Mercedes-Benz CLA200 Reviews

This year has thrown up two unforeseen events: the mainstream acceptance of electric vehicles (EVs) and the return of the sedan.Perfect timing, then, for the new Mercedes-Benz CLA electric.But, can the world’s oldest car company run with hip young things like the Polestar 2, Tesla Model 3 and BMW i4?And is this the Mercedes of compact EV sedans?The price leap going electric in this third-gen CLA four-door coupe is another surprise.Starting from $72,200 (all prices are before on-road costs), the CLA200 electric’s premium is a reasonable $5700 over the entry-level CLA180 petrol-electric hybrid version, and just $4000 more than the CLA200 hybrid equivalent.Now, most essentials are standard, with the following being standouts:a 14-inch central touchscreen and 10.25-inch driver display combo dubbed MBUX Superscreena fixed glass roofa heat pump for efficiency enhancing climate controlGoogle Maps with AI virtual assistant including car-to-X traffic communication for driving hazards alertsa 360-degree camera with parking assistartificial leather and suede-clad heated/powered front AMG sports seats with memory settingsAMG 18-inch alloys and body kitThen there’s the CLA350 4Matic Electric from $91,300, adding an electric motor up front for all-wheel drive, an 85kWh – rather than 58kWh – battery for longer range, faster charging and 19-inch wheels.But we recommend the Premium Package ($1800 in the CLA200/$2340 in the CLA350) for worthwhile kit like:head-up displayadaptive headlightskeyless entryan orchestral audio upgradea third, also 14-inch screen ahead of the front passengerSpeaking of which, compared to its Chinese-sourced Polestar 2 and Tesla Model 3 rivals, the German CLA does cost more, but Mercedes has been making cars for 140 years, not 14 years, and there’s some very advanced EV engineering going on underneath that pretty body.Distinctively Mercedes, the Ford AU Falcon force is still strong with this CLA.But thanks to the Stuttgart brand’s box-fresh MMA electric-first 800-volt platform, it matures as well as grows in every dimension, including in height and wheelbase, while super-slippery, aero-enhancing details promise to boost efficiency.The CLA’s interior aesthetics are dominated by the MBUX Superscreen slab that, with the Premium Package, is lit like a Christmas tree fever dream.Yet, when switched off and blacked out, one onlooker reckoned the dash is reminiscent of a Holden LH Torana’s. Iconic Aussie influences abound!Luckily everything including ambient lighting is configurable.Getting in and out is tight – a reminder that the CLA is essentially a four-door coupe.Once inside, though, the front seat area is amply spacious, including for heads, and there’s a lot to like, including the logical and slick operation of Mercedes’ latest, AI-enhanced multimedia system.Brilliantly supportive seats, a superb driving position, beautifully crafted textures and abundant storage also make this CLA appealing. The cheapness of old is gone, though the plastics below knee level feel disappointingly hard and hollow.And while we’re whining, the loss of buttons for the touchscreen-sited climate system, no overhead grab handles, cost-cutting absence of rear window switches for the driver (what is this, a Skoda?), and missing glass roof blockout are fixes for the facelift.On the flip side, that vast ceiling sky vista makes an already roomier rear seat feel even airier, while most expected comfort amenities are present.Further back, the boot is OK, though smaller than before at 405 litres and there’s no spare wheel. Boo.There’s also a 101L frunk up front – a first for a Mercedes.That’s because the CLA electric’s MMA platform diverges from its front-drive/transverse ICE counterparts by being rear-wheel drive (RWD) biased.This means the main, 165kW/335Nm permanently excited synchronous traction motor is located out back, sending drive to the rear wheels via a two-speed e-transmission.In the CLA200, the 0-100km/h takes 7.5 seconds, while a second electric motor up front in the CLA350 4Matic makes for a combined 260kW/515Nm, slashing sprint time down to a rousing 4.9s.And the EV changes don’t stop there, either, making the electric versions drive unlike any CLA that have come before.With its strong and linear power delivery, both CLA electrics step off the line rapidly, and glide along smoothly with a newfound sophistication and control, aided by a new multi-link rear suspension set-up and stiff architecture that, incredibly, relies on passive – rather than the ICE variant’s available active – dampers.This results in a ride suppleness alien to older CLAs and other modern smaller Benzes.Better still, over the warm dry roads of the Queensland hinterland as tested, the CLA200e has evolved athletically, brandishing a RWD attitude that allows it to seek out curves with a handling joy we’d frankly never have anticipated in this series. Balanced, fluid and confident.The CLA350 4Matic feels even more agile, and is stirringly quick point-to-point if you’re up for some fun. Just lovely.Some drivers might ask for more steering weight at lower speeds, but otherwise the connected dynamics, isolating refinement and advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS) tech tuning are outstanding, and worth the three-pointed star premium alone.You can also thank the CLA’s aero prowess for providing impressive efficiency, with both electrics sitting underneath the already decent 14.4kWh/100km (CLA200) and 14.9kWh/100km (CLA350 4Matic) official consumption averages, dipping well below 13kWh at one stage, despite being driven enthusiastically over rural back roads.That MMA 800V ultra-fast charging capability is a bonus, as is the standard 22kW AC charging set-up.EuroNCAP have awarded the latest CLA range a five-star gong, with a similar ANCAP rating expected, too.Mercedes’ obsession with pushing safety tech is undeniable, with all ADAS autonomous emergency brake (AEB) and lane-support systems present. On the airbag front, a front centre item is fitted, taking that total to eight.However, Mercedes’ five-year/unlimited kilometre warranty is nothing but average nowadays. Service intervals are every 12 months or 25,000km, and only pre-paid servicing in three-year ($2455), four-year ($3620) and five-year ($4295) blocks are available.

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