Mercedes-Benz has taken a fundamentally different approach to its next generation of electric vehicles. Rather than segregating its EVs onto dedicated platforms and giving them an entirely separate visual identity, the company is developing architectures capable of supporting both electric and combustion-based powertrains. That means the electric Mercedes of the future won’t necessarily look like an EV. And that’s precisely the point.
The first production examples of this strategy arrived for 2026 in the form of the new Mercedes-Benz CLA models. The lineup consists of the all-wheel-drive CLA350 and the rear-wheel-drive CLA250+ Electric Sedan. I spent a week with the latter and came away convinced Mercedes has found an effective way to make an EV feel, well, like a Mercedes.
A More Familiar Face
The styling of the new CLA represents a notable departure from the design language of the EQ models it replaced. Rather than announcing its electric identity with styling cues that separate it from the rest of the Mercedes-Benz lineup, the third-generation CLA looks unmistakably like a member of the Mercedes family. That’s a good thing.
The proportions are elegant, the detailing is appropriately upscale, and the overall design manages to be at once contemporary and restrained. There is no shortage of technology beneath the skin, but nothing about the CLA250+ screams “electric vehicle.” Internally designated C174, the fully electric four-door fastback is built on Mercedes-Benz’s Modular Architecture Platform (MMA), a flexible architecture designed to accommodate different powertrain configurations.
The rationale is straightforward: build what customers want. If demand shifts toward EVs, Mercedes can increase production of electric CLA models. If buyers continue gravitating toward combustion-powered or hybrid vehicles, the company can adjust production accordingly with the C178 variants. It is a manufacturing strategy designed to provide flexibility at a time when the automotive industry is navigating an unusually complicated transition in propulsion technology.
800 Volts And A New Battery
The CLA250+ also serves as the introduction to Mercedes-Benz’s new 800-volt electrical architecture. Along with the higher-voltage system comes updated battery chemistry intended to improve charging performance, responsiveness, and efficiency. The CLA250+ uses a single 200-kW permanent-magnet synchronous AC motor mounted at the rear axle. The motor draws its energy from an 85-kWh battery pack and produces 268 horsepower and 247 lb-ft of torque.
Unlike many EVs, the CLA250+ uses a two-speed transmission. The first ratio is intended to provide strong acceleration from rest, while the second is optimized for efficient high-speed cruising. On the road, the system works with impressive seamlessness. During my week with the car, I saw approximately 340 miles of range from a full charge. At an EVgo station near my home, the battery went from 10 percent to 90 percent in just under 30 minutes. More impressively, I watched the car add approximately 200 miles of range in about 10 minutes.
Those numbers matter because charging speed remains one of the biggest practical considerations for EV ownership. The CLA250+ substantially reduces the amount of time that needs to be spent thinking about it. Mercedes also equips the car with a dual-socket charging port, allowing it to accommodate either a NACS-style DC connector or a J1772 AC connector.
A Small Mercedes With A Big-Car Feel
The CLA may occupy the bottom rung of the Mercedes-Benz sedan lineup in terms of size, but there is nothing entry-level about the experience inside. The cabin seats four, although rear-seat passengers will find legroom somewhat constrained. Nevertheless, a glass roof, flat rear floor and clever packaging give the CLA250+ a surprising amount of usable space.
The interior looks as though a Mercedes concept car from the early 2000s has finally reached production. That isn’t necessarily nostalgia; it reflects how quickly automotive technology has caught up with ideas that once seemed too futuristic for everyday use. Despite the CLA’s dramatically curved roofline, headroom is good throughout. Visibility from the driver’s seat is adequate, and the major controls are logically positioned.
Then there’s the dashboard. At first glance, the sheer quantity of digital real estate can seem almost excessive. Spend some time with it, however, and the design begins to make sense. The system is far less intimidating in operation than it appears when you’re first confronted with it.
Superscreen Takes Center Stage
Mercedes-Benz calls the CLA’s expansive glass dashboard the Superscreen, and it is difficult to miss. The display in front of the driver provides the information necessary to operate and monitor the vehicle. The center display handles infotainment functions, while a third screen gives the front passenger independent access to selected entertainment features.
That passenger display is polarized to prevent the driver from viewing it while the vehicle is in motion—a thoughtful solution to what could otherwise be a significant distraction. The MBUX infotainment system supports wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, while Mercedes’ native navigation system incorporates Google Maps.
Audiophiles have plenty to work with, too. The available 16-speaker Burmester audio system incorporates Dolby Atmos, providing an unusually immersive listening experience for a compact sedan. The CLA250+ is equally well-equipped when it comes to sensing the world around it. Its suite of hardware includes 10 cameras, five radar sensors, and 12 ultrasonic sensors.
And despite all that technology, actually driving the car remains remarkably uncomplicated. Sit down, press the brake pedal, select Drive and go. There is no traditional ignition sequence to remember. Standard driver-assistance equipment includes adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assist, and automated emergency braking. Pedestrian and cyclist detection, along with lane-departure warning, are also standard.
Quietly Quick, Surprisingly Agile
The inherent smoothness of an electric powertrain is nothing new. What makes the CLA250+ particularly interesting is the way that smoothness is paired with a car that looks and behaves much more like a conventional Mercedes sedan. Acceleration is immediate and virtually silent.
The absence of powertrain drama becomes especially noticeable when you realize how little effort is required to make rapid progress. I am also a committed fan of one-pedal driving, and the CLA250+ delivers the feature properly. Lift off the accelerator and the car can decelerate all the way to a complete stop without touching the brake pedal.
The steering may feel a little light for drivers accustomed to a heavier setup, but it is precise and responsive. Mercedes has clearly prioritized ride comfort in the suspension tuning, yet that doesn’t prevent the CLA250+ from being surprisingly capable on a winding road. The rear-wheel-drive configuration is another welcome characteristic. It contributes to a remarkably tight turning circle, a feature Mercedes-Benz has consistently executed well over the years and one that becomes especially useful in urban driving.
On the highway, the CLA250+ is at its best. The car tracks with impressive stability at speed, while road and wind noise are kept to a minimum. It feels substantial without being cumbersome and refined without becoming isolated.
The New Mercedes EV Formula
The significance of the CLA250+ extends beyond its individual specifications. This is a Mercedes-Benz EV that doesn’t require a separate identity. It doesn’t need an unusual shape or a conspicuous badge to announce its propulsion system. Instead, it delivers the combination of design, comfort, technology and road manners that has long defined the brand, with an electric powertrain quietly doing the work underneath.
The result is a compact luxury sedan capable of traveling well beyond 300 miles on a charge, replenishing a substantial amount of that range in minutes and delivering the refinement expected of a Mercedes-Benz. And then there’s the price. With a starting point of $47,950, the CLA250+ brings substantial range, sophisticated charging technology and a thoroughly modern luxury-car experience into a segment where those attributes are still relatively uncommon.
The CLA250+ is not simply an electric version of a Mercedes-Benz sedan. It is an indication of where Mercedes believes the electric automobile belongs: not in a separate category, but squarely within the mainstream of the brand. After a week behind the wheel, I’m inclined to agree. I really like it.
