Mercedes-Benz All-Electric CLA Review – It’s got a frunk!

Mercedes-Benz is not new to electric cars. I was at the launch of their EQC in Sweden in late 2018 and then drove that very car when it arrived in Australia around a year later. It was an impressive car, but electric cars have come a long way since then. This week, having driven the Mercedes-Benz CLA all-electric, I can tell you Mercedes has not taken their eye off the road. 

Over 660 km range in itself is a significant improvement from Mercedes. As the whole market shifts to longer range, appreciating the concerns around range anxiety, Mercedes-Benz CLA ticks that box in a very big way.

Interestingly, it’s actually what’s under the bonnet that exhibits Mercedes’ best understanding of the electric car market than anything else. It’s a frunk: over 100 L of space under the bonnet, something that Mercedes hasn’t done before. In fact, on some of their electric cars, you can’t even open the bonnet.

Tesla proved that with an electric platform, you could build and lay out the mechanics and the electrics of this car to create space: lots of boot space, lots of frunk space. Most companies have ignored that, most companies have missed that, and now Mercedes has hit the nail on the head.

In reality, that’s just a basic example of the whole evolution of the electric car market. The general lineup here, Mercedes-Benz CLA 200 and the Mercedes-Benz CLA 350 4MATIC, are examples of providing options for buyers that meet range, comfort, and features across the board. 

These cars are bigger than the previous CLA: up to 61 mm longer. There’s more shoulder room, headroom, and overall space when compared to the previous generation. In part, that’s thanks to the glass roof, which does add definite headspace, though this is still a smallish vehicle. This is not a large sedan. I felt comfortable in it, but I’m not 6 ft. tall or carrying as much weight as perhaps I used to. I felt super comfortable behind the wheel. Plenty of options for the driving position made it easy to fit and feel comfortable behind the wheel.

In simple terms, the difference between the CLA 200 and the CLA 350 4MATIC is battery and performance: more range, more power.

Interior technology is a huge part of the Mercedes experience, and what Mercedes has got available here is a three-screen setup: huge driver infotainment and passenger displays, with the passenger’s display being optional. Frankly, I’m a bit disappointed by those three displays in the way they don’t really gel together. They look like three monitors on a desk, not one large widescreen monitor. For me, that took away a little bit from that impressive digital experience.

We’ve got to remember this is essentially an affordable Mercedes electric car at around ,000 for the 200 and ,000 for the 350 4MATIC, plus roads and all the taxes required. These are the entry-level Mercedes, and they play a perfect role in the lineup in that way.

I felt the ride was best described as soft, and that’s not a bad thing. I don’t think this is a sporty vehicle, even though you can put it in Sport mode and get some absolute punch from the accelerator. I think it corners beautifully on some country roads, winding parts, and tight turns. It felt great to drive, but I felt it was much sportier than cars. Don’t confuse this with a sports car, but don’t think you’ll be disappointed. If you want a bit of performance under the foot.

One of the most impressive things about this is probably the regenerative braking settings. In Normal mode, it felt like what I’m used to in an electric car. You could, of course, go away from regenerative braking and get more of a cruise, but the Regenerative Plus setting, which essentially is one-pedal driving, is intense.

Sitting as a passenger, driving at 80 km/h on country roads with Stephen Fenech behind the wheel (he’s no revhead), we slowed for a corner and turned a direct 90° onto a side road. I looked at Stephen and said, “Did you brake for that, or was that all regen?” It was entirely regen. It was very impressive: the amount of regeneration that they can get from a single one-pedal drive. It’s not about the ability to have one pedal; it’s about the power of the regeneration for braking performance, which essentially prolongs the life of your brakes overall.

If you do want performance, the CLA 200 does 0 to 100 in 7.5 seconds, and the 350 4Matic will do it in 4.9. Of course, that makes the 200 the less exciting option for many people, but I have to say, out of the two, having driven them both, I think the 200 is the pick. I’d probably choose the 200 and throw in the pack that gives you the interior, extra screen, and the hands-free tailgate and different things like that. Impressively, this supports up to 200 kW DC charging, while the CLA 350 will do 320 kW. At home, you’ll get up to 22 kW AC charging in a three-phase installation, which is not uncommon in Australia.

I love the styling of this car. They’ve done it very well to make it simply look like a Mercedes but have that modern feel to it. The 142 stars on the illuminated grill are stunning, and the pop-out door handles give you easy access to every part of the vehicle. 

Another little hidden tech nod here. The infotainment system relates to maps and AI. Firstly, with the maps, it still looks exactly the same as Mercedes of previous years. The colors, the design, it looks like a Mercedes map, but in fact, it’s now underpinned by Google Maps. You’re getting the routing and, of course, the information, the businesses, the destinations of Google Maps, and that makes the mapping faster, far more usable in my view. I respect companies that have their own mapping, but let’s just all concede Google and Apple have nailed maps. We don’t need to make any more. 

While you’ve always been able to ask Mercedes by simply saying “Hey Mercedes” and you could get to certain settings, Mercedes is now conversational. Using generative AI, they’ve been able to allow you to have a conversation with your Mercedes. Only about the car or the route you’re taking, it’s actually not useful in doing things like settings, but it is very useful in things like helping you find out where to go:

• pick a burger joint
• pick a restaurant
• find a place to go

It’s about those kinds of generative AI answers interacting with things like the maps. I didn’t find it to be overly impressive, a little bit slow and sluggish, but I see the concept and I can imagine the potential.

To say the CLA electric felt like a Mercedes is to say they’ve achieved their goal of continuing to wrap the ethos of the brand and the drivability of the brand in a new skin, on a new platform with a new drivetrain.

70 or 80,000 is a lot of money, but I think for some people being able to own a Mercedes and an electric Mercedes at that price is a huge win. That’s probably going to be a factor that brings people directly into dealerships.

As I said, I’d choose the 200 and just spec it up. See how that pans out for your budget. Can’t see anyone being too disappointed by the all-new Mercedes-Benz CLA electric.