Mercedes-Benz is bringing its entry-level lineup into the future with the next-generation CLA — a sleek compact sedan built on the automaker’s cutting-edge Modular Architecture (MMA). While still offering combustion engine options, the CLA has been designed first and foremost as an electric vehicle, featuring a striking range, intelligent software, and refined design. Positioned to replace both the outgoing CLA and the A-Class hatchback, this revamped four-door represents a pivotal chapter in the brand’s electrification strategy.
Design Evolution and Smart Packaging
The new CLA combines elegant aesthetics with practicality and technological ambition. Mercedes calls it the brand’s “most intelligent and efficient car” — and it’s more than just marketing hyperbole.
The Frunk Makes a Comeback
After decades without one, Mercedes is reintroducing a front trunk. The new CLA features a 110-liter frunk under the hood, adding to its 405-liter traditional trunk. This is the brand’s first frunk since the 1930s-era W23 model — and a clear nod to the packaging advantages of EVs.
More Space, More Presence
Dimensionally, the CLA has grown in all directions. It’s 35 mm longer, 25 mm wider, 29 mm taller, and its wheelbase has stretched by 61 mm. Interior space is improved, with a notable gain of 16 mm in front headroom and 28 mm in the rear. While pricing hasn’t been confirmed, Mercedes CEO Ola Källenius hinted that the electric and ICE versions would be priced similarly — and more profitably — than current models.
Digital Soul: MB.OS and AI Assistants
Underpinning the CLA’s functionality is MB.OS — Mercedes’ brand-new proprietary operating system, making its full debut here. It replaces nearly 50 electronic control units with just four high-performance domain-specific supercomputers.
An Empathetic Co-Pilot
The CLA’s infotainment runs on an upgraded MBUX system supported by generative AI tools from ChatGPT and Microsoft Bing. A voice-activated digital assistant appears as an animated three-pointed star, capable of engaging in natural conversations and shifting emotional tones. The system can toggle between ChatGPT and Google’s Automotive AI, depending on the context.
The Superscreen Arrives
Borrowing from Mercedes’ upper-tier models, the CLA features an optional panoramic MBUX Superscreen — a full-width display composed of three seamlessly integrated screens: a 10.25-inch driver’s display, a 14-inch central touchscreen, and another 14-inch passenger screen, all beneath a single pane of glass.
Advanced Driver Assistance
With approximately 25 sensors and a water-cooled supercomputer managing driving functions, the CLA is brimming with semi-autonomous potential. But Mercedes isn’t rushing into Level 3 territory — yet.
On the Edge of Autonomy
- Drive Assist: Offers lane centering and turn-signal activated lane changes (Level 2).
- Drive Assist Plus: Adds automatic lane changes (Level 2+).
- Drive Assist Pro: Aims for point-to-point driving (Level 2++), with launch planned in China for 2024 and the U.S. in 2026.
European regulatory approval for higher levels of autonomy is still pending, but the CLA is being engineered with readiness in mind.
Championing Range and Efficiency
The electric CLA promises a staggering 792 km (492 miles) of range under WLTP — outpacing even Mercedes’ flagship EQS models despite using a smaller 85 kWh battery.
Engineering Highlights
- 800-volt architecture and silicon carbide inverter
- Two-speed transmission and a 0.21 drag coefficient
- Brake-by-wire system with up to 200 kW of recuperation
- Energy usage as low as 12.2 kWh/100 km
- Charge 325 km of range in just 10 minutes
Internal Combustion Is Still in the Picture
For those not ready to go electric, Mercedes is developing a new 1.5-liter four-cylinder mild hybrid engine, co-produced with Geely’s Aurobay. The powertrain includes a 48-volt system and a 1.3-kWh battery, enabling electric-only driving at city speeds.
Efficiency Without Compromise
The hybrid features:
- Integrated electric motor within an eight-speed automatic transmission
- Boosted acceleration during low-speed driving
- “Electric sailing” functionality — coasting with the engine off
What’s Next?
The CLA will launch in Europe with BEV variants this summer, followed by the mild hybrids in 2026. A stylish shooting brake version is set to arrive later this year, expanding the model’s reach in the premium compact market.
A Premium Reboot of the Entry-Lux Segment
With its tech-forward approach, spacious interior, and unmatched EV range, the new CLA aims to reinvigorate Mercedes’ presence in the compact luxury category. While pricing remains a mystery, Mercedes is clearly betting that design, software, and versatility will justify a premium — whether you’re plugging in or topping off the tank.
