3rd-gen Mercedes-Benz CLA fully unveiled before mid-2025 launch

Mercedes-Benz has shone the spotlight on the new CLA-Class heading to the showrooms in Europe this summer.

Since the company dropped its EQ naming convention not long ago, the electric CLA will be known simply as the “CLA with EQ Technology”. The base version, called the CLA 250+, will be sending 272 PS (268 hp / 200 kW) and 335 Nm (247 lb-ft) of torque to the wheels. It will have a 6.7-second standard sprint time and won’t exceed 210 km/h (130 mph) in a straight line. An 85-kWh battery pack will give it up to 792 km (492 miles) of range.

Next up the lineup is the CLA 350, which has the same motor on the front axle and the same battery, but gains a second motor at the back. It can output 354 PS (349 hp / 260 kW) and 515 Nm (380 lb-ft) of torque in AWD mode, but you can always uncouple the rear motor to save energy when not needed. Thanks to this trick, the CLA 350 has an impressive electric range of 771 km (479 miles).

It is also a faster sprinter with 4.9 seconds from zero to 100 km/h (62 mph). Staying plugged into a sufficiently powerful charging outlet (up to 320kW supported) will replenish 325 km (202 miles) of range in mere 10 minutes. Later on, Mercedes plans to release a more affordable version of the same model with a smaller 58-kWh LFP battery pack.

Rounding off the new CLA lineup is a mild hybrid spec that combines a new 1.5-liter turbocharged engine with a 48V motor integrated into an eight-speed DCT. A 1.3-kWh battery pack supplies the power. Mercedes says this hybrid version will also be available with two and four driven wheels.