Despite being among the many first main producers to launch a premium electrical car (keep in mind the EQC of 2019?), Mercedes-Benz has had a middling response to its more moderen electrified fashions.
The EQS Saloon is modern however costly in comparison with rivals, the EQB SUV simply seems to be a bit odd and isn’t as enjoyable appropriately to drive, whereas the quad-motor G-Class is, properly, a distinct segment inside a distinct segment.
It is honest to say that Merc wants its battery-powered huge hitter: one thing that may persuade the lots to ditch their inner combustion engine vehicles and place religion within the German marque’s engineering. Renault’s R5 E-Tech or Kia’s EV6 second, if you’ll.
The new CLA might properly be that automotive, as the corporate’s C-Class has at all times been one in every of its best-sellers and, consequently, Mercedes-Benz has thrown its revolutionary would possibly on the machine. A newly developed drive system with revolutionary two-speed transmission, a low drag co-efficient, an 800V structure and fancy new batteries with silicon-oxide anodes for better gravimetric vitality density are only a few technical highlights.
Although flashy on the within (that is the primary automotive to introduce Merc’s Super Screen expertise), the brand new CLA is in any other case slightly wise. Safe, quiet, comfy and mightily environment friendly aren’t precisely buzzwords that get petrol heads scorching underneath the collar, however right here, they’re causes to get excited.
Big effectivity vitality
The Mercedes-Benz CLA with EQ Technology, to provide the automotive its full and really cumbersome identify, takes loads of inspiration from the Vision EQXX rolling laboratory — or the automotive that managed 620-miles on a single cost, in different phrases.
It’s simple to dismiss this as PR fluff, however a deep dive underneath the pores and skin of the car reveals that there’s loads of fact to it. The drag co-efficient of 0.21 could be very low due to its form and quite a few under-floor covers, whereas it’s the first Mercedes to make use of an “air-to-air” warmth pump, which takes waste warmth from the electrical drivetrain, the battery, in addition to the ambient air to heat the cabin.
There’s clever regenerative braking, which makes an attempt to sluggish the automotive in most circumstances by way of recuperation, and an all-new two-speed transmission.
Unlike in efficiency vehicles, the place the electrical powertrain is geared to place most energy down from standstill, Mercedes-Benz flips this on the top and gives a second 5:1 ratio designed for energy supply at excessive speeds and most effectivity at a motorway cruise.
Despite this, the twin-motor CLA 350 4Matic can nonetheless handle to dispatch of the 0-62mph dash in a decent 4.9 seconds and return virtually 480-miles on a single cost.
Many of the weather talked about above aren’t precisely new or ground-breaking, however every part Mercedes has learnt on its quest to extract each final mile from a battery pack has been launched right here, with the outcomes being big mileage between cost stops.
When it is time to pull over and refuel the battery, each vehicles can add round 195 to 200-miles of vary in simply ten minutes from DC fast-charging retailers.
Smooth operator
There is a tangible distinction between the ultra-efficient CLA 250+ with EQ Technology (the only drive unit variant) and the extra performance-orientated CLA 350 4Matic, with the latter selecting up tempo at a extra spectacular price and usually feeling just like the extra premium driving expertise.
But then base fashions begin at £45,615 within the UK, which is round $61,000/AU$94,000 roughly transformed. This sees it rival issues just like the Tesla Model 3 (with a better vary on paper), in addition to BMW’s i4.
However, the super-efficient drive will possible see it go additional on a single cost than both of those autos, in addition to cost sooner, simply ten minutes for round 200-miles of vary from the quickest retailers.
In each the CLA 250+ and 350, the journey is easy and ridiculously quiet, with a premium really feel contained in the cabin irrespective of the spec. Aside from that, the drive is slightly unremarkable, however that’s actually the purpose — this can be a automotive you possibly can fortunately dwell with daily.
Mercedes-Benz has tried to remind people who it’s nonetheless the premium participant by slathering its newest mannequin in three-pointed stars… they’re completely in every single place. I didn’t have time to depend all of them, however that tally is properly into the a whole bunch.
It’s not the slickest method however hey, maybe I’m not the audience anymore. Similarly, these vehicles that aren’t specified with the Superscreen array, which features a touchscreen for the entrance passenger, are short-changed with a little bit of star-covered plastic that sits as an alternative.
Minor grumblings, because the cabin is in any other case well-appointed, with loads of room in the back and front for taller passengers and a large trunk for transporting equipment. The monumental panoramic glass roof additionally floods the cabin with pure mild and within the upcoming CLA Shooting Brake model, you possibly can even have but extra illuminated stars embellish this floor.
It seems like a extra luxurious, simply personalised providing than, say, a present Tesla, but with an equally spectacular digital array.
This stuff is vital to these clients seeking to purchase into extra elevated, premium EV expertise.
Screen take a look at
We have been fortunate sufficient to get an early have a look at Mercedes’ spectacular new digital array earlier this 12 months, however the multitude of screens work simply as properly in situ, notably the slick new MBUX system that underpins all of it.
The graphics are sharp and response occasions extremely fast, with what Mercedes refers to as its ‘Zero Layer’ on the central show exhibiting crucial info. Alternatively, customers can swipe via and organize the quite a few apps like they’d on a smartphone or pill.
On the street, I used to be in a position to take a look at the brand new AI-powered MBUX Virtual Assistant slightly higher, asking it utilizing conversational prompts to direct me to close by cafes with a view of the river, or a florist that’s open.
It harnesses ChatGPT4o and searches with Microsoft Bing, additionally counting on Google Gemini to assist with navigational queries. The outcomes are spectacular, and it will get higher the extra you utilize it, making it a lot simpler to navigate to much less particular spots with ease.
The German marque additionally made a giant deal of its clever route planning at launch, which is able to plan the quickest and most handy routes, factoring in stops to cost and lowering the time hanging round ready by solely deciding on the quickest (and operational) chargers.
This is additional aided by Surround Navigation, which takes a dwell feed from the assorted cameras and sensors across the automotive to construct a real-time 3D illustration of the environment. It takes slightly getting used to, however the nav system does a fantastic job of metropolis infrastructure in a digital format to make it simpler to navigate utilizing landmarks.
Again, that is nothing new of ground-breaking, however the whole package deal works extraordinarily properly collectively, with sufficient technological wizardry to impress these onboard. Opt for the Superscreen with premium sound system and the viewing expertise from the passenger display screen can rival most residence cinemas.
Of course, specifying the entire niceties shortly sees the asking worth rocket, but it surely nonetheless seems like a superb worth package deal given the electrical efficiency, vary and the expertise on provide.
Personally, I felt the costlier 350 4Matic mannequin felt just like the extra completed automotive, extra pleasurable to drive and boasting the kind of efficiency that many shoppers now anticipate from an electrical car — however the 250+ represents the perfect worth for cash in contrast different the direct competitors.
Mercedes-Benz has thrown an enormous quantity on the CLA, however that doesn’t at all times equate to a succesful recipe. But right here, all of it works, it feels cohesive and it blends into the background after various miles, leaving a succesful, comfy, quiet and really easy-to-live-with EV. It feels extra completed than a lot of its clostest rivals, together with these from Kia, Hyundai and BMW.
With its AMG arm thrilling on the different finish of the spectrum with the AMG GT XX concept, it feels just like the German marque has entered the subsequent, probably extra succesful chapter of its EV story.