Regardless of being among the many first main producers to launch a premium electrical car (keep in mind the EQC of 2019?), Mercedes-Benz has had a middling response to its newer electrified fashions.
The EQS Saloon is glossy however costly in comparison with rivals, the EQB SUV simply appears a bit odd and isn’t as enjoyable appropriately to drive, whereas the quad-motor G-Class is, properly, a distinct segment inside a distinct segment.
It’s honest to say that Merc wants its battery-powered huge hitter: one thing that may persuade the plenty to ditch their inside combustion engine automobiles and place religion within the German marque’s engineering. Renault’s R5 E-Tech or Kia’s EV6 second, if you’ll.
The brand new CLA might properly be that automotive, as the corporate’s C-Class has at all times been one in every of its best-sellers and, because of this, Mercedes-Benz has thrown its progressive may on the machine. A newly developed drive system with progressive two-speed transmission, a low drag co-efficient, an 800V structure and fancy new batteries with silicon-oxide anodes for higher gravimetric vitality density are only a few technical highlights.
Though flashy on the within (that is the primary automotive to introduce Merc’s Tremendous Display screen expertise), the brand new CLA is in any other case fairly wise. Secure, quiet, comfy and mightily environment friendly aren’t precisely buzzwords that get petrol heads sizzling beneath the collar, however right here, they’re causes to get excited.
Large effectivity vitality
The Mercedes-Benz CLA with EQ Expertise, to present the automotive its full and really cumbersome title, takes loads of inspiration from the Imaginative and prescient EQXX rolling laboratory — or the automotive that managed 620-miles on a single cost, in different phrases.
It’s straightforward to dismiss this as PR fluff, however a deep dive beneath the pores and skin of the car reveals that there’s a number of reality to it. The drag co-efficient of 0.21 may be very low because of its form and quite a few under-floor covers, whereas it’s the first Mercedes to make use of an “air-to-air” warmth pump, which takes waste warmth from the electrical drivetrain, the battery, in addition to the ambient air to heat the cabin.
There’s clever regenerative braking, which makes an attempt to sluggish the automotive in most circumstances through recuperation, and an all-new two-speed transmission.
Not like in efficiency automobiles, the place the electrical powertrain is geared to place most energy down from standstill, Mercedes-Benz flips this on the top and provides a second 5:1 ratio designed for energy supply at excessive speeds and most effectivity at a motorway cruise.
Regardless of this, the twin-motor CLA 350 4Matic can nonetheless handle to dispatch of the 0-62mph dash in a decent 4.9 seconds and return virtually 480-miles on a single cost.
Lots of the parts talked about above aren’t precisely new or ground-breaking, however all the things Mercedes has learnt on its quest to extract each final mile from a battery pack has been launched right here, with the outcomes being large mileage between cost stops.
When it is time to pull over and refuel the battery, each automobiles can add round 195 to 200-miles of vary in simply ten minutes from DC fast-charging retailers.
Easy operator
There’s a tangible distinction between the ultra-efficient CLA 250+ with EQ Expertise (the only drive unit variant) and the extra performance-orientated CLA 350 4Matic, with the latter selecting up tempo at a extra spectacular price and customarily feeling just like the extra premium driving expertise.
However then base fashions begin at £45,615 within the UK, which is round $61,000/AU$94,000 roughly transformed. This sees it rival issues just like the Tesla Mannequin 3 (with a higher vary on paper), in addition to BMW’s i4.
Nonetheless, the super-efficient drive will seemingly see it go additional on a single cost than both of those automobiles, in addition to cost sooner, simply ten minutes for round 200-miles of vary from the quickest retailers.
In each the CLA 250+ and 350, the journey is easy and ridiculously quiet, with a premium really feel contained in the cabin regardless of the spec. Except for that, the drive is fairly unremarkable, however that’s actually the purpose — this can be a automotive you may fortunately stay with on daily basis.
Mercedes-Benz has tried to remind those that it’s nonetheless the premium participant by slathering its newest mannequin in three-pointed stars… they’re completely all over the place. I didn’t have time to rely all of them, however that tally is properly into the tons of.
It’s not the slickest strategy however hey, maybe I’m not the target market anymore. Equally, these automobiles that aren’t specified with the Superscreen array, which features a touchscreen for the entrance passenger, are short-changed with a little bit of star-covered plastic that sits as a replacement.
Minor grumblings, because the cabin is in any other case well-appointed, with loads of room in the back and front for taller passengers and a large trunk for transporting package. The big panoramic glass roof additionally floods the cabin with pure gentle and within the upcoming CLA Capturing Brake model, you may even have but extra illuminated stars embellish this floor.
It seems like a extra luxurious, simply customized providing than, say, a present Tesla, but with an equally spectacular digital array.
These items is essential to these clients seeking to purchase into extra elevated, premium EV expertise.
Display screen take a look at
We have been fortunate sufficient to get an early have a look at Mercedes’ spectacular new digital array earlier this 12 months, however the multitude of screens work simply as properly in situ, significantly the slick new MBUX system that underpins all of it.
The graphics are sharp and response instances extremely fast, with what Mercedes refers to as its ‘Zero Layer’ on the central show displaying an important data. Alternatively, customers can swipe by and organize the quite a few apps like they’d on a smartphone or pill.
On the highway, I used to be in a position to take a look at the brand new AI-powered MBUX Digital Assistant a little bit higher, asking it utilizing conversational prompts to direct me to close by cafes with a view of the river, or a florist that’s open.
It harnesses ChatGPT4o and searches with Microsoft Bing, additionally counting on Google Gemini to assist with navigational queries. The outcomes are spectacular, and it will get higher the extra you utilize it, making it a lot simpler to navigate to much less particular spots with ease.
The German marque additionally made a giant deal of its clever route planning at launch, which is able to plan the quickest and most handy routes, factoring in stops to cost and lowering the time hanging round ready by solely choosing the quickest (and operational) chargers.
That is additional aided by Encompass Navigation, which takes a stay feed from the varied cameras and sensors across the automotive to construct a real-time 3D illustration of the environment. It takes a little bit getting used to, however the nav system does an incredible job of metropolis infrastructure in a digital format to make it simpler to navigate utilizing landmarks.
Once more, that is nothing new of ground-breaking, however your complete package deal works extraordinarily properly collectively, with sufficient technological wizardry to impress these onboard. Go for the Superscreen with premium sound system and the viewing expertise from the passenger display can rival most residence cinemas.
In fact, specifying the entire niceties shortly sees the asking value rocket, however it nonetheless seems like a wonderful worth package deal given the electrical efficiency, vary and the expertise on provide.
Personally, I felt the dearer 350 4Matic mannequin felt just like the extra completed automotive, extra fulfilling to drive and boasting the form of efficiency that many shoppers now count on from an electrical car — however the 250+ represents one of the best worth for cash in contrast different the direct competitors.
Mercedes-Benz has thrown an enormous quantity on the CLA, however that doesn’t at all times equate to a succesful recipe. However right here, all of it works, it feels cohesive and it blends into the background after a lot of miles, leaving a succesful, comfy, quiet and really easy-to-live-with EV. It feels extra completed than a lot of its clostest rivals, together with these from Kia, Hyundai and BMW.
With its AMG arm thrilling on the different finish of the spectrum with the AMG GT XX idea, it feels just like the German marque has entered the subsequent, probably extra succesful chapter of its EV story.
