Mercedes-Benz has just revealed the all-new CLA, and it’s making waves as the longest-range production EV in the world. When it hits the roads later this year, the CLA 250+ will boast an impressive 492-mile battery range—beating Mercedes’ own EQS 450+, which currently holds the title at 481 miles.
But here’s the cool part: Mercedes didn’t just shove a giant battery under the car and call it a day. The CLA gets this insane range with an 85kWh battery—way smaller than the EQS’s 118kWh pack. And the price? Expected to start around £40,000, compared to the EQS 450+ at over £110,000.
The key stat here is five miles per kWh—meaning the CLA is as efficient as getting a petrol car to hit 100mpg in the real world. That’s huge. Thanks to clever aerodynamics (including a grille covered in 142 glowing Mercedes logos) and flat alloy wheels, this car cuts through the air with minimal resistance.
The electric motor is brand-new, paired with a two-speed gearbox—a rare setup in EVs, previously seen only in high-end performance cars like the Porsche Taycan and Audi e-tron GT. This gearbox is all about efficiency, helping the CLA sip power rather than chugging it.
A new heat pump, standard on all models, also helps maximise range by using a third of the energy of a regular EV heat pump.
The CLA 350+ adds a second electric motor for all-wheel drive, pushing out 349hp and doing 0-62mph in under five seconds—yet still managing a 478-mile range. It achieves this by shutting off the second motor when not needed. The CLA 250+ gets 268hp and a 6.7-second 0-62mph time.
If that’s still too much car, a smaller-battery version will arrive in 2026, with a lower price and a still-impressive 300-mile range. Fast charging is covered too—up to 320kW, seven times the max charging rate of a Nissan Leaf.
For those not ready to go fully electric, Mercedes is also offering three mild-hybrid petrol models. They use a 1.5L turbo engine with a small electric motor, helping them coast at speeds up to 62mph without using fuel, leading to 50-60mpg efficiency.
Inside, the CLA gets a massive Superscreen, stretching across the dashboard, where you can watch Netflix, play games, or chat with AI. Unfortunately, it’s not standard, but all versions use Mercedes’ newest operating system, MB.OS, which should be far smoother than the old clunky setup.
The twin-level center console offers plenty of storage, but the CLA remains a compact car. It’s a little longer and wider now, improving rear legroom, but boot space shrinks slightly from 460L to 405L. EV versions get a bonus 101L frunk upfront.
Unlike current Mercedes models, where electric and petrol versions are kept separate (think S-Class vs. EQS), the CLA will be one single lineup. That means no awkward “EQCLA” badge—thankfully.
The new CLA arrives before the end of 2025, and a Shooting Brake estate version follows in 2026, likely costing a couple of grand more.
Would you pick this over a Tesla Model 3 or Polestar 2? Let us know!
