The 2026 Mercedes CLA-Class Is A Groundbreaking EV And Hybrid Do-Over

• Mercedes hopes that 800 volts, 320 kW charging and noteworthy effectivity will make the CLA successful with electrical sedan consumers.
• It can even be out there as a non-plug-in hybrid that guarantees diesel-like ranges of effectivity.
• Mercedes plans to launch 4 fashions on the MMA platform together with a seven-seater crossover.

The final Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class was a good-looking, aerodynamic front- and all-wheel-drive sedan geared toward bringing new prospects to the Silver Arrow model with an reasonably priced price ticket and environment friendly four-cylinder engines. You in all probability would not say that it lit the world on hearth, nonetheless. That is why the arrival of a brand new CLA-Class might not sound like that large a deal, however this time round, it is extra vital than chances are you’ll initially suppose.

After flying to Germany to take a look at how Mercedes created and examined the ultra-efficient new CLA, I’d even go as far as to say the CLA’s electrified rebirth might turn out to be a modern-day W201 (190)—one thing that hits reset on what this firm is able to. It’s that vital, and so much has been poured into its improvement.

This time round, the CLA is available in all-electric or hybrid type—however not as a plug-in hybrid. It can have a Tesla-style North American Charging Customary (NACS) plug and a Mixed Charging System (CCS) one for max flexibility. It goals for nothing lower than the Lucid Air by way of EV effectivity. And the hybrid system alone is a captivating, high-powered piece of equipment. 

Mercedes wants the CLA to succeed to make sure the model has a future, as issues have dramatically modified within the final 10 years. Like all established automakers from the Western hemisphere, Mercedes’ place is beneath menace from Chinese language carmakers, that are advancing at an unprecedented charge and are actually seeking to increase gross sales of their more and more proficient and fascinating automobiles into the West. Tariffs might not be sufficient to carry them again. 

Whereas in Stuttgart final week, I couldn’t assist however discover what number of Nio, BYD and Lynk & Co plug-ins I noticed within the metropolis, which is residence to each Mercedes-Benz and Porsche. There are nonetheless loads of automobiles from these Swabian manufacturers because the locals are fiercely loyal to them, however I used to be nonetheless stunned by what number of automobiles from China I noticed.

Mercedes additionally wants the assistance. Gross sales of its EQ-branded EVs haven’t been incredible as consumers didn’t heat as much as the cleaning soap bar-like styling; certainly, rival BMW appears to have taken the win for spherical one. However Mercedes says the CLA is proof that it is from accomplished with forward-thinking electrical automobiles.

And even on its residence turf, Chinese language automobiles are beginning to acquire a foothold, which is why it seems Mercedes has pulled out all of the stops to make the CLA (and different autos constructed on its modular MMA platform) class-leading. It’s obtained nice vary and effectivity, and with a rear-wheel-drive-biased electrical powertrain, it ought to be fairly candy to drive too.

The Platform Brings Extra Than Simply A Sedan

The CLA sedan will launch subsequent yr, and it’ll quickly be joined by a capturing brake wagon variant that’s sadly not coming to the US. Two crossovers will observe, which can function replacements for at present’s EQA and EQB, so considered one of them will seemingly be a seven-seater.

The MMA platform was designed to be scalable and modular, so it should seemingly underpin extra fashions sooner or later, a few of them greater than what we at present learn about. Mercedes is understood to be engaged on an electrical C-Class (the subsequent step up from the CLA within the Mercedes sedan hierarchy), which is coming in 2026.

Photograph by: Mercedes-Benz

Nonetheless, even when Mercedes says it might go even greater with MMA-based autos, the electrical C-Class (and the electrical GLC) gained’t use it. These as a substitute can be constructed on one other bespoke EV structure known as MB.EA. This was meant to exchange the EVA2 platform utilized in the EQE and EQS, however new studies counsel the 2 platforms might coexist for just a few extra years.

With the AMG-EA platform that can be unique to AMG fashions, it will deliver Mercedes’ complete variety of devoted EV platforms to 4.

Pure Electrical CLA

The MMA platform, brief for Mercedes Modular Structure, is the important thing to the CLA, and it permits for each electrical and hybrid powertrains. Mercedes isn’t planning to make plug-in hybrids on this platform, arguing that giving consumers two selections is sufficient.

This looks as if a sensible alternative as a result of whereas PHEVs are nice on paper and have sure particular use instances the place they excel, utilizing them proper requires common charging, and that’s one thing many house owners simply aren’t able to decide to.

Photograph by: Mercedes-Benz

With an 800-volt structure, the MMA platform has a peak charging energy of 320 kilowatts in autos geared up with NMC batteries. They’ll add 186 miles (320 km) of vary in simply 10 minutes should you start charging at round 10% after having preconditioned the battery on the best way to the charger. Mercedes says the ten to 80% charging sprint may be accomplished in simply 22 minutes.

Due to having each CCS and NACS charging sockets, CLA EV house owners could have a alternative of plugging both right into a Tesla Supercharger community or any DC quick charger.

The 268-horsepower rear drive unit will embrace a everlasting magnet synchronous (PSM) motor and a two-speed transmission, much like the one Porsche has on the Taycan. It improves elasticity, permitting for each improved acceleration and better effectivity at excessive speeds.

Twin-motor CLA 4Matics get a further smaller drive unit powering the entrance axle by a single-speed discount gear mechanism. It additionally runs a PSM and has a peak output of 107 hp, pushing the whole energy output north of 300 hp—the mixed energy determine hasn’t been launched but. Each motors may be decoupled, permitting the automotive to coast freely serving to enhance effectivity in sure conditions.

With each motors engaged, the CLA EV will be capable of regenerate as much as 200 kW of power beneath deceleration.

The massive-battery CLA, which has 85 kilowatt-hours of usable capability, has as much as 466 miles (750 km) of WLTP vary. The extra reasonably priced variant will characteristic a 58-kWh LFP battery pack that ought to nonetheless get an official vary ranking of round 310 miles (500 km) WLTP. Mercedes will pair the bottom single-motor rear-wheel-drive CLA with this smaller battery, which ought to decrease its weight and hold the effectivity excessive.

The charging energy for automobiles working LFP batteries can be decrease, however provided that these even have a decrease capability, the distinction in charging time shouldn’t be vital.

The Hybrid CLA

Mercedes developed a wholly new four-cylinder engine for the hybrid model of the brand new CLA and subsequent fashions constructed on the platform.

It’s a 1.5-liter four-cylinder known as the M252, which is said to Mercedes’ bigger 3.0-liter straight-six, the M256, however its focus is only on effectivity. It meets the stringent new EU7 emissions commonplace, which can be enforced beginning in 2026, which other than exhaust will even take tire and brake emissions into consideration.

The brand new M252 makes use of up 17% much less house than the two.0-liter engine from at present’s CLA, and since its electrical motor is within the gearbox, it doesn’t have an built-in starter generator like the present delicate hybrid mannequin. Powering the automotive’s 48-volt hybrid system is a small, 1.3 kWh battery situated beneath the motive force’s seat.

The hybrid CLA can be out there with three energy outputs and both front- or all-wheel drive. The ability ranges are 134, 160 and 187 hp with respective torque values of 147 lb-ft (200 Nm), 184 lb-ft (250 Nm) and 221 lb-ft (300 Nm). All characteristic the identical eight-speed dual-clutch transmission with a 27 hp motor built-in, which permits for electrical crusing (mainly turning off the combustion engine and driving solely on electrical energy) at speeds of as much as 62 mph (100 km/h).

Mercedes stopped wanting offering an effectivity ranking for the hybrid, however we did hear them mentioning their intention to get it to have diesel-like consumption.

What’s Subsequent?

8

We’re trying ahead to seeing extra quickly, together with the ultimate manufacturing design. The CLA-Class is due in late 2025 as a 2026 mannequin. When it does debut, it will do for Mercedes’ EVs what the EQ automobiles up to now haven’t—all whereas providing flexibility with a really intelligent hybrid model as nicely. 

Will it’s a hit when it makes its U.S. debut? We’ll discover out quickly sufficient.