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Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class
Car and Driver says the CLA-Class has been the entry point to the Mercedes-Benz lineup for years, and as the fastback sedan enters its third generation, it's spawning an electric variant while a gas-powered CLA still lives on; the electric CLA is offered as the single-motor, rear-wheel-drive CLA250+ or the dual-motor, all-wheel-drive CLA350, with the EPA estimating driving range at up to 374 miles per charge, challenging established EV sedans such as the BMW i4 and Tesla Model 3, and ranking #2 in Car and Driver's Best Electric Sedans and Hatchbacks behind the Tesla Model 3. MotorTrend says the redesigned CLA rides on the new MMA platform with an 800-volt architecture enabling fast charging, is the first vehicle to run entirely on the new Mercedes-Benz Operating System (MB.OS) with over-the-air update capability, and offers an enjoyable driving experience with smooth acceleration in RWD versions, light yet precise steering in the CLA250+, and exceptionally refined ride quality, though rear seat space is limited and there is some noticeable wind noise at speed.
The entry point to Mercedes, now electric
Car and Driver (opens in a new tab) says the CLA-Class has been the entry point to the Mercedes-Benz lineup for years, and as the fastback sedan enters its third generation, it's spawning an electric variant while a gas-powered CLA still lives on; the electric CLA is offered as the single-motor, rear-wheel-drive CLA250+ or the dual-motor, all-wheel-drive CLA350, with the EPA estimating driving range at up to 374 miles per charge, challenging established EV sedans such as the BMW i4 and Tesla Model 3.
Ranked #2 among electric sedans and hatchbacks
Car and Driver (opens in a new tab) ranks the CLA-Class EV #2 in Best Electric Sedans and Hatchbacks, behind the Tesla Model 3 and ahead of the Hyundai Ioniq 6 N, Lexus ES EV, and Dodge Charger Daytona EV, calling the new electric CLA pleasant to drive with more range than its rivals.
New MMA platform and MB.OS software
MotorTrend (opens in a new tab) says the redesigned CLA rides on the new MMA platform with an 800-volt architecture enabling fast charging, is the first vehicle to run entirely on the new Mercedes-Benz Operating System (MB.OS) with over-the-air update capability, and offers an enjoyable driving experience with smooth acceleration in RWD versions, light yet precise steering in the CLA250+, and exceptionally refined ride quality, though rear seat space is limited and there is some noticeable wind noise at speed.
Questions buyers ask
How much range does the Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class EV have?
Car and Driver (opens in a new tab) says the EPA estimates up to 374 miles per charge.
What platform does the new Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class use?
MotorTrend (opens in a new tab) says the new MMA platform with an 800-volt architecture.
Research map
Every major decision path.
The 2027 Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class is built around 1.5L turbo four-cylinder hybrid (CLA 220) or electric motor(s), single or dual (CLA 250+/350 Electric), rated at 268 / 349 horsepower across its compact luxury sedan body style.
Explore this topic →02Trims and equipmentThe 2027 U.S. lineup has 3 trims.
Explore this topic →03Towing and capabilityThe 2027 CLA-Class seats 5 and is a Compact luxury sedan.
Explore this topic →04Safety and ownershipNHTSA recalls, complaints and crash ratings for the 2027 CLA-Class.
Explore this topic →Current model year
2027 Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class
Full ground-up MY2027 redesign on Mercedes' new MMA platform. CLA 220 Hybrid pairs a 1.5L turbo four with a small 30-hp/148-lb-ft electric assist motor built into its 8-speed dual-clutch transmission (FWD at launch, 4MATIC AWD following); CLA 250+ Electric is a single-motor RWD EV at 268 hp; CLA 350 4MATIC Electric is a dual-motor AWD EV at 349 hp with roughly 350 miles of range from an 85-kWh battery.
Read specifications, trims, answers and sourcesModel-year archive
7 indexed Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class model years.
| Model year | Trims | Open record |
|---|---|---|
| 2027 Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class | 2027 record → | |
| 2026 Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class | 2026 record → | |
| 2025 Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class | 2025 record → | |
| 2021 Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class | 2021 record → | |
| 2018 Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class | 2018 record → | |
| 2017 Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class | 2017 record → | |
| 2016 Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class | 2016 record → |
Background and safety record
What public sources say about the Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class.
The Mercedes-Benz CLA is a series of luxury subcompact executive cars manufactured by Mercedes-Benz since 2013. The first generation was a four-door sedan based on the platform of the W176 A-Class and W246 B-Class compact cars, marketed as a four-door coupé. In 2015, Mercedes-Benz expanded the CLA family to include a station wagon configuration which it markets as a Shooting Brake.
- Reception
- The CLA has been a controversial vehicle among Mercedes-Benz fans in North America due to its many differences from other Mercedes-Benz models. In contrast to most Mercedes models sold in the U.S., the CLA is small, based on a front-wheel drive platform, and powered exclusively by four-cylinder engines.
Source: Mercedes-Benz CLA (Wikipedia); safety and recall figures from NHTSA.
Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class at a glance
- Production
- 2013–present
- Class
- Subcompact executive car (C)
- Body style
- 4-door Sedan (car), saloon, 5-door Estate car, estate (Shooting Brake)
- Layout
- Front-engine, front-wheel-drive, Front-engine, all-wheel-drive (4Matic)
Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class generations
The Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class has been redesigned in 2019, 2025, gaps of 6, 6 years, an average of 6.0 years between generations. The current generation (third generation, C178/174) began in 2025.
| Generation | Code | Began | What changed |
|---|---|---|---|
| First generation | C117 | 2013–2019 | The design of the C117 CLA is based on the Concept Style Coupe concept unveiled by Mercedes-Benz at the 2012 Avant/Garde Diaries event in Los Angeles, followed by the 2012 Auto China, and Huashan 1914 Creative Park. |
| Second generation | C118 | 2019–2025 | The second generation CLA was unveiled at the 2019 Consumer Electronics Show in January 2019. |
| Third generation | C178/174 | 2025–present | The third-generation CLA, officially marketed as CLA with EQ Technology, was unveiled on 13 March 2025, firstly as a sedan. |
Year by year
The Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class across 13 model years.
| Model year | Combined MPG/MPGe | EPA annual fuel cost | EPA records |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2027 Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class | 33–126 | $600–$2,400 | 4 |
| 2026 Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class | 23–126 | $600–$3,350 | 7 |
| 2025 Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class | 23–30 | $2,600–$3,350 | 4 |
| 2024 Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class | 23–30 | $2,600–$3,350 | 4 |
| 2023 Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class | 23–29 | $2,650–$3,350 | 4 |
| 2022 Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class | 23–29 | $2,650–$3,350 | 4 |
| 2021 Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class | 23–29 | $2,650–$3,350 | 4 |
| 2020 Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class | 23–28 | $2,750–$3,350 | 4 |
| 2019 Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class | 26–29 | $2,650–$3,000 | 4 |
| 2018 Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class | 26–29 | $2,650–$3,000 | 4 |
| 2017 Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class | 26–29 | $2,650–$3,000 | 4 |
| 2016 Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class | 26–30 | $2,600–$3,000 | 4 |
| 2015 Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class | 26–30 | $2,600–$3,000 | 4 |
Year-to-year changes
What changed in the Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class, one model year at a time.
| Step | EPA records | Combined MPG/MPGe, midpoint | Electric range, miles | Added | No longer listed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 to 2027 | 7 to 4 | 74.5 to 79.5 | Labels: CLA 220; Engines: 1.5L 4-cyl SIDI; Mild Hybrid | Labels: AMG CLA35 4matic, AMG CLA45 S 4matic, CLA250, CLA250 4matic; Engines: 2L 4-cyl SIDI, 2L 4-cyl SIDI; Mild Hybrid | |
| 2025 to 2026 | 4 to 7 | 26.5 to 74.5 | first listed: 343 | Labels: CLA250 Plus with EQ Tech, CLA250 Plus with EQ Tech (R22), CLA350 4matic with EQ Tech; Engines: Electric motor / not listed; Transmissions: Automatic (A1), Automatic (A2); Drives: Rear-Wheel Drive; Fuels: Electricity | |
| 2023 to 2024 | 26.0 to 26.5 | Labels: AMG CLA45 S 4matic; Engines: 2L 4-cyl SIDI; Mild Hybrid | Labels: AMG CLA45 4matic; Transmissions: Automatic (AM7) | ||
| 2021 to 2022 | Drives: All-Wheel Drive | Drives: 4-Wheel Drive | |||
| 2020 to 2021 | 25.5 to 26.0 | ||||
| 2019 to 2020 | 27.5 to 25.5 | Labels: AMG CLA35 4matic; Transmissions: Automatic (AM8) | Engines: 2L 4-cyl SIDI; FFV; Drives: Part-time 4-Wheel Drive; Fuels: Premium or E85 | ||
| 2017 to 2018 | Drives: Part-time 4-Wheel Drive | ||||
| 2016 to 2017 | 28.0 to 27.5 | ||||
| 2015 to 2016 | Labels: AMG CLA45 4matic | Labels: CLA45 AMG 4matic |
Trim by trim
Every 2027 Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class trim side by side.
| Trim | Drive | Engine | Horsepower | Torque (lb-ft) | Curb weight (lb) | Max towing (lb) | Combined mpg | Base price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CLA 250+ Electric | RWD | Electric Motor | 268 | 247 | 4,553 | – | – | – |
| CLA 350 4MATIC Electric | AWD | Dual Electric Motors | 349 | 380 | 4,729 | – | – | – |
Source: Kelley Blue Book specifications for the 2027 model year; base price is KBB's national base price where its list carries the trim by the same name. A dash means KBB lists no figure.
Specifications by year
Power, weight and towing for every Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class model year.
| Model year | Trims | Engines | Horsepower | Curb weight (lb) | Max towing (lb) | Fuel tank (gal) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2027 | 2 | Electric Motor / Dual Electric Motors | 268–349 | 4,553–4,729 | – | – |
| 2026 | 2 | 2.0-liter 4-cylinder (Turbo) | 221 | 3,494–3,616 | – | 13.5 |
| 2025 | 2 | 2.0-liter 4-cylinder (Turbo) | 221 | 3,494–3,616 | – | 13.5 |
| 2024 | 2 | 2.0-liter 4-cylinder (Turbo) | 221 | 3,484 | – | 13.5 |
| 2023 | 2 | 2.0-liter 4-cylinder (Turbo) | 221 | 3,362–3,483 | – | 13.5 |
| 2022 | 2 | 2.0-liter 4-cylinder (Turbo) | 221 | 3,362–3,483 | – | 13.5 |
| 2021 | 2 | 2.0-liter 4-cylinder (Turbo) | 221 | 3,362–3,483 | – | 13.5 |
| 2020 | 2 | 2.0-liter 4-cylinder (Turbo) | 221 | 3,362–3,483 | – | 13.5 |
| 2019 | 2 | 2.0-liter 4-cylinder (Turbo) | 208 | 3,274–3,395 | – | 13.2 |
| 2018 | 2 | 2.0-liter 4-cylinder (Turbo) | 208 | 3,274–3,395 | – | 14.8 |
| 2017 | 2 | 2.0-liter 4-cylinder (Turbo) | 208 | 3,274–3,395 | – | 14.8 |
| 2016 | 2 | 2.0-liter 4-cylinder (Turbo) | 208 | 3,252–3,384 | – | 13.2 |
| 2015 | 3 | 2.0-liter 4-cylinder (Turbo) | 208–355 | 3,262–3,494 | – | 13.2–14.8 |
Source: Kelley Blue Book specifications for each model year. A range covers every trim KBB lists that year; a dash means KBB lists no figure.
Owning it
Oil, fluid and wheel-nut figures for the Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class.
| Model year | Engine oil | Brake fluid | Wheel-nut torque | A/C refrigerant | Key-fob battery |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | – | – | – | – | CR2025 |
| 2018 | 0W-40 | – | – | – | CR2025 |
| 2017 | – | – | – | – | CR2025 |
| 2016 | – | – | – | – | CR2025 |
| 2015 | – | – | – | – | CR2025 |
Source: the manufacturer's owner's manual for each model year. A dash means that year's manual gave no single value for it, for instance one that lists two oil grades or two key types.
Compared with
Models this Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class is most often compared with.
Nearest Mercedes-Benz models
Other Mercedes-Benz models.
Frequent questions
Answers with their conditions intact.
Q01How many trims does the 2027 CLA-Class come in?
The 2027 Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class (compact luxury sedan) comes in 3 trims: CLA 220 Hybrid, CLA 250+ Electric, CLA 350 4MATIC Electric.
Q02What are the 2027 CLA-Class trims?
The 2027 Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class trims are CLA 220 Hybrid, CLA 250+ Electric, CLA 350 4MATIC Electric, listed from the entry CLA 220 Hybrid up to the top CLA 350 4MATIC Electric.
Q03What engine or powertrain does the 2027 CLA-Class use?
The 2027 Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class is built around 1.5L turbo four-cylinder hybrid (CLA 220) or electric motor(s), single or dual (CLA 250+/350 Electric), rated at 268 / 349 horsepower across its compact luxury sedan body style.
Q04How much horsepower does the 2027 CLA-Class have?
The 2027 Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class is rated at 268 / 349 horsepower (1.5L turbo four-cylinder hybrid (CLA 220) or electric motor(s), single or dual (CLA 250+/350 Electric)).
Q05Is AWD or 4WD available on the 2027 CLA-Class?
The 2027 Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class is offered with FWD / AWD.