Mercedes-Benz CLA Revealed: Top 5 Things You Need To Know

Mercedes-Benz has taken wraps off the 2025 CLA, which is expected to hit our shores later in the future. The major changes lie underneath where it now gets both EV and hybrid powertrains. The sporty-looking sedan, which now takes place as Mercedes’ entry-level sedan, also gets some design changes and has been made larger now. 

Usually, Mercedes has a different naming pattern for its EVs (example: EQA, EQE, EQS) to set it apart from the ICE model. However, this time the EV version gets the same name as the regular model. 

Here’s everything you need to know about the CLA: 

Design And Dimension

The CLA’s design has matured and the sedan has even grown in size now. Here’s exactly how it has been made larger in size: 

As one can clearly see in the table above, the new CLA is now larger than its predecessor. It also gets a tweaked design which looks more modern and appealing now, but still the sloping roofline that makes it look like a coupe keeps things familiar. It comes with sleek headlights, a large grille housing the Mercedes-Benz logo surrounded by the three-pointed stars that are illuminated in the EV version.

The profile looks sporty with the coupe-design featuring a sloping roofline. The LED tail lights at the rear feature a new design with intricate signatures and have a sleek look. 

Interior And Features 

The interior of the CLA looks more modern and premium, featuring the latest superscreen setup featuring a 10.25-inch driver’s display, a 14.6-inch infotainment screen and a 14-inch entertainment screen for the passenger. The infotainment runs on the latest MB.OS operating system, and also features AI functions including ChatGPT for a more futuristic and smarter operation. 

The top features include a multi-zone climate control, powered and ventilated front seats, multi-colour ambient lighting, and a panoramic glass roof. It also gets a suite of ADAS features as well which take care of your safety. 

Powertrain 

The new CLA comes with both EV and -hybrid powertrains. Here’s a detailed look at the electric powertrains: 

As seen in the table above, both versions feature an 85 kWh battery pack but what’s impressive is that it delivers almost 800 km of claimed range! With the 800-volt electric architecture, Mercedes claims that changing is as quick as refueling, as the EV takes just 10 minutes to recharge and provides a range of over 300 km! 

Moving on to the hybrid powertrain, the CLA features a 1.5-litre petrol engine which is paired with a small 1.3 kWh battery pack. The unit is mated to an eight-speed dual-clutch transmission. The hybrid powertrain produces up to 194 PS of power. 

Price And Rivals 

The new CLA could be launched in India down the road. We expect the CLA series to start from around Rs 45 lakh. Upon its launch, the CLA will compete with the BMW 2 Series and will also be an alternative to the similarly-priced Audi A4. The EV version will be a sedan alternative to the Mercedes-Benz GLA and also go up against the likes of the Kia EV6 while being a more expensive alternative to the BYD Seal. 

What do you think about the upcoming CLA models? Let us know in the comments section.