Mercedes-Benz A250 vs Mercedes-Benz CLA

What's the difference?

The A 250 e is a really interesting option in an evolving electrified landscape.

Not only is it a demonstration Mercedes is going to have a real go at plug-in hybrid cars in Australia, it also offers those who may be curious about an electrified vehicle a way of experiencing it on their terms.

The compromises are clear-cut, though. You can drive the A 250 e in any way you're comfortable with, but it's never going to be quite as good as a purpose-built EV, hybrid, or combustion car.

Is the Mercedes-AMG CLA 35 the perfect choice in the sleek sedan’s line-up?

Well, if you are after outright performance, then the answer still clearly lies with the CLA 45. But for those that just want a little more pep compared to the standard CLA range, the 35 is undoubtedly the one to get.

It’s not without its flaws, though, commanding a $15,000 price premium over the CLA 250 and a tougher-than-we’d-like ride, but if you value a more engaging drive and a brisk 0-100km/h time, the CLA 35 should definitely be on your shopping list.

Similar to its GLC 300 e bigger sibling, you'd be hard-pressed to tell the A 250 e is a PHEV at all. There's very little about it which screams ‘eco' until you look a little closer. Only keen Mercedes enthusiasts will pick the eco-look wheels, with the only other two give aways being the lack of an exhaust and fuel flaps on both sides.

Other than those items, the A 250 e's exterior is the normal A-Class fare of slick but conservative Mercedes styling, gently accented with elements of chrome and black.

Inside is the same deal. It has all the same elements which make Mercedes' small car range unique and flashy to be behind the wheel of.

Our car had a controversial contrasting crème interior, but I have to say I much prefer the piano black trim items to the in-your-face chrome ones which usually come in these Benz small cars.

Obviously, there's a healthy options list to help you customise it further, but I'm a fan of the soft dash elements, and how the ‘Artico' trim is generously placed throughout to remind you this is a premium badged car.

I do like how Mercedes stands out from the crowd when it comes to its signature vent layout, dual-screens and everything from the lavish front seats to the wheel.

I especially like the blue colour our hatch came in, as you usually only see Benz cars in white, grey, silver, or black. Buy colours!

The 'MBUX' multimedia suite is also lightening fast and very customisable when it comes to its layout and look. I'd say its one of the best suites on the market, although interacting with it via the touch elements on the wheel and centre pad can be a bit fiddly.

From the front, the CLA 35 exterior oozes style and luxury.

Up front, the sleek and slender headlights emphasise the width of the fascia, while the large Mercedes logo sits proudly front and centre of the CLA’s nose.

There are subtle hints to the CLA 35’s sportiness too, with a slightly bulging bonnet and chiselled lower chin.

The grille is also unique on the 35, with a dual-horizontal slat design instead of the non-AMG CLA’s diamond pattern or the CLA 45’s Panamericana grille.

To my eye, the front of the CLA 35 is actually a bit too tame in styling for an AMG model. I prefer the in-your-face aggression of the CLA 45’s widened track and front grille, while the CLA 35 opts for more subtle styling cues. To each their own, though.

The silver paintwork of our test car probably doesn’t help, and if it was my choice I'd pick 'Sun Yellow' or 'Denim Blue' to stand out a bit more from the sea of black, grey and white German cars out there.

Move to the rear of the car though, and a large rear diffuser, big dual-exhaust outlets and a bootlid spoiler are much more befitting an AMG model.

Step inside the CLA and you will see it adopts the same dashboard design as all new-generation Mercedes vehicles built on the MFA2 platform, with the 'MBUX' dual-screen layout, large air-vents and central touchpad.

Our car was specced out with red-leather interior, which is a bit too loud for my tastes, but a two-tone black leather/titanium grey combo can also be had at no extra cost.

Sitting inside the CLA 35, you can tell it’s a modern car thanks to the clean layout of all the controls, while the screen-heavy dashboard definitely makes it feel tech-focused.

Like all A-Class hatchbacks, this Benz is centred pretty much solely around the front two passengers. Both get lavish seat trims and lovely touchpoints, easily a cut above mass market rivals. 

Space perhaps isn't this car's forte, with the A- and B-pillars cascading inwards for a low roofline and a comfortable but not spacious interior width. 

Raised console elements and elbow resting points add to the primo feel, but visibility is limited from the tiny wing mirrors and small rear window.

Front passengers get some large binnacles in the door trims, cupholders in the front, a decently sized centre console box housing two USB ports, a surprisingly large glove box, and a shallow bay for wireless phone charging up front.

All three USB ports available to front passengers are USB-C type so you'll also need to be ready with some adapters.

Rear passengers get the same lovely sculpted seat trims, but it is limited back there for someone my 182cm (6'0") height and the large front passenger seats, low roofline, and smallish window apertures make for a tight-feeling space. 

There are nettings on the back of the front seats, small binnacles in the doors and a tiny shelf on the back of the centre console.

There are no amenities like adjustable air vents or charging ports for rear passengers, although the two USB-C jacks located in the centre console box should be within reach.

Boot space is an interesting story. Mercedes has packaged the electric elements in this car to consume the least amount of space possible. So, despite a relatively large and water-cooed lithium-ion battery under the boot floor, and 35-litre fuel tank in front of the rear axle, the hatchback as tested here only loses 45-litres compared to its non-hybrid version. No mean feat.

This makes total space available a decent 310 litres (VDA). You'll get a little more in the sedan version of this car, and it is larger than the Audi A3 40 TFSI e which offers 280L.

Measuring 4695mm long, 1834mm wide, 1399mm tall and with a 2729mm wheelbase, the CLA 35 is definitely a sizeable sedan in the metal.

This actually makes the CLA 35 slightly longer and wider than a non-AMG C-Class sedan that measures 4686 and 1810mm respectively, but don’t expect the same level of practical interior space.

With a heavily sloped roofline, rear-seat comfort takes a hit. My 183cm (6.0ft) frame could not sit upright behind my driving position without tilting my head, while legroom was also slightly lacking.

With such large C-pillars and a small rear window, the second-row can actually feel a little claustrophobic for full-sized adults, but will seat children quite comfortably.

Second-row amenities include air-vents, two USB-C ports, back-of-seat storage nets, bottle holders in the doors, and two cupholders in the fold-down arm rest.

Just like at a music concert though, the best seats in the CLA 35 are up front, with plenty of room for heads, shoulders and legs.

The cabin is also much more light-filled up front, making for a more pleasant experience.

The front seats are electronically adjustable, as is the steering column, but the headrests are fixed.

Storage options include sizeable door bins, a centre console cubby, glove box, two cupholders and a wireless smartphone charger.

Boot space is 460 litres, but can expand with the rear split-fold 40/20/40 rear seats stowed.

Though the boot looks small and shallow on the outside, the aperture is actually quite large, and can easily accommodate a large suitcase with plenty of room to spare.

Priced at $85,500 before on-road costs, the CLA 35 sits $15,300 upstream of the CLA 250 but is $25,700 cheaper than the $111,200 CLA 45.

Standard equipment includes leather interior, dual-zone climate control, electronically adjustable front seats with heating and memory function, keyless entry and push-button start, 64-colour ambient lighting, and a wireless smartphone charger.

AMG specific appointments include 19-inch wheels, a flat-bottomed steering wheel, sports exhaust, high-performance brakes with silver-painted calipers, blacked-out exterior highlights, sports suspension, a racy bodykit and speed-sensitive steering.

Instrumentation is displayed on a 10.25-inch screen, which can be customised and features AMG readouts.

The multimedia system, which includes satellite navigation, digital radio and Apple CarPlay/Android Auto connectivity, is also outputted to a 10.25-inch screen, with inputs including touch, voice commands, centre touch pad or steering wheel controls.

Our test car also came with a ‘Mojave Silver Metallic’ paint finish and 'Vision Package', adding $1190 and $990 to the bottom line each.

The Vision Package adds LED headlights with adaptive high beams, a panoramic glass sunroof and surround-view monitor.

Straddling the lines between a small- and mid-size sedan, the CLA 35 doesn’t really have any direct competitors, which is reflected in its pricing that slots it between the Audi S3 and S4 sedans.

Though the CLA 35 features a long list of equipment, it is still a sizeable chunk of coin, costing more than the C300 sedan and Volvo S60 T8 PHEV, the latter boasting higher engine outputs.

This is where most of your money goes. Up front, the A 250 e gets a familiar 1.3-litre four-cylinder petrol engine, used elsewhere in Mercedes range.

This engine produces 118kW/250Nm and drives the front-wheels via an eight-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission.

This transmission also houses the electric motor, which is powerful for a hybrid this size, offering 75kW/300Nm for a healthy amount of cruising power without engine assistance.

These two combine for a massive output of 160kW/450Nm, with the electric motor and petrol engine working in tandem under heavy acceleration for a 0-100km/h sprint time of 6.6 seconds.

The A 250 e houses a 15.6kWh water-cooled lithium-ion battery under the boot floor to power said motor. This is, again, large for a hybrid this size, and grants an electric-only range of 73 kilometres (ADR) despite weighing in at just 150kg.

As the battery and fuel tank have moved in the way of where the exhaust port normally is, Mercedes has placed the entire exhaust system in the transmission tunnel which normally houses the 4Matic all-wheel drive system on the A 250 variant. Interesting stuff.

Powered by a 2.0-litre, turbo-petrol four-cylinder engine, the CLA 35 punches out 225kW/400Nm.

Drive is sent through a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmissions to the road via Mercedes’ '4Matic' all-wheel-drive system, enabling a 0-100km/h sprint in the 1603kg sedan in just 4.7 seconds. Top speed is electronically limited to 250km/h.

Though I didn’t get a chance to test the latter, the former certainly feels accurate when taking off from a freeway on ramp, however, there is some hesitation from the turbo in getting on boost.

Peak power comes in at 5800rpm, while maximum torque is available from 3000-4000rpm.

All this jiggery-pokery makes for all sorts of very impressive fuel consumption numbers. This car's official one is just 1.6L/100km, although this is going to vary wildly by how you drive it (more on this in the driving section).

Fuel consumption is just one element of this car's drivetrain though. You'll also need to consider energy consumption which is officially rated at 14.8kWh/100km.

You can think of these two consumption elements as a sliding scale. The more you can use the electric motor and regeneration features, the lower your fuel consumption will be, conversely if you drive under primarily petrol or hybrid power, you'll be able to lower your energy consumption.

Read the driving section for more on how this particular car gives you unprecedented control over this.

We had the A 250 e for just three days and managed to cover roughly 250km, I was thoroughly testing each drive mode as much as possible, and my final consumption figures came out 6.9L/100km of fuel consumption, and 5.9Kwh/100km of energy consumption.

If I had more time to charge, it was evident these numbers would have been altered drastically. Hopefully we'll be able to bring you a longer and more comprehensive Urban Guide test of this vehicle in the future.

Somehow, there is still more to the story, with this Mercedes offering a fascinating option pack which makes it even more flexible when it comes to charging.

The DC charging pack comes in at $1490 and lets you charge not just at regular public Type 2 ports, but also at ultra-fast DC locations. It also doubles the amount of power this car can pull from public outlets or a wallbox.

Keep in mind this car only comes with a regular wall socket to Type2 charger. This means to make use of fast charging at home (up to 7.2kW) you'll need to add the Mercedes-Benz Wallbox ($1200 not including installation by JetCharge) and to make the most of it when you're out and about (or if you don't have a garage) you'll need the public (Type2 to Type2) charging cable ($565.16).

See below for Mercedes' estimate of charging time for each of the charging options.

The A 250 e has a 35-litre fuel tank and a thirst for mid-grade 95 RON unleaded petrol. Oh, and if it's emissions you're conscious of, the A 250 e officially emits just 34g/km of CO2, far lower than the roughly 140g/km industry targets.

Officially, the CLA 35 sips 7.5 litres per 100km on the combined cycle, but we managed a 9.9L/100km figure in our week with the car.

The majority of our driving was done in inner-city environments, with the two trips down the freeway to seek out twisty country rounds.

Minimum fuel grade in the CLA 35 is 98 RON.

The A 250 e is as interesting behind the wheel as it is on paper. To really explore it though, you'll need to delve into its complex drive modes.

It's more than just your usual comfort, eco, and sport. Each mode transforms the way you'll think about and drive this car.

The default is comfort, where the A 250 e behaves like you might expect from a plug-in. This means it will prefer to use electric drive unless you push the accelerator very hard. It makes for smooth and quiet motoring, although you'll find it chews through the electric range quite quickly, especially if you venture to the open road.

Sport mode prefers instead to primarily rely on the 1.3-litre four-cylinder engine. It's notably less refined, with this engine having a loud, gruff tone, and the introduction of vibrations and jerkiness from the dual-clutch automatic becomes immediately apparent.

It also firms up the steering, changes the transmission characteristics, and offers faster engine response from the accelerator pedal. As a side note, sport mode becomes a good tool for charging the battery quickly when you don't have access to a charging port.

The more interesting modes are electric, eco, and battery level. Battery level attempts to maintain the level the battery is currently at, while still using the car's hybrid features. This is so you can save the lion's share of charge for when it's most useful, like trawling in traffic.

Electric does what it says on the tin. Operates the car as an EV, not using its combustion engine at all. It also changes the car's paddle shifters from operating the transmission to altering the regenerative braking.

It offers modes varying from D+ which uses electric drive but coasts like a combustion car, to D-- which makes the car drive like a ‘single pedal' vehicle. This means it ups the regen braking to the point where the car will come to a full stop as you let your foot off the accelerator. It's the most efficient electric motoring mode.

Finally, eco mode lets you drive the A 250 e more like a conventional hybrid, limiting the electric motor to just taking off and cruising, preferring to switch to combustion more rapidly on acceleration.

While this car offers you unparalleled choice when it comes to electric motoring, it's worth noting it comes with its fair share of compromise.

This is far from the most refined car to drive in combustion mode, and it lacks the polish of, say, a Toyota hybrid when operating as a more traditional hybrid car.

I find it particularly interesting this car's best traits are found when it's operating as a purely electric vehicle. It's quieter, more refined, and the overpowered electric motor helps it feel just as good as a pure EV in terms of acceleration.

This car's downfalls as a combustion vehicle will be a real challenge for it. Again, it's a trade-off. The A 250 e doesn't feeel any heavier or more cumbersome than a 'normal' A-Class despite the extra battery size. But the ride is a bit harsh, and the dual-clutch leaves a lot to be desired in terms of refinement.

Asking more than $60 grand still seems tall when it's not as slick as a VW combustion car, and not as polished as a Toyota hybrid, either of which are half the price.

The CLA 35 might not offer the outright thrills or breadth of capability of the CLA 45, but don’t think the cut-price AMG offers up a cut-rate driving experience.

From the driver’s seat, one of the cool things about the CLA 35 is that it doesn’t actually look any different from its more expensive sibling.

The drive-mode selector that is now embedded on the steering wheel is fantastic, a feature first seen on the Mercedes-AMG GT 4-door, and makes changing the driving dynamics on the fly an absolute breeze.

In fact, we think all cars where you can select drive modes should have a selector on the steering wheel like this, which lets you quickly and easily dial it up or down while keeping your hands on the wheel.

'Comfort', 'Sport', 'Sport+' and 'Individual' modes are available, while the transmission can also be put into manual mode independently for those that prefer to use the flappy paddles.

Suspension settings can also be tweaked regardless of which drive mode you are in, and it’s this level of customisability that we appreciate.

You want loud exhaust pops and the engine in full attack with manual shifting and the softest suspension? Sure, that’s doable here in the CLA 35. And toning it down to its most comfortable settings is just a flick of the wrist away.

The steering feels a little numb on centre and at slower speeds, though feedback picks right up with speed and is communicative enough when the road starts to get twisty.

Fitted with wide and sticky Michelin rubber, as well as the aforementioned all-wheel drive system, the CLA 35 is certainly not lacking in grip.

The suspension does an okay job of absorbing bumps, but uneven surfaces, like Melbourne’s tram tracks, can send uncomfortable jolts into the cabin if travelling quickly.

In fact, we think the ride comfort of the CLA 35 is probably its weakest aspect, offering not enough variability in its Comfort and Sport settings, and instead settling somewhere in between, regardless of drive mode.

The CLA 35 is ultimately still a fun and engaging sports sedan, though there are some sacrifices made to get it there.

The CLA 35 has not been tested by ANCAP or Euro NCAP, but the standard CLA range was awarded a five-star rating in September 2019.

Standard safety equipment in the CLA 35 includes autonomous emergency braking, automatic high beams, nine airbags, drive attention alert, blind-spot monitoring with exit warning, lane-keep assist, traffic sign recognition and tyre pressure monitoring.

The standard CLA also comes with these features, and was awarded 96 and 92 per cent respectively in ANCAP adult occupant and child occupant protection tests.

For the vulnerable road user and safety assist examinations, the standard CLA scored 91 and 76 per cent respectively.

ANCAP says the AEB system works from seven-200km/h.

Of note, adaptive cruise control is not standard in the CLA 35 like it is in the CLA 45. Instead, buyers will have to tick the 'Driving Assistance Package' box for the feature, which also comes bundled with cross-traffic alert and lane change assist.

Mercedes has caught up with most of the mainstream pack, now offering a five-year and unlimited kilometre warranty across its whole passenger car range. It's ahead of many of its rivals in the luxury segment, but matched by Korean newcomer, Genesis.

The A 250 e needs to be serviced once a year or every 25,000km, and pricing is no different from a non-electrified A 250. Pre-packaged service pricing for three years is $2050, four years is $2950, and five years is $3500.

Not ‘cheap' in the grander scheme, but there's no downside for picking this particular variant despite all of its extra equipment.

As with all new Mercedes-Benz models, the CLA 35 comes with a five-year/unlimited kilometre warranty, which is one of the best assurance periods offered by a premium carmaker.

It also comes with five years of roadside assist.

Scheduled service intervals are every 25,000km or 12 months, whichever comes first.

A three-year service plan is available for $2150 for new CLA 35 buyers, saving $500 when priced individually.

Four- and five-year plans are also available, and are priced at $4200 and $4950 respectively.