Luxurious automakers thrive on fats revenue margins however are unwilling to surrender on their quantity automobiles. Such is the case with BMW and the two Collection Gran Coupe, which now faces a completely refreshed opponent. Mercedes is popping out with the third-generation CLA with an electrical twist. The child Benz has one thing Bavaria’s smallest sedan doesn’t—an EV spinoff.
That’s proper; Mercedes has engineered the brand new CLA with combustion engines and electrical drivetrains. Whereas BMW nonetheless gives its smallest sedan with diesel engines, its opponent, carrying many three-pointed stars, has dropped such a powertrain. The sub-C-Class sedan now solely comes with a turbocharged 1.5-liter gasoline engine. For now, there’s no possibility for a bigger 2.0-liter unit just like the earlier technology had.
Mercedes stays tight-lipped concerning the gasoline engine’s output. We do know the four-pot connects to an eight-speed, dual-clutch computerized. The DCT homes an electrical motor as a result of the automotive has normal mild-hybrid expertise. When lower than 27 horsepower is required, the automotive briefly runs in electrical mode, because of its 1.3 kWh battery. Relying on the mannequin, the gasoline-fueled mannequin will come normal with front-wheel drive and non-compulsory 4Matic.
The absolutely electrical CLA will likely be both RWD or AWD. The bottom mannequin, CLA 250+ with EQ Expertise, has a single motor mounted on the again, delivering 268 hp and 247 lb-ft. Mercedes claims it’s sufficient muscle for a 0-60 mph run in 6.6 seconds. If that’s too gradual, the CLA 350 4Matic with EQ Expertise completes the dash in 4.8 seconds. That is an all-wheel-drive, dual-motor variant with 349 hp and 380 lb-ft mixed. No matter selection, the EV variations of the brand new CLA gained’t go any sooner than 130 mph.
Mercedes installs an 85-kWh lithium-ion battery in each flavors of the CLA with out a combustion engine. It quotes a most vary of 792 kilometers (492 miles) for the RWD model or a barely decrease 771 kilometers (479 miles) for the AWD mannequin. Each numbers are estimations based mostly on the WLTP cycle.
The compact premium sedan has been engineered with 800V tech to help DC charging at a most of 320 kW. It’s doable to juice up the battery of the electrical CLA sufficient for 325 kilometers (201 miles) of vary in simply 10 minutes. Earlier than the yr ends, Mercedes will add a second battery by providing a lithium-iron-phosphate (LFP) pack with a 58-kWh capability.
Styling is all the time subjective, so we gained’t debate whether or not it’s prettier or much less interesting than the two Collection Gran Coupe. We have to talk about the automotive’s dimension because it has elevated in comparison with the earlier technology. The CLA is now 4723 millimeters (185.9 inches) lengthy, 1855 millimeters (73 inches) huge, and 1468 millimeters (57.8 inches) tall. It’s truly bigger in each means than a 3 Collection “G20.” It weighs a porky 2,135 kilograms (4,706 kilos) for the electrical model with twin motors, so it’s in the identical ballpark as a single-motor i5. And persons are complaining that BMWs are heavy…
Hopping inside, the triple-screen format already appears acquainted as a result of we’ve seen it on different fashions, not simply from Mercedes. The 14-inch passenger show is non-compulsory, whereas the ten.25-inch driver’s and 14-inch central screens are normal. The bottom mannequin additionally will get a panoramic sunroof, 4 USB-C ports (100 watts), heated and folding mirrors, and computerized local weather management for rear passengers.
Following the sedan’s launch later this yr, Mercedes plans to broaden the CLA lineup with a brand new wagon. The extra sensible CLA Capturing Brake gained’t have a direct rival to fret about within the luxurious class. BMW doesn’t promote a 1 Collection/2 Collection Touring, and the Audi A3 doesn’t have a long-roof variant both.
Supply: Mercedes-Benz
