and taillights stretch across the full width of the car, with optional star accents that make you feel like you’re driving through a constellation. At 4.72 meters long, it’s slightly bigger than its predecessor but still nimble enough to weave through Antwerp’s narrow streets without terrorizing cyclists. And with a drag coefficient of 0.21, this car is as slippery as an eel in a bucket of slime.
Under the skin, the CLA is a technical marvel. It sits on the brand-new MMA platform, a sort of Swiss Army knife that can handle both electric and mild-hybrid powertrains. The electric versions are the stars of the show, with an 85 kWh lithium-ion battery promising a jaw-dropping range of 792 kilometers on the WLTP cycle. Yes, you read that right: you could drive from Brussels to Berlin and still have enough juice to do a few laps around the Brandenburg Gate. Fast charging? No sweat. Thanks to the 800-volt architecture, you can gain 325 kilometers of range in just 10 minutes. That’s quicker than I down my coffee on a Monday morning.
Two flavors are available at launch: the CLA 250+ with 272 hp and rear-wheel drive, and the CLA 350 4MATIC with 354 hp and all-wheel drive. The 250+ hits 100 km/h in 6.7 seconds, while the 350 does it in a blink at 4.9 seconds. That’s faster than most hot hatches you’ll see in your rearview mirror. And for the tech nerds: there’s a two-speed transmission, a rarity for an EV, ensuring blistering acceleration in the city and efficiency on the highway. Later this year, a more budget-friendly version with a 58 kWh LFP battery will join the lineup, but don’t expect miracles—it’ll likely offer around 500-600 kilometers of range.
Inside, it’s like stepping into a spaceship. The dashboard is dominated by a massive Superscreen, combining a 10.25-inch instrument cluster, a 14-inch central touchscreen, and an optional second 14-inch screen for your passenger. It all runs on the new MB.OS system, which is faster than a teenager unwrapping their first smartphone. ChatGPT4 and Google Maps are baked in, so you can ask your car to find the nearest chip shop while navigating traffic jams. The seats are sporty, the interior is trimmed in vegan leather or real hide, and there’s even a 101-liter frunk for your weekend bags. The only downside? The 405-liter boot is a tad smaller than before, but who needs space when you look like a rock star?
Now, the elephant in the room: the price. Mercedes is keeping mum, but the rumor mill is in overdrive. Insiders whisper that the CLA 250+ will start around €55,000, while the CLA 350 4MATIC will nudge closer to €65,000. That’s not cheap, but no surprise for a brand that oozes luxury. For context, a Tesla Model 3 Long Range costs about €50,000, but it lacks the three-pointed star or the five-star hotel interior. And let’s not forget that with the CLA’s efficiency (12.2-14.7 kWh/100 km) and fast-charging prowess, you’ll likely spend less at the charger than at the pump for a comparable gas-powered car.
But is it all sunshine and roses? Not quite. At 2,135 kg for the top model, the CLA is heavier than a sumo wrestler after an all-you-can-eat buffet. That’s 170 kg more than the base version of an S-Class, and you’ll feel it in the corners. Rear headroom and legroom aren’t exactly regal either, especially for tall Dutch folks. And while a Shooting Brake version arrives late 2025 for those needing more cargo space, the question remains: does the CLA truly justify its premium price tag in a market teeming with rivals like the BMW i4 and Polestar 2?
Still, Mercedes has a trump card with the CLA. It’s a car that looks like a million bucks, drives like a dream, and packs tech that’ll make your head spin. Whether you’re a yuppie aiming to impress at the office or a car nut obsessed with gadgets, this machine has something for you. But you’ll need to dig deep into your pockets, and that’s where the love might sting a bit.
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