The Mercedes CLA line-up kicks off at $66,500 for the entry-level 180, which puts it in the same price ballpark as its German ‘Big Three’ rivals, the Audi A3 sedan and BMW 2 Series.
Standard equipment includes heated power front seats, synthetic leather trim, a fixed panoramic glass roof, ambient lighting, ‘high performance’ LED headlights, keyless entry and start, park assist, 18-inch alloys and metallic paint. And the AI-powered assistant integrates ChatGPT, Google Gemini and Bing technologies.
In an impressive feat of aero fine-tuning Mercedes-Benz design and engineering teams have managed to make an already slippery car even more efficient with this new CLA dropping the car’s drag-coefficient from 0.23 to an amazing 0.21.
The sloping, coupe-style profile remains as a CLA signature, complete with frameless doors, flush door handles and aero wheels. And for Latin buffs the interior treatment is minimus extremus with screens dominating the front part of the stripped back cabin.
Hybrid power comes courtesy of a 1.5-litre, turbo-petrol, four-cylinder internal-combustion engine (ICE) and a 48-volt electric motor integrated into a new eight-speed dual-clutch transmission with drive going to the front wheels. Combined outputs are 115kW/280Nm.
Hybrid CLAs are fitted with a 48-volt, 1.3kWh lithium-ion battery and at urban speeds where less than 20kW is needed, can drive using electric power alone, depending on conditions at speeds up to 100km/h.
Official combined cycle fuel consumption is quoted at 5.4L/100km for the CLA180 which equates to a theoretical range of close to 800km.
The new CLA hasn’t been assessed by ANCAP although its sister organisation, Euro NCAP, awarded it a maximum five-star rating in 2025 with mega high scores across the board for occupant and pedestrian protection as well as driver assist systems.
The CLA is covered by Mercedes-Benz Australia’s five-year/unlimited km warranty with roadside assistance included. On top of that, there’s an eight-year/160,000km warranty on the drive battery in electric models. Hybrid and electric variants have the same 12 month, 25,000km recommended service interval.
Mercedes-Benz CLA 2026: 180
| Engine Type | Turbo 4 |
|---|---|
| Fuel Type | Premium Unleaded Petrol |
| Fuel Efficiency | 5.4L/100km (combined) |
| Seating | 5 |
| Price From | $66,500 |
Pricing Guides
Range and Specs
| Vehicle | Specs | Price* |
|---|---|---|
| cla 180 | Premium Unleaded Petrol, 8 SPEED AUTO DUAL CLUTCH | $66,500 |
| cla 200 Electric | Electric, 1 SPEED AUTOMATIC | $72,200 |
| cla 350 4Matic Electric | Electric, 1 SPEED AUTOMATIC | $91,300 |
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