The Mercedes CLA offers great EV specs for an average price

Despite headwinds from the current administration, automakers continue to release well-equipped EVs with bigger battery packs and increasingly faster charging speeds. For those who want to travel further between plugging in, the future is still bright, just slightly tinted.But there haven’t been many sedans starting around or below $50,000, as crossover SUVs have largely taken up this territory. Now, Mercedes-Benz has released its CLA compact sedan which ticks every box above for the 2026 and 2027 model year, and throws in pleasant interior amenities and fun driving character for good measure.1/6What’s insideThe CLA with EQ Technology (Mercedes’ term for “EV”) is based on its latest MMA platform—the driving kind, not the fighting kind—and comes in two flavors: CLA250 Plus and CLA350 4Matic.They both pack 85 kWh batteries, 800V architecture, a maximum charging capacity of 320 kW, and the ability to go from 10-80 percent charge in just 22 minutes at that maximum rate. The 250 Plus utilizes just a rear motor for propulsion with an output of 268 horsepower and 247 pound-feet of torque, which will shove its 4,553-pound stature to 60 mph in 6.6 seconds.The 350 4Matic utilizes a motor on each axle with a combined output of 349 and 380, respectively, and its 4,729-pound heft will reach 60 mph in just 4.8. The 250 Plus has an EPA-estimated range of 374 miles, whereas the 350 4Matic travels 62 fewer. Prices start at $48,500 and $51,850, respectively.The latest CLA is classed as a compact sedan, but it’s amply spacious inside. I found the front passenger area in my 350 4Matic tester rather commodious for my six-foot-three stature, and really dug its driving position; the telescoping steering wheel could be brought in sports car-close, overall visibility was great, and the optional AMG Line sport seats were amply comfortable.The rear passenger room was a hair more restrictive but fine for average-build occupants. Combined cargo room reaches 11.7 cubic feet, of which 1.4 is in the frunk—that’s right, it’s thankfully not just wiring and coolant hoses under there.1/6Tech amenitiesThe CLA is the first model to get the latest Mercedes-Benz Operating System (MB.OS0). Notably, this makes over-the-air updates more seamless, which the brand says will come in handy for refining its driver-assistance system software over time. Personalization also seems high on MB’s list of boasts as the latest, sixth-generation MBUX software—the gateway into the software’s user interface, as opposed to MB.OS0 being the software foundation for the entire vehicle—offers the ability to customize themes, interior lighting, and more, with ease.Though, getting the most out of it isn’t possible without the optional Pinnacle Line ($5,850) tacked on. This accounted for my tester’s deeply customizable interior lighting, wireless charging, a head-up display, Burmester 3D surround sound, four-zone automatic climate control, among other niceties.The optional Superscreen—three separate, massive screens housed together—that covered much of the dash was easy to gain familiarity with. Knowing what to tap to quickly change settings, music, and more, had a learning curve, and the software’s voice assistant filled in any gaps well. Lag wasn’t a thing, either. Though finer adjustments like ambient lighting brightness were a bit fiddly, and, at night, the lit-up air vents obscured my view of the side mirrors from my seating position.1/6Driving the Mercedes-Benz CLA350 4Matic EVSporting solid EV specs and 0.21 coefficient of drag, I was impressed by how easily the CLA could achieve over 300 miles on a single charge. My week was a good mix of city and highway driving, plus a weekend trip to the mountains above Southern California thrown in for good measure; 4,200 feet of elevation gain and loss. Kicking off my getaway with 85 percent charge, I still had an estimated 150 miles left—after covering 175 miles and averaging 0.225 kWh-per-mile.Taking advantage of downhill regeneration and Mercedes’ MB DriveAssist (a $1,950 option) definitely helped. (Quick note: this wasn’t the brand’s SAE Level 2 autonomous MB DriveAssist Pro (a $3,950 option), which, as of this writing, doesn’t appear to be available yet on the CLA.) The standard DriveAssist was easy to toggle and drove smoothly as long as I wasn’t behind someone who couldn’t maintain a steady speed. Or tap their brakes for seemingly no reason. With a lighter foot and fewer full-throttle on-ramp rips, traveling over 325 miles on a charge would’ve definitely been possible.Unlike some manufacturers that bury regenerative braking in a sea of menus (BMW), the CLA’s is adjustable via paddle shifters and allows one-pedal driving. The middle-of-the-road setting felt good, and the most intense was, well, intense. But appreciated, especially considering German manufacturers have avoided OPD in the past.Finally, the CLA350 had an overall good ride quality with confident turn-in, plus respectable grip and chassis control on twisty roads. I could feel its heft over mid-corner bumps and especially craggy blacktop, and ground clearance over larger speed bumps and driveways left a bit to be desired. But overall, the average daily commuter or roadtripper wouldn’t have many gripes. It’ll be interesting to see if Mercedes’ AMG division gives the diminutive Benz adaptive dampers, stiffer spring rates, and other chassis-tightening tweaks someday.Great EV specs at an average priceFun fact: the average new car transaction is just under $50,000. Considering the 2027 Mercedes CLA 350 4Matic and its slower 250+ sibling are right around there, pack solid charging and range specs, and the former is both comfortable and good to drive, it’s got a lot going for it.Though, to get the full latest-and-greatest MB experience, it requires some lofty options.Follow topics and authors from this story to see more like this in your personalized homepage feed and to receive email updates.Peter Nelson