2026 Mercedes-Benz CLA: Everything we know about the electric and mild-hybrid sedan – UPDATE
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What we know about the third-generation Mercedes-Benz CLA set to be offered in battery-electric and mild-hybrid form from 2025.
UPDATE, November 2024: The first official details of the 2026 Mercedes-Benz CLA have been confirmed, including information on its electric and mild-hybrid power options. This story has been updated to reflect the latest information.
The next-generation Mercedes-Benz CLA will double down on electrification as the first model from the German brand on its new Mercedes Modular Architecture (MMA).
Set to debut next year, the 2026 Mercedes-Benz CLA has been developed as an 'electric-first' model with a battery-electric version to rival the Tesla Model 3 and Polestar 2 – along with the large number of battery-powered sedans offered in China.
However internal-combustion power will be retained in some markets with the CLA – initially launching as a ‘four-door coupe’ sedan, then a Shooting Brake wagon – with a mild-hybrid four-cylinder turbo-petrol engine.
Mercedes-Benz is gearing up for the reveal of the new model with the brand recently showcasing a camouflaged example at the International Festival of Fashion, Photography and Accessories in Hyères, France, followed by a teaser video (embedded above) with brand CEO Ola Källenius.
Here is everything we know about the new 2026 Mercedes-Benz CLA:
What will the 2026 Mercedes-Benz CLA look like?
The 2026 CLA was previewed with the Mercedes-Benz Concept CLA unveiled at the 2023 Munich motor show in Germany.
While the showroom version will be toned down with smaller wheels, larger mirrors, and visible pop-out door handles, it will retain the fundamental design of the concept car including its star-patterned grille and light signatures.
It will be an evolution of the current second-generation CLA – plus added inspiration from the swoopy Vision EQXX concept – with a new-look grille, angular headlamps connected by a light band, and a longer wheelbase than today's CLA.
What engines will the 2026 Mercedes-Benz CLA have?
A newly-developed mild-hybrid petrol engine has been confirmed for the new CLA.
The 1.5-litre ‘M252 FAME’ will be offered in three tunes at launch – 100kW, 120kW or 140kW – with standard front-wheel drive and optional ‘4Matic’ all-wheel drive, paired to an eight-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission and mild-hybrid tech.
The 48-volt mild-hybrid system uses a gearbox-mounted integrated starter motor to trim fuel economy and carbon emissions – while providing a small boost under hard acceleration.
Mercedes-Benz says the petrol CLA will meet the Euro 7 emissions standard, with a 12:0:1 compression ratio, Miller combustion cycle, 1.3kWh battery with an integrated DC-DC converter, regenerative braking, and the ability to drive with electricity only at low speeds for very short distances.
MORE: New Mercedes-Benz CLA to retain petrol alongside electric power
A plug-in hybrid version of the new CLA is not planned, and diesel engines have not been announced.
With the MMA platform focused on electric vehicles – components to accommodate an engine were added later, rather than the reverse – any compromises in the packaging and design of the CLA are said to be felt in the petrol-engined models, not the electric ones.
The electric CLA will have an 85kWh silicon-oxide-anode battery at launch – said to be 20 per cent more energy-dense than before – in top-of-the-range models, with a 58kWh usable lithium-iron-phosphate (LFP) battery for entry-level variants due to follow.
For improved efficiency, Mercedes-Benz will adopt the cell-to-pack (CTP) production principle also used by Tesla to integrate the cells directly into the battery pack – rather than placing the cells inside modules, which are subsequently mounted within the pack.
The brand has confirmed an average energy consumption of 12kWh/100km – among the best in the current electric-car market – with a driving range of 750km for the 82kWh long-range variant under European WLTP testing.
It uses an 800-volt charging architecture – also seen in other EVs like the Porsche Taycan and Hyundai Ioniq 5 – with a 320kW maximum DC fast-charge speed for variants with the larger 82kWh battery.
Adding 36kWh of charge – about 42 per cent of the battery’s total capacity – is said to take 10 minutes at a 320kW station.
Bi-directional charging capability will be included with vehicle-to-home (V2H), vehicle-to-grid (V2G) and vehicle-to-load (V2L) support.
In single-motor rear-wheel-drive and dual-motor all-wheel-drive form, the CLA will use a two-speed gearbox similar to the Porsche Taycan and Audi e-tron GT to improve acceleration and efficiency, with the second gear ratio used for highway driving.
The compact asynchronous unit delivers up to 200kW to the rear wheels, with non-AMG all-wheel-drive models adding an 80kW front motor that can automatically decouple in 200 milliseconds for improved efficiency.
Other outputs are tipped to be offered, including a 150kW base rear-wheel drive and up to 400kW in a dual-motor, all-wheel-drive AMG CLA top-of-the-range model.
What technology will the 2026 Mercedes-Benz CLA have?
Inside, the new CLA will follow the concept car with three screens on the dashboard: an instrument cluster, a central infotainment touchscreen, and a front passenger display.
It will use Mercedes-Benz's new proprietary "chip-to-cloud" MB.OS operating system with embedded Google-based maps and services, improved smartphone mirroring, downloadable applications, and full integration with electric drive systems.
The CLA will include 'Level 2 Plus' semi-autonomous driving technology at launch; the concept uses 'Level 3' but this will not be offered in the initial showroom version.
MORE: Mercedes-Benz previews new MB.OS operating system
Level 2 Plus allows for additional hands-free features – such as automated lane changes – but the driver remains in full legal control of the vehicle, while under Level 3 drivers can legally take their hands off the steering wheel and eyes off the road in certain environments.
A child presence detection system will be fitted to the CLA with sensors and cameras to detect breathing patterns when the vehicle is locked.
The vehicle will trigger the air-conditioning and sound the horn when it detects movement if the driver does not respond to initial warnings from the car.
When will the 2026 Mercedes-Benz CLA launch in Australia?
An Australian launch for the third-generation Mercedes-Benz CLA sedan is expected towards the end of 2025, or in the first months of 2026.
It is likely to be offered in mild-hybrid and battery-electric forms in Australia.
The CLA sedan will be followed by a CLA Shooting Brake wagon, along with successors to the current GLA/EQA and GLB/EQB SUVs also based on the MMA platform.
The Mercedes-Benz A-Class hatchback will be discontinued when production of the current-generation models ends around 2026. The B-Class will also be axed.
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