Fast Facts | 2027 Mercedes-Benz CLA250+ Electric Review
🚘 Electric Range: EPA-estimated 317 miles, 370.3 miles in real-world road testing
⚙️ Powertrain: Single rear 268-horsepower electric motor, 247 lb-ft of torque
🏁 Performance: 0-60 mph in 6.6 seconds (Mercedes-Benz)
🔋Charging: DC fast charging (320 kW) 10 to 80 percent state of charge in 22 minutes
🧳 Cargo Space: 10.3 cu ft, 1.4 cu ft “frunk”
🖥️ Tech: New MBUX Superscreen with Google-based AI Virtual Assistant, 10.25-inch gauge cluster, 14-inch infotainment screen and 14-inch passenger touchscreen. Standard wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto
💰As-Tested Price: $62,480 MSRP, including $1,350 destination
Mercedes Builds an Entry-Level EV That Goes the Distance
The average new car buyer drops about $50,000 on their purchase. That’s astounding. And when your shopping list includes luxury EVs, prices jump even higher. Mercedes-Benz bucks that trend with a base CLA 250+ priced at just over $49,000. That’s a good deal for a luxury electric sedan.
I spent a week with the Benz in Los Angeles to see how the new EV performs. Granted, my tester came in at $62,480 thanks to $12,130 in options, but pair that down, and you're still left with a well-equipped EV at a good value. Better yet, this one delivers excellent electric range mileage. Let’s find out how it did.
Power Surge
The CLA electric is available in two models: the CLA250+ and the more powerful and expensive CLA 350 4Matic. The CLA250+ has a 268-horsepower rear-mounted motor delivering 247 lb-ft of torque. The CLA350 4Matic adds all-wheel drive with a 107-horsepower motor up front and a 242-horsepower motor at the rear. Interestingly, both models have a two-speed transmission in the rear electric drive unit. This is an unusual feature amongst EVs, and certainly in this price class. Mercedes says it provides quicker acceleration and better high-speed efficiency.
Maximum Capacity
The CLA debuts Mercedes-Benz’s new MMA EV architecture. Underneath the sleek sedan sheetmetal is an 85-kilowatt-hour nickel manganese cobalt (NMC) battery pack. Mercedes says it's not just more energy-dense than the company’s previous units, but uses less cobalt, which is better for the environment. An 800-volt charging system allows for charging speeds up to 320 kilowatts. That delivers around 200 miles in just 10 minutes. It comes with a North American Charging Standard (NACS) port, so you can charge at the Tesla Supercharger network.
Peak charging power is only part of the road-trip equation, so see how charger output, battery temperature, station reliability, and charging curves affect a fast-charging stop ➜
Size Wise
Perhaps it’s the three-pointed star on the nose, but this CLA has the aura of a much larger car. Its dimensions are actually quite tidy, within an inch or so of the Honda Civic in most dimensions. Front-seat space is quite good; the rear seat, less so, especially for taller riders. At 5-foot-11, I had plenty of head- and legroom back there, but the narrow door opening had me ducking to get out.
My CLA tester came loaded with features. The top Pinnacle trim ($5,850) brings LED lighting, the MBUX Superscreen with a 14-inch passenger display, a head-up display, a power-closing trunk, a digital vehicle key, and more. On top of that, mine had the panoramic Sky Control roof ($1,050), Burmeister sound system ($880), 19-inch AMG wheels ($600), and AMG Line package ($2,100), which adds sporty features like upgraded sport seats, sports pedals, upgraded lighting, and a sport steering wheel. For $1,995, you can also add MB Drive Assist, which can handle Level 2 semi-autonomous driving.
Inside Line
The CLA 250+ is loaded with options to be sure, and the vibe inside is classy. The HVAC vents move with a satisfying “click,” the center console and door armrests are nicely padded for elbows to rest, and the materials are quite nice to look at — a few plastics aside. Oddly, Mercedes swapped four window switches for just three, so the driver has to press that third button to operate the rear windows. That can be annoying.
Otherwise, the cabin feels modern and special. A handful of functions would, of course, work better with physical buttons. The HVAC system has virtual temperature controls on the home screen, but the fan speed adjustments are hidden within a menu. Physical buttons allow for faster, less distracting operation for both functions.
Hustle and Flow
The CLA 250+ strikes an excellent balance between a smooth ride and responsive handling. Freeway driving is pleasant with MB Drive Assist doing the accelerating, braking, and steering, but it was a little fussy on lower speed roads with wide lanes.
It's plenty of fun on twisty roads, too. I pushed it hard through the roads that twist their way high above the Malibu surf, where its petite dimensions were great and the 19-inch AMG wheels and 225/40R19 tires delivered excellent grip. Acceleration feels quicker than Mercedes' claimed 0-60 time in the 6-second range. The thrust is accompanied by an artificial soundtrack that can be swapped with several pre-programmed sounds. My favorite was one reminiscent of the growl from a highly-tuned V6. Not exactly authentic to the CLA’s EV heart, but entertaining.
At just over 4,500 pounds, the CLA is no featherweight, but it hides the weight well. The chassis always felt composed and will allow most drivers to have quite a bit of fun on their way home from work.
The Long Run
Mercedes-Benz claims “up to” 374 miles per charge. My window sticker said 317, likely because it had larger 19-inch wheels instead of the standard 17-inch ones. I wanted to see just how close I could get to that higher number, so I charged to 100 percent at home and racked up miles across stop-and-go LA streets, wide-open nighttime freeways, and a few blasts on local canyon roads.
The model’s 374-mile maximum, 317-mile window-sticker rating, and 370.3-mile test result illustrate why one range number does not tell the whole story, so see how to compare EPA estimates with real-world EV range ➜
Flick the paddles on either side of the steering wheel, and you can choose the level of regen from a light coast to full one-pedal driving. I found Normal mode provided just the right amount of regen for most of my driving. The four drive modes (Comfort, Sport, Eco, and Individual) didn't feel significantly different, so I used Comfort most of the time.
I finished with 370.3 miles on the trip meter and just 2 percent of battery left. That’s an excellent number, better than just about every other EV in this size and price class. A more efficiency-minded driver could probably eke out more range than I did.
Screen Time
Mercedes calls the CLA Electric its most intelligent car to date, and I felt that as soon as I slid behind the wheel. It paired with my phone almost instantly — more seamlessly than any car I’ve tested. Better still, the native navigation system runs on Google’s Virtual Assistant, and it's incredibly easy and accurate to use.
My tester was screen-heavy to be sure. A 10.25-inch gauge cluster and head-up display sit out in front of the driver, a 14-inch infotainment screen with sharp, detailed imagery sits in the center console, and my CLA added a secondary 14-inch passenger touchscreen that becomes active when it senses a passenger. YouTube, Disney, and Ridevu apps were pre-loaded, providing my daughter plenty to watch on the way home from summer theatre camp.
Value Added
The CLA 250+ is one of my favorite new EVs. A low base price, responsive handling, and impressive electric range make it a great choice for anyone shopping for a new electric sedan. Loaded up with expensive options as my car was, the CLA becomes less of a bargain, but you’d still need to spend significantly more to beat this range. For most EV shoppers, range is still a top priority.
The CLA now belongs in the broader conversation about efficient long-distance EVs, so compare it with the electric cars offering some of today’s longest EPA-estimated ranges ➜
More Electric Sedans Competing With the CLA
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Lexus enters the electric-sedan segment at a similar starting price, prioritizing refinement, rear-seat room, and a more traditional luxury experience.
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