The entry-level Mercedes is all new for 2026, bringing substantial changes underneath the familiar skin compared to its predecessor. The BMW 2 Gran Coupe competitor will be available for the first time as a pure EV. Alternatively, the cheaper versions feature a mild-hybrid setup based around a small, turbocharged gas engine. While diesels outside the US also powered previous generations, the swoopy sedan ditches the oil-burner.
As we’ve come to expect from a car that switches generations, the revamped CLA is bigger. Mercedes has stretched the baby Benz’s body by 1.3 inches to 185.9 inches, making it slightly longer than a previous-generation C-Class. The not-so-compact luxury sedan is also a full inch wider than the old CLA, now at 73 inches. The engineers raised the car by 1.1 inches to 57.8 inches and elongated the wheelbase by 2.4 inches to 109.8 inches.
Photo by: Mercedes-Benz
Although larger than the model it replaces, it’s slightly more cramped for rear passengers. People sitting in the back have less legroom and elbow room but a bit more headroom, despite the sloping roofline. Mercedes doesn’t explain why rear comfort has suffered a downgrade, but logic tells us it’s due to packaging compromises associated with the launch of EV versions. It’s not all bad since the driver and front passenger do get a bit more room than before.
Cargo capacity has also decreased by 1.9 cubic feet to 14.3 cubic feet. That’s not a significant loss if you get the electric model since Mercedes has fitted the zero-emission CLA with a front trunk. It’s actually the company’s first vehicle in 90 years to offer a front luggage area. The new model can hold 2.5 cubic feet of cargo space under the hood.
Exterior styling is an evolution rather than a revolution. Some would be tempted to say it’s a facelift rather than a next-generation model. Front and rear light bars echo the design trends of the 2020s, and there are more illuminated stars than we can count. Mercedes made the profile smoother with flush door handles to echo some of the bigger Benz sedans. Despite the rakish roof, it’s still a sedan with a trunk instead of a more practical tailgate. The sleek body has a drag coefficient of only 0.21 in the car’s most aerodynamic version.
Photo by: Mercedes-Benz
Although it looks familiar on the outside, the cabin has been revamped. An upright dashboard hosts up to three screens surrounded by a sea of glossy black plastic. The instrument cluster measures 10.25 inches and sits next to a 14-inch infotainment screen, both offered as standard across the range. The new CLA can be configured with a 14-inch passenger screen at an additional cost.
Dubbed MBUX Superscreen, the triple-display setup features a large glass surface, mimicking the more expensive models with their screen-heavy dashboards. Customers can spend extra on a head-up display showing a 12.2-inch image in the driver’s line of sight. The long list of options also includes a Burmester sound system with 16 speakers throughout the cabin.
The turbine-style side air vents are reminiscent of the previous generation, but a rather basic-looking flat vent has replaced the triple circular center vents. We’ve also noticed that the separate climate controls have been deleted, so you’ll have to use the touchscreen to adjust the temperature and other settings. On the flip side, the “floating” center console offers cupholders and a wireless charging pad above, along with a decent cargo area underneath.
Photo by: Mercedes-Benz
Photo by: Mercedes-Benz
A new multi-link rear suspension derived from the larger and fancier models is claimed to improve ride quality. That’ll also depend on the size of the wheels, which vary from 17 to 19 inches. Elsewhere, the panoramic sunroof is standard. It doesn’t have a roller blind because Mercedes mentions it doesn’t need one since it uses heat-insulating laminated glass with an ultra-thin infrared film to block radiation and reduce glare.
As for power, the base CLA features a 1.5-liter, four-cylinder engine that runs on the Miller cycle and works with an eight-speed, dual-clutch automatic transmission. The transversally mounted “M252” gets an all-aluminum crankcase and 48-volt technology with an electric motor built into that DCT. Mercedes says the 1.5-liter unit will be offered in two outputs without revealing power numbers and with a choice between front- and all-wheel drive.
If you’re willing to go electric, there are two models to choose from: CLA 250+ with EQ Technology and CLA 350 4Matic with EQ Technology. The former has a single-motor, rear-wheel-drive setup with 268 horsepower and 247 pound-feet of torque. The latter adopts a beefier dual-motor, all-wheel-drive layout with 349 hp and 380 lb-ft. Both feature a rear-mounted two-speed transmission, where the first is tailored for city use while the second is for highway driving.
Photo by: Mercedes-Benz
Photo by: Mercedes-Benz
Stick to the base electric CLA, and it’ll do 0 to 60 mph in 6.6 seconds. Its beefier counterpart does the job in 4.8 seconds. Both are electronically governed at 130 mph (210 km/h). It’s worth noting that the 4Matic model will operate in all-wheel-drive mode only when extra power and traction are required. The front motor will be decoupled in the other scenarios for greater efficiency.
If you’re wondering how much it weighs, the dual-motor model tips the scales at a whopping 4,707 pounds (2,135 kilograms) in European specification. Such is life with electric cars. The gas model should be substantially lighter without the chunky battery pack. Speaking of which, the EVs share a nickel-manganese-cobalt battery pack with a usable capacity of 85 kWh.
Mercedes claims a maximum range in the WLTP cycle of 492 miles (792 kilometers) for the RWD model and up to 479 miles (771 kilometers) for its AWD counterpart. Since 800-volt tech is on board, DC fast charging at an impressive 325 kW is supported. In an ideal scenario, you can add 202 miles (325 kilometers) of range after only 10 minutes at a DC charging station.
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Mercedes-Benz
Near the end of the year, Mercedes intends to roll out a different flavor of the electric CLA equipped with a lithium-iron-phosphate (LFP) battery with a usable energy content of 58 kWh.
An A-Class Sedan won’t join the new CLA. Mercedes is slimming down its small car offerings but is still giving wagon-loving Europeans a CLA Shooting Brake. Additionally, the GLA and GLB crossovers are getting next-generation models. We’re expecting all four to spawn fully electric derivatives. It hasn’t been announced yet, but the incoming “Little G” will likely be mechanically related to these compact vehicles.
Mercedes will have the electric CLA at dealers in the United States later this year, with the mild-hybrid gas model to follow.