Mercedes-Benz CLA vs Polestar 2

What's the difference?

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.

This latest update for the Polestar 2 is lovely, but driving the original is a reminder of how solid this car has always been if you overlook the inherent impracticalities of being an EV on a combustion-engine platform.

The fact you still get steady flow of over-the-air software updates bringing new features, plus you can now upgrade to the new Qualcomm processor chip, saving some coin and getting a second-hand model that’s a couple of years old isn’t a bad option at all.

Note: CarsGuide attended this event as a guest of the manufacturer, with meals provided.

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.

I’ve always been a fan of the Polestar 2’s exterior design and unlike many new cars it has aged like fine wine over the years. You need to remember the Polestar 2 dates back to 2016 when it was first revealed as a Volvo concept.

It still has clean lines, iconic lightning signatures, plus a tough stance that evokes just a touch of muscle car.

While it has taken me a while to come around to the new blanked-out grille insert, it suits the character of this car given it’s an EV. It also aligns with the wider Polestar design language.

For 2026 there haven’t been any major changes to the exterior. There’s a new sandy-like ‘Dune’ exterior paint colour replacing the silver ‘Jupiter’, plus a new 20-inch forged alloy wheel design for the Long range Dual motor Performance.

Inside, the Polestar 2 looks fundamentally the same as it did when it first launched, in the best and worst ways.

I appreciate how traditional car-like the layouts of the steering wheel, digital instrument cluster and touchscreen multimedia system are. Sure it doesn’t scream ultra high-tech anymore like some of its rivals, but there’s still an understated premium feel to it.

The same can be said for the rest of the Polestar 2’s interior. Everything feels purposeful in a minimalist way which helps make for a clean design.

Speaking of purposefulness, the optional Bowers and Wilkins sound system features a prominent tweeter on top of the dashboard. It looks stunning and is functional, helping to create an incredibly punchy and full sound stage in the cabin.

One of the few finishes I dislike in the interior is the glossy piano black on the steering wheel buttons. You interact with these frequently and it doesn’t take long for fingerprints to present themselves.

There’s now a new synthetic leather upholstery finish for those who opt for the $4700 Plus package. It’s quilted which helps emulate a premium puffer jacket-like look.

Although it’s expensive, the $4400 ‘Bridge of Weir’ Nappa leather upholstery is beautiful and required if you want ventilated front seats. You can only get black and white finishes, which is fine, but bringing back a tan or caramel option would be delicious.

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.

This has always been the downfall of Polestar 2 and it remains true.

While it’s pretty and has a cockpit-like design, the cabin can feel compromised in terms of space and storage. This is primarily due to the centre console which angles upwards sharply, aggressively segmenting the driver and front passenger space.

The only storage spots on the centre console include a shallow shelf under the centre console, a wireless phone charger and another uncovered storage nook under the touchscreen.

It doesn’t help that the cupholder situation doesn’t allow for a proper centre armrest. You either have no cupholders and an armrest, one cupholder and your arm barely reaches the armrest, or two cupholders and the centre armrest flops into the backseat space. It’s not ideal.

Gripes aside, there are still positives to the Polestar 2’s front row. The seats are comfortable on longer drives and allow for a large degree of electric adjustment.

Ahead of the driver the steering wheel thankfully has physical buttons, allowing for easy use on the move. I also love how satisfying the indicator stalk thwack is. It’s the little things that count.

The digital instrument cluster has a minimalist look and can be customised with a few layouts. I particularly like the Google Maps layout which shows your navigation when using the in-built app.

Moving across, the Google Built-in software for the multimedia system is still up there as one of the most usable out there currently. It’s easy to navigate, plus if you get lost there’s a convenient home button at the bottom of the screen.

Both screens are now driven by a more powerful Qualcomm processor chip which allows for better responsiveness, smoother performance and higher download speeds for in-car apps.

Although we didn’t get a huge opportunity to stress test this new chip, it’s definitely an improvement on the old one. You can technically upgrade your old Polestar 2’s chip through a Polestar service centre, though it conveniently doesn’t list how much this costs.

While physical switchgear is limited, there’s still enough to get by. Over the years I’ve grown accustomed to using the touchscreen to change the climate control, though some physical dials and buttons would be nice.

Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are available in wired form only, which is surprising as wireless smartphone mirroring is now commonplace. It does mean however that your phone will charge up reliably.

Moving to the second row, it’s arguably where the Polestar 2 is at its worst. At a leggy 182cm I do fit behind my driving position but headroom is tight.

It doesn’t help that there’s a huge transmission tunnel which technically isn’t needed given this car is fully electric. That’s a downside of using a combustion-engine platform.

Second-row amenities include air vents, two USB-C ports, as well as a fold-down armrest with cupholders. Heated outboard seats are optional.

At the back the button to pop the boot is down where the number plate is. It’s not overtly obvious unless you know where to look.

As standard the tailgate is manually operated and you need to get the $4700 Plus pack in order to get it electrically operated. It also gets a hands-free function which is handy if you’ve got your hands full with bags.

Boot space is 407L with the rear seats upright, expanding to 1097L with them folded. This includes a 43L underfloor section which is large enough for some cables. The boot size is fairly standard for a vehicle of this size and type.

There’s also a 41L front boot which can be used for further cable storage or other various storage needs.

The 2026 Polestar 2 starts at $62,400, before on-road costs, for the Standard range Single motor and extends all the way to $85,080, before on-road costs, for the Long range Dual motor with the Plus and Performance packages.

This is more expensive than the similarly premium-pushing Tesla Model 3 ($54,990 to $80,900, before on-roads), as well as the more budget-oriented BYD Seal ($46,990 to $61,990, before on-roads).

Despite this, Polestar currently has some major deals and offers on new 2026 Polestar 2 stock to the tune of up to $13,000 off the drive-away price. This can see you drive away in a brand-new model for as little as $55,763, drive-away, in Victoria, which is around $5000 less than a base Model 3 RWD.

There’s a catch though… options. There is a slew of option packages and singular options available and they add up quickly.

Most notable is the new $3500 14-speaker Bowers & Wilkins sound system that must be bought in conjunction with the 'Plus package' which is $4700 on all trims besides the Long range Dual motor as it’s already standard.

Annoyingly, a heat pump is part of the $1500 'Climate package' which also brings heated rear seats, a heated steering wheel and heated wiper nozzles. So many carmakers now include heat pumps as standard fare in EVs as they help reduce energy consumption during colder months.

Beyond this, there’s a standard base of equipment which is fine for the price point. Highlights include LED headlights, a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, 11.2-inch touchscreen multimedia system, wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, wireless charger, dual-zone climate control and heated front seats with electric adjustment.

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.

No changes have been made to the Polestar 2’s electric motor set-up for 2026.

Both the single-motor versions have been rear-wheel drive now for a few years and produce either 200kW or 220kW, depending on the battery pack.

The Long range Dual motor adds a front-mounted electric motor bringing total system outputs to 310kW and 740Nm. It’s capable of doing the 0-100km/h sprint in 4.5 seconds.

The $8980 Performance pack (available only on the Long range Dual motor) bumps the total system power output to 350kW. It also reduces the 0-100km/h sprint to 4.2 seconds.

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.

Although we didn’t get to drive it at this media launch, the entry-level Polestar 2 Standard range Single motor has arguably received the biggest refresh of the line-up with this MY26 update.

It now has a slightly larger 70kWh lithium-ion battery pack sourced from CATL, replacing the LG Chem-sourced 69kWh lithium-ion battery. As a result there’s 554km of WLTP-claimed range with up to 554km (up from 546km).

Long range versions still have a CATL-sourced 82kWh lithium-ion battery with between 568km and 659km of WLTP-claimed range, depending on the variant. This is good but Tesla has moved the game forward with its Model 3 Long Range RWD which offers up to 750km of range.

We didn’t get a chance to fully test out energy consumption during this media event, but Polestar claims between 14.8kWh/100km and 17.2kWh/100km, depending on the variant. This is much better than when the Polestar 2 first launched.

While the maximum AC charging rate remains at 11kW across the line-up, the Standard range versions can now DC fast-charge at rates up to 180kW (up from 135kW). This means a 10 to 80 per cent charge can now take as little as 26 minutes.

Maximum DC fast-charging for Long range versions is still up to 205kW, allowing a 10 to 80 per cent charge in 28 minutes. Lots of newer rivals offer faster charging now.

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.

While outright practicality isn’t the Polestar 2’s strong suit, once you get on the road this melts away almost instantly.

This EV is and has always been a driver’s car that’s engaging and rewarding to steer. It’s a shame that many people’s first experience with it was likely in the second row as a rideshare with a driver that has a bad case of taxi foot.

Surprisingly, during the media launch drive program we had the opportunity to sample the original MY22 Long range Single motor and compare it back-to-back to the MY26 models. It’s rare this kind of thing happen.

This is notable because single-motor versions made the switch from front- to rear-wheel drive back in 2024.

While the MY22 example feels like a bulldog yet still capable of carving up corners, it holds up well if you ignore the odd cabin rattle and creak. You can also feel a marked difference with how the rear guides the latest MY26 Long range Single motor instead of the front when pushed.

This isn’t apparent in calmer, everyday driving situations. If you’re not a car person you likely wouldn’t be able to tell the difference.

The rear-mounted electric motor produces an adequate amount of oomph, allowing you to get up to speed with ease. Like all EVs you get snappy acceleration from a standstill, which is thrilling.

This is dialled up to 11 in the Long range Dual motor Performance. Although the Model 3 Performance is technically faster, it still feels like this Polestar 2 is quick enough.

In the fully loaded all-wheel drive trim you’re able to carve corners enthusiastically. It’s incredibly confidence-inspiring to chuck into corners as there’s grip for days and a bucketload of power to back it up.

Although the regenerative braking system is pretty powerful already, the Performance pack adds chunky Brembo physical brakes for added peace of mind. Perhaps Tesla could take note of this?

The aforementioned Performance pack also adds manually adjustable Öhlins dampers with a ‘Polestar Engineered’ performance chassis. It’s an incredible package with a dialled-in feel, though if you want to adjust the dampers you need to jack up the car.

If you’re not keen on outright performance, the regular Polestar 2’s suspension set-up still holds its own but has an added level of all-around comfort. It’s an improvement from the original which was a little too firm.

Across the line-up the steering is direct and makes this car feel nimble regardless of where or how you’re driving. You’re able to select from different steering feels which increase or decrease the resistance.

Given EVs have no engine noise, they can sometimes have more noticeable road and wind noise out on the open road. Thankfully the Polestar 2’s cabin is quiet enough, that is unless you’re driving on coarse-chip roads.

The Polestar 2 received a maximum five-star ANCAP safety rating based on testing conducted in 2021.

Standard safety equipment includes eight airbags, autonomous emergency braking (AEB), blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist, lane centering, front and rear parking sensors as well as a surround-view camera system.

This amount of safety tech is pretty standard fare now, but I particularly like how well they are tuned. It’s more noticeable in a world where new cars from new carmakers continually chime at you even though you’re driving normally.

There are ISOFIX child seat anchorages on the two outboard rear seats, plus top-tether points on all three rear seats.

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.

The Polestar 2 is covered by a five-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty, whereas the high-voltage battery is covered by an eight-year, 160,000km warranty.

While this battery warranty length is standard, a five-year warranty is getting a little short now in the grand scheme of things as many brands are moving to seven-year warranties.

Owners also get five years' of roadside assistance which can be accessed by pressing the ‘Connect’ button on the overhead console. It’s available 24/7 and includes car recovery and alternative transport, if required.

Logbook servicing is required every 24 months or 30,000km, which is standard for EVs. At the time of writing Polestar Australia was finalising service pricing for the MY26 2 and we'll update this review as soon as we receive the details.

There are a total of 23 Polestar service centres around Australia, a number of them shared with Volvo.