If there’s such a thing as bang-for-buck when you’re shopping for a new Mercedes-Benz, their CLA line-up might offer you the best value for money, downsizing the poshness and the luxury goodies that you get in the pricier Benzes, but in a smaller, cheaper package. Best of all, you’d absolutely be able to make good use of trickle-down refinement, as the CLA usually gets some of the more refined tech and engineering bits down the line. The best proof of this is the brand-new Mercedes CLA 250+ with EQ Technology – another poorly-named modern Mercedes, alas – that democratises the brand’s ground-breaking electric powertrains and architecture.
Below what is seemingly a normal-looking CLA, you’ll find an 85 kWh high-voltage battery pack, paired to an electric drive unit mounted on the rear axle. This ought to yield you a modest 272 hp, allowing you to sprint from 0-62 mph in 6.7 seconds, and onto a top speed of 130 mph. It’s actually quite a high top speed compared to most other EVs in this class, mind you. Elsewhere, you’ll also get a two-speed automatic gearbox, made specifically for EVs, and borrowed from Mercedes’ insane VISION EQXX concept! On the subject of being high tech, the CLA 250+ with EQ Technology is built atop an 800V electric architecture, which certainly has its upsides.
Mercedes Putting Their Best Foot Forward
Namely, it could offer you a whopping up to 484 miles of range on a single charge, making it one of the longest-range EVs that you’ll find anywhere today. Plus, once the battery does run flat, thanks to its 320 kW DC fast-charging support, and assuming you’re able to find a 500 A charging station (or higher) near you, the new Mercedes CLA 250+ with EQ Technology could add 200 miles of range in just 10 minutes of charging! The car is intelligent when it comes to extending your range as much as possible, too, courtesy of a heat pump and clever regen and recuperation tech, in addition to using the satnav to find you more energy-efficient routes.
Now, on the off-chance that you don’t like EVs or aren’t ready to go fully electric just yet, then worry not, as the new Mercedes-Benz CLA range has a new trick up its sleeve! In particular, it’s the first car to be built on top of Mercedes’ new ‘MMA’ (Mercedes-Benz Modular Architecture) platform. As a result of how modular this brand-new platform is, the CLA family will soon be expanded to include and accommodate a hybrid version later in 2025. This hybrid model could see an inline-4 engine be paired with a 48V mild-hybrid system and integrated with an 8-speed DCT transmission. Now, that could be something more my style and right up my alley!
Pushing The Threshold For Electrification
In the meantime, though, the new CLA 250+ with EQ Technology, in its all-electric form, can be found with MB.OS, which is the 4th generation of Mercedes’ MBUX software. It’ll basically pair a built-in supercomputer in each CLA, which is then linked up to MB Cloud. Altogether, this will enable over-the-air (OTA) updates for your CLA’s safety systems and driver aids, as well as the infotainment system. Additionally, it comes with an AI-powered MBUX Virtual Assistant, which adopts generative AI from Google and Microsoft to support back-and-forth conversation, as a sort of companion to help you with random queries or manage specific parts of your car.
On the subject of tech, you might’ve noticed the huge screens in this new Mercedes CLA 250+ with EQ Technology. You have one 14-inch centre display, with graphics powered by the Unity game engine, and optionally, you could also spec the MBUX Superscreen, which adds another 14-inch screen just for the front passenger. If this looks like something you may be interested in, order books for the new Mercedes-Benz CLA 250+ with EQ Technology are now open. The first customer deliveries are due in Q3 2025, and starting at £45,615 for the Sport Edition, or £49,375 for the AMG Line Edition, or £51,770 for the top-of-the-line AMG Line Premium.
