An unusual recipe for success
With a profile that renders the larger CLS-Class in miniature, the Mercedes-Benz CLA gets a more curvaceous look come fall when it goes on sale. Looking much like the 2023 Concept CLA-class, the entry-level 2026 Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class is still as sexy as ever. But what’s it packing under that pretty package?
Mercedes-Benz
In a departure from its usual practice, the all-new third generation of the Mercedes-Benz CLA, announced Thursday, will be an EV for the 2026 model year, with other powertrain variants to follow.
Initially, Mercedes-Benz will offer the 268-horsepower CLA 250+ with rear-wheel drive and the performance-oriented 349-horsepower CLA 350 4MATIC with all-wheel drive. That’s far more potent than the 221-horsepower four-cylinder mild hybrid driveline offered for 2025.
This pair packs a punch, with a 0-60 mph time of 6.6 seconds for the CLA 250+ and 4.8 seconds for the CLA 350 4MATIC.
Mercedes-Benz
2026 Mercedes-Benz CLA offers impressive range
Both CLA grades employ an 85-kWh battery with anodes that mix silicon oxide with graphite, which Mercedes-Benz says increases energy density by 20 percent compared with previous batteries. This provides a range of up to 792 kilometers (492 miles) in the European-based WLTP testing cycle for the base model and 771 kilometers (479 miles) for the upper trim. Expect a driving range closer to 430 miles and 422 miles respectively in EPA testing. Those are pretty impressive numbers for a small electric sedan, and ones that easily surpass the Tesla Model 3.
Mercedes-Benz
They’re set in an 800-volt architecture, allowing for DC fast charging up to 320 kW. In as little as ten minutes, the CLA 250+ can add 325 kilometers (202 miles) of range, and the CLA 350 4MATIC can reach 315 kilometers (197 miles) in the same time frame.
The Mercedes-Benz CLA’s Engineering efficiency
Uniquely, the 2026 Mercedes-Benz CLA will be fitted with a two-speed transmission on the rear-axle electric drive unit, with first gear used for initial acceleration and second gear reserved for higher speeds.
It will also be the first Mercedes-Benz vehicle to feature an air-to-air heat pump that uses waste heat from the electric drivetrain, the battery, and the ambient air. This reduces energy usage to one-third of that required by a comparable auxiliary heater, allowing for more efficient pre-conditioning.
Size-wise, the 2026 CLA measures 185.9 inches, making it 1.6 inches longer than the previous model year. The 14.3 cubic foot trunk in the back is augmented by a 2.5 cubic-foot frunk that takes the place of a regular internal combustion engine.
Mercedes-Benz
The new CLA continues its achievements by being the first vehicle to use the new Mercedes-Benz Operating System (MB.OS). Developed in-house, the AI-enhanced OS is supported by a supercomputer connected to the Mercedes-Benz Intelligent Cloud that enables regular over-the-air updates. It also supports the new the fourth generation Mercedes-Benz User Experience (MBUX) infotainment system which integrates Microsoft and Google artificial intelligence. There’s also a ChatGPT-based MBUX Virtual Assistant that can be used through an optional MBUX Superscreen. The screen also supplies Google Maps that incorporates Google Cloud’s new Automotive AI Agent for in-vehicle conversation services with Google.
Final thoughts
Mercedes-Benz will follow the introduction of the new electric CLA with a hybrid model that will use an electric motor integrated into the transmission to funnel its power to the front wheels or all four. While Mercedes-Benz didn’t call it a plug-in hybrid, the company did say it would provide all-electric driving in city traffic. The 2026 Mercedes-Benz CLA should go on sale in the fall, and its pricing will likely be announced closer to that date.
