2026 Mercedes CLA-Class: A 500-Mile EV Plus A Hybrid Too

From InsideEVs.

Mercedes hopes that 800 volts, 320 kW charging and remarkable efficiency will make the CLA a hit with electric sedan buyers. It will also be available as a non-plug-in hybrid that promises diesel-like levels of efficiency. Mercedes plans to launch four models on the MMA platform including a seven-seater crossover. Read more below:

The 2026 Mercedes CLA-Class Is A Groundbreaking EV And Hybrid Do-Over
https://insideevs.com/news/741411/mercedes-cla-ev-tech-powerhouse/

The last Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class was a handsome, aerodynamic front- and all-wheel-drive sedan aimed at bringing new customers to the Silver Arrow brand with an affordable price tag and efficient four-cylinder engines. You probably wouldn’t say that it lit the world on fire, however. That’s why the arrival of a new CLA-Class may not sound like that big a deal, but this time around, it’s more important than you may initially think.

After flying to Germany to look at how Mercedes created and tested the ultra-efficient new CLA, we would even go so far as to say the CLA’s electrified rebirth could become a modern-day W201 (190)—something that hits reset on what this company is capable of. It’s that important, and a lot has been poured into its development.

This time around, the CLA comes in all-electric or hybrid form—but not as a plug-in hybrid. It will have a Tesla-style North American Charging Standard (NACS) plug for fast charging and a Type 1 (J1772) port for home charging to maximize flexibility. It aims for nothing less than the Lucid Air in terms of EV efficiency. And the hybrid system alone is a fascinating, high-powered piece of kit.

Mercedes needs the CLA to succeed to ensure the brand has a future, as things have dramatically changed in the last 10 years. Like all established automakers from the Western hemisphere, Mercedes’ position is under threat from Chinese carmakers, which are advancing at an unprecedented rate and are now looking to expand sales of their increasingly talented and desirable cars into the West. Tariffs may not be enough to hold them back.

While in Stuttgart last week, we couldn’t help but notice how many Nio, BYD and Lynk & Co plug-ins we saw in the city, which is home to both Mercedes-Benz and Porsche. There are still plenty of cars from these Swabian brands since the locals are fiercely loyal to them, but I was still surprised by how many cars from China I saw.

Mercedes also needs the help. Sales of its EQ-branded EVs have not been fantastic as buyers failed to warm up to the soap bar-like styling; indeed, rival BMW seems to have taken the win for round one. But Mercedes says the CLA is proof that it’s far from done with forward-thinking electric cars.

And even on its home turf, Chinese cars are starting to gain a foothold, which is why it appears Mercedes has pulled out all the stops to make the CLA (and other vehicles built on its modular MMA platform) class-leading. It’s got great range and efficiency, and with a rear-wheel-drive-biased electric powertrain, it should be pretty sweet to drive too.

With an 800-volt architecture, the MMA platform has a peak charging power of 320 kilowatts in vehicles equipped with NMC batteries. They can add 186 miles (320 km) of range in just 10 minutes if you begin charging at around 10% after having preconditioned the battery on the way to the charger. Mercedes says the 10 to 80% charging dash can be completed in just 22 minutes.

00:00 – Introduction
00:39 – 2026 Mercedes CLA-Class Design
01:05 – 2026 Mercedes CLA-Class MMA Platform
01:23 – 2026 Mercedes CLA-Class Battery Capacity
01:40 – 2026 Mercedes CLA-Class Charging Speed
02:35 – 2026 Mercedes CLA-Class Hybrid Tech
03:00 – 2026 Mercedes CLA-Class Dimensions
03:37 – 2026 Mercedes CLA-Class Frameless Doors
04:24 – 2026 Mercedes CLA-Class Frunk
04:50 – 2026 Mercedes CLA-Class EV Range
05:00 – 2026 Mercedes CLA-Class Horsepower
05:27 – 2026 Mercedes CLA-Class Interior
06:00 – 2026 Mercedes CLA-Class Infotainment
06:51 – 2026 Mercedes CLA-Class Rear Seat
08:00 – 2026 Mercedes CLA-Class Cons

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