Mercedes-Benz CLA 250+ Short Review: What We Liked & What Needs To Improve

The Mercedes-Benz CLA 250+ is back, firmly targeting a young audience with its tech, powertrain and design. However, the scale of modernisation also makes it far more expensive than ever before. How big should the list of takers be for this compact electric coupe?

Mercedes-Benz CLA Looks

This new CLA is based on the new MMA, or Mercedes-Benz Modular Architecture - an electric first platform that promises above all else, efficiency. With the CLA, new or old, this began with aerodynamic-efficiency. So here too, the slippery and smooth design stays common with the old CLA but the modernisations make it look far more striking. 

No surprise that Mercedes is offering two MANUFAKTUR paint options (Alpine Grey and Patagonia Red) here, since they’re intentionally going for what grabs most attention. Even Clear Blue turns plenty of heads and it says something that the usual white and black make up for the minority of paint shades.

No one will look at the CLA and think “old money”. The bombardment of Mercedes-Benz logos in the grille, the presence of the logo in the head- and tail lights, pop-out door handles from the EQS and aero-styled 18-inch alloy wheels make it grab attention like any two-door sports coupe. What helps the stance greatly is the size. It may be an entry-level Mercedes but is still over 4.7 metres long i.e nearly the same length as some 7-seater SUVs.

Mercedes-Benz CLA Boot

Well, this car has two boots. First, a 101-litre frunk that can fit a cabin-sized trolley bag and the 405-litre boot that can fit a full-sized suitcase along with some smaller bags.

However, Mercedes-Benz will equip customer cars with a space saver spare tyre that will use up most of the usable boot space, so you will have to chuck the spare away for any extended road trip plans in the CLA 250+.

Mercedes-Benz CLA Space & Quality

Being fairly long for what is a compact car, the CLA puts its size to good use, at least for the use case of the car itself. At 2790mm, the wheelbase here is actually larger than a Mahindra XUV 7XO’s! However, the coupe roofline and low slung stance means it is quite a low car to get in and out of, so taller folks will need a good bend to step in. 

Once inside, the knee room available is plenty for someone 5ft 8 inches tall to sit behind their own driving position. In fact, the front seat travel range generously allows someone 6ft 5 inches tall to stretch out, with the on board computer supposedly has an upper threshold of adjusting for someone 7ft 3 inches tall!

Underthigh support in the rear isn’t great for anyone over 5ft 6 inches and yes, it’s a cabin best used by 4, not 5. It’s unlikely a car like this will frequently see more than 2-3 occupants at a time.

Quality levels are premium but while the CLA 250+ costs nearly the same as a C-Class, the latter feels richer. It is, however, a brand new Mercedes-Benz experience. New switches for the powered seats, new window controls, new door panels and trim across the cabin, make the cabin quite different from any other Benz so far. And that’s largely to reflect the new tech package and architecture behind it.

Mercedes-Benz CLA Tech 

What you won’t see (not that you could before) is the decluttering that’s happened deep within the CLA’s nervous system. Instead of a multitude of computers on board being intertwined in their functionality, the MMA architecture in the CLA makes the use of 4 key controllers/computers that individually tackle separate functions. Individual systems handle infotainment, charging and drive operations, exterior and interior features and drive assistance systems, enabling faster processing and more fluid usability.

What it also enables is the better use of over-the-air updates with more significant updates feasible via the cloud that could enhance everything from driving range to infotainment features.

What looks like a triple-screen layout at first is an illuminated star-panel for the front passenger with a 14-inch central touchscreen and 10.25-inch driver information display. While an optional 14-inch passenger display is available internationally, it isn’t offered in the India-spec.  

The system has Chat GPT 4 in-built and makes voice assistance features more personal. It tailors itself to your preferences as you use it and helps with suggestions for routes, points of interest or any questions in general. The in-built navigation itself is based on Google Maps with MB.OS interface and helps with detailed route planning that’ll include charging station options, operational status, charging costs and overall travel times, including charge time. 

You can even set what charge you want to end your journey with or what charge you want to reach any charging stops at. Mercedes-Benz India has already partnered with multiple charging point operators (CPOs) to not only make long distance travel more predictable but allow payments directly through a single app, irrespective of whose charger you use. Users can also set up to 7 drives profiles, unlocked with facial recognition instead of fingerprint recognition as it has been in most Mercedes-Benz cars so far.

Some form over function gaps do exist. The climate control functions are in the touchscreen, so at least on the move, you’re better off using the voice commands to make adjustments. Also, the panoramic glass roof has no shade. While this won’t pose an issue with heat insulation it does mean you aren’t cut off visually from whatever can be seen through the roof, like bird droppings or patchy light flickers when driving through tree covers on a bright day.

Other Features

Mercedes-Benz CLA Drive & Ride

On every front, the Mercedes-Benz CLA 250+ comes across as a well-rounded driving experience and not just for an EV. The true sell lies in how much more India-friendly it feels than most imported EVs. 

For instance, the ride quality is quite compliant delivering good stability and comfort irrespective of speed while also handling potholes and broken patches without making the driver feel like you need to mollycoddle the car. Essentially, treat it like any regular sedan over speed breakers and the rough stuff and you will find the CLA EV easy to live with. That does, however, mean some speed breakers will need caution especially if you have a full house on board.

Simultaneously, the handling also feels reassuring - far more than anything we’ve driven with a battery pack this big and doesn’t identify as a sports car. You’re not as aware of the car’s weight as you’d be in most EVs meaning lane switchbacks feel reasonably nimble too.

Is it quick? 0-100kmph takes 6.7 seconds so yes. But it’s as polished and smooth to drive everyday as you’d need it to be as well. City use is super convenient and it’s the perfect size for most metros.

Range, however, is where the CLA 250+ can drop a few jaws. WLTP claims nearly 800km on a full charge and in our experience, the variation from this test cycle is mild i.e. 650-700km on one charge with a variable drive cycle (city, highway, inclines) should be quite realistic. The MMA platform brings the 800V battery architecture with it. Meaning the car supports superfast charging. With a 240kW charger, Mercedes claims you can add 400km worth of charge in about 20 minutes.

Additionally, the CLA is also offered in a standard range model. The CLA 200 ‘Progressive Line’ has a WLTP-rated range of 542km. This should equate to about 400-475km in the real-world. Do note that while the two variants have different battery chemistries (LFP in the CLA 200 standard range, NMC in the long range CLA 250+), they share the same equipment and the difference in price is a factor of battery size only. 

Mercedes-Benz CLA Safety

The features list includes 8 airbags, ABS with EBD, ESP, a 360-degree camera (with underbody view as you drive) and what stands out as the first luxury car in India with a relatively India-friendly auto-braking system.

The ADAS suite is operated via a front tele- and wide angle camera, one mid-range front radar and 4 corner radars, along with 12 surround sensors.

We used features like lane-assist and adaptive cruise control, and found them to be more India-friendly than any other luxury car system. Normally, these systems tend to be overreactive, jabbing the brakes where it would feel unnatural for Indian drivers but the responses in the CLA 250+ feel more on par with ADAS setups offered in made for India mass market cars. That said, this is a direct import and switching the car off means any disengaged ADAS features will reset to the default ON mode the next time you drive. 

Not only did the CLA score a full 5 stars for safety from Euro NCAP, it was also the top performer among any passenger vehicle Euro NCAP crash tested in 2025.

To Summarise

The Mercedes-Benz CLA 250+ is a compelling luxury car for a niche audience. If you want to be chauffeur-driven, better options are available in a similar price range. For those who want a well-rounded, stylish and tech-loaded self-driven luxury sedan, the CLA 250+ is an option that’s as compelling with its desirability as it is with its sensibility.

What do you think of the new CLA Electric? Let us know in the comments below!