The 2026 Mercedes-Benz CLA is the automaker's entry-level model, but it arrives with the newest updates to its dashboard and electric power train technologies. Get a closer look at this electric sedan’s coupelike design and 125 illuminated stars before it hits the road later this year.
0:00 Intro
0:16 Exterior
1:44 Specs
4:09 Interior
6:09 Drive Assist
6:31 Availability
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0:00 Intro
0:16 Exterior
1:44 Specs
4:09 Interior
6:09 Drive Assist
6:31 Availability
Subscribe to CNET on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/cnet
Never miss a deal again! See CNET’s browser extension 👉 https://bit.ly/3lO7sOU
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#cartech #cartechnology #mercedes #mercedesbenz #ev
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NewsTranscript
00:00The Mercedes-Benz CLA, it is the entry point into the brand's lineup, but now it is the
00:06newest battery-powered vehicle on the automaker's next-generation electrified platform.
00:11Let's take a look at this all-new redesigned model and get a closer look at the design
00:15and the tech.
00:16Now up front, we have a reimagination of a number of familiar design features from the
00:21CLA.
00:22You've got the similar grille to the previous generation, the windswept headlamps, but everything
00:26is just a little bit different.
00:27For example, the grille shape down here, we've got 142 individually addressable star-shaped
00:34LEDs, and they're going to surround a large illuminated Mercedes-Benz star logo.
00:40Now in the States, ours will be fully illuminated, the rim and all.
00:43In the European Union, you only get the illuminated star.
00:45Up front with the regular headlamps, they're now tied together with this light bar that
00:49cuts all the way across the front of the vehicle.
00:52And inside of each of the lights, you've got these big, glowing, star-shaped daytime running
00:57lights.
00:58So all in, you're looking at 145 glowing stars in this constellation.
01:02Now to be honest with you, I didn't really love this design when I first saw it.
01:06I thought it was a little busy, but come here, have a closer look at this.
01:11The more I looked at this area right here, the more I kind of loved it.
01:15The way these lines sort of all converge and flow around the front of the vehicle, remind
01:20me of the way that water bunches up at the front of a boat when it's sort of moving forward.
01:25And it gives this whole vehicle an element of motion.
01:28That sort of waves-moving design motif, it's no wonder they call this the sharknose.
01:33And at the rear, we have tail lamps that sort of echo that sort of domino mask shape of
01:37the headlamps, the way they wrap around and tie together with this light bar.
01:41And they have the similar star-shaped tail lamps here.
01:44Okay, let's talk specs.
01:46The CLA with EQ technology, it'll be powered by a single or dual electric motor configuration.
01:53The base CLA 250 Plus features a 268 horsepower full-time electric motor on the rear axle.
01:59And it mates to those rear wheels via a two-speed transmission, which is interesting because
02:04most EVs, aside from some very premium performance EVs, only use a single-speed transmission.
02:10But this allows the CLA to get really good highway efficiency without compromising low-speed torque.
02:15And stepping up to the 350 4MATIC adds a 107 horsepower on-demand e-motor to the front wheels,
02:22a single-speed transmission there, bringing the total output to 349 ponies.
02:28With a full battery, the EV is estimated to cruise for up to 492 miles on Europe's WLTP testing cycle.
02:35Now, estimates tend to be a bit more conservative for our U.S. EPA cycle, but that's still impressive.
02:40We'll have a better idea of what American drivers can expect closer to launch.
02:44And when it's time to charge, the EV's 800-volt architecture means that the CLA is able to
02:48get back on the road quickly, adding 186 miles of range with just a 10-minute plug-in session
02:54at an appropriately powerful DC fast charger.
02:57Now, overall, this new CLA is longer and taller than the previous generation, just by a bit.
03:03Now, mostly that's par for the course.
03:05Anytime you update a vehicle, it's got to get a little bit bigger.
03:08Bigger numbers are better.
03:09But it's also a side effect of making room for the big 85.5-kilowatt-hour battery that
03:14they have to squeeze between the wheelbase.
03:17That actually has another nice side effect of meaning that there's more legroom in the back.
03:21Now, squeezing into the backseat under this very coupe-like roofline can be a bit of a squeeze.
03:27But once you're in here, there is a surprising amount of legroom and a really good amount of headroom.
03:33And that's because every CLA comes standard with this class roof, so there's not a thick headliner above you.
03:38So you've got a lot of space to spread out.
03:40Just make sure you don't bonk your head getting out of this thing.
03:43Shortly after launch, a mild-hybrid model will join the lineup with a turbocharged 1.8-liter gasoline engine,
03:49a small 27-horsepower electric motor, and an 8-speed dual-clutch transmission,
03:54all combined in a front-wheel-drive configuration.
03:57The CLA EQ Tech will be the first modern Mercedes with a frunk, featuring an approximately carry-on bag-sized
04:033.6-cubic-foot storage bin under its hood.
04:07The hybrid model fills that space with its gasoline engine.
04:10Now, here in the driver's seat, I'm treated to the next generation of the Mercedes-Benz User Experience Infotainment Suite, or MBUX.
04:17This is the Mercedes-Benz Superscreen.
04:21It is a massive glass panel that goes from pillar to pillar and features three displays in its most tricked-out incarnation.
04:27Now, in front of me, I've got a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster.
04:31In the middle, there's the standard 14-inch main infotainment display.
04:35And over in front of the passenger seat is a 14-inch co-pilot seat.
04:39That's an optional upgrade.
04:41Now, this whole system evolves the sort of hyperscreen infotainment that we saw in the S-Class and the EQS,
04:47with all sorts of integrations with Google Gemini, with ChatGBT, with OpenAI, and Microsoft Azure.
04:54And it ties them all into a cohesive situation, so you never really have to worry about which assistant you're talking to.
05:00You just speak to the car, and it figures things out.
05:02So, for example, hey Mercedes, what's a good Currywurst place nearby?
05:09I found Klein & Biss. It's a great place to get Currywurst. People say the food is absolutely delicious.
05:17Cancel.
05:19That was a trick question. Everybody knows the best Currywurst is in Berlin.
05:22They also have all sorts of new features that tie into entertainment, all sorts of new entertainment apps,
05:29so that you can do things like watch movies, listen to audio, play games while you're parked and waiting for your vehicle to charge.
05:34Now, every CLA also rolls off the factory with a full host of Mercedes' DriverAid Sensor Suite,
05:41as well as the most powerful dashboard processing power.
05:45And that means that they'll all be what the automaker calls Level 2++ ready,
05:49or compatible with the Mercedes-Drive Assist Pro DriverAid system.
05:54And you can either get that at the point of sale, or you can add it via an over-the-air update after you purchase the vehicle.
06:00And that's part of the whole connected nature of the system.
06:03Mercedes says that it will get better over time as they add new free and paid features over the lifetime of the vehicle.
06:10MB Drive Assist, the automaker's Level 2 assistant system,
06:13will be available at launch with familiar steering, adaptive cruise, and braking assist-type functions.
06:19MB Drive Assist Plus will come later with market-specific functions,
06:24but we can expect technologies like automatic lane changes or even hands-off highway cruising to trickle down from Benz's flagship models.
06:32Now, as I mentioned, the CLA with EQ technology,
06:35that's this fully electric version right here with the big battery, arrives in the United States later on this year.
06:41It'll be joined a couple of months thereafter with the 48-volt mild hybrid version.
06:45You can learn all about that and more over on cars.cnet.com.
06:49Drive safe, and I'll see you next time.