The small CLA, which is at the bottom of Mercedes-Benz’s “sedan” lineup, has long been seen as the cheapest way to get into the German luxury carmaker’s lineup. This small, coupe-like car had to leave the plant with a huge stack of batteries because electrification was the word of the day at all German automakers. That time is now. Don’t be fooled by its small size; the 2017 Mercedes-Benz CLA is a strong luxury car that changes the way the affordable Little Benz looks. The CLA comes in two battery-electric versions, which lets Mercedes-Benz’s new “MMA” platform show off its electric prowess. Hybrid models will come later in the product cycle. Both the CLA 250+ with rear-wheel drive and the CLA 350 4matic with all-wheel drive will have an 85-kWh battery pack. At the moment, Mercedes only gives range estimates based on the European WLTP cycle, which is less strict than the EPA’s method. Based on these estimates, the CLA 250+ could go up to 500 miles without needing to be charged. On the other hand, the CLA 350 4Matic would lose about 25 miles of range in return for better performance and a heavier curb weight. In relation to that, the CLA 250+ weighs about 4500 pounds. Our car weighs about 400 pounds more than the Tesla Model 3 Performance, which isn’t too bad considering how rough and noisy the Tesla’s cabin is. Pricey is the second motor in the CLA 350 4Matic; the all-wheel-drive model weighs 4700 pounds. That is a lot of weight for a speed model with not much horsepower. But that doesn’t mean it’s weak; Mercedes thinks the CLA 350 4Matic’s 349 hp and 380 lb-ft of torque will let it reach 60 mph in 4.8 seconds. The CLA 250+ only makes 268 and 247 horsepower, and it takes 6.6 seconds to hit 60 miles per hour. High-end EVs that put out a good amount of power? How could they have known? Also, this setup leaves a lot of room for a possible AMG model. The CLA is one of the few EVs with a two-speed gear, which could help it perform better. Mercedes’ press kit explains that the electric drive unit at the rear axle features a two-speed gearbox, ensuring both dynamic performance and high efficiency in all driving conditions. The first gear is designed to maximize efficiency in city driving while delivering excellent acceleration from a standstill. After that: “The second gear is made to deliver power at higher speeds and efficiently on highways for great long-distance range and comfort.” ” The electronically controlled top speed of 130 mph can also be reached in second gear. All of your power is useless if it hurts your range. Both versions of the CLA come with an 11-kilowatt AC charger that can charge it from 10% to 100% in about 9 hours. If you use a DC fast charger, its 320-kW power should let you charge it from 10% to 80% in just 22 minutes. According to Mercedes, a real charger can add up to 300 kilometers (about 185 miles), which means you can get places faster. There are other signs that Mercedes-Benz’s EV program is getting better. Both the CLA and its bigger EQ brothers have more expensive engines, but the CLA is meant to make better use of its EV architecture. For instance, the CLA has a full-fledged trunk, but the Mercedes-Benz EQE Sedan has a hood that is permanently locked and can only be opened for repair. It is there, even though it only holds 2.5 cubic feet. The CLA will also come with its own Huge Mercedes ScreenTM. In this version, it’s referred to as the “Superscreen,” and the Unity Game Engine enhances its appearance. Like always, MBUX has a full voice interface, but this time, it also has a virtual assistant driven by generative AI. If you’d rather see something than ask ChatGPT about it, Google Maps is already built in. Finally, we won’t know the CLA’s final price, EPA range predictions, or when it will go on sale for real until late this year. In the meantime, information about the next hybrid cars will start to come out once Mercedes is done with its first round of launches. Watch out.
