Mercedes-Benz CLA Shooting Brake EQ Technology Review 2025

German car manufacturers’ adventurous spirit rarely attracts the praise it deserves. It's not usually manifested through the medium of daring styling but rather filling in market niches by selling models that are tricky to pigeonhole. Some disappear after a single generation while others gain a loyal following, hence the arrival of the Mk3 Mercedes CLA Shooting Brake with EQ Technology.

Crikey! Quite the mouthful — and that’s not even the full extent of it. Although a petrol-electric hybrid version of the new CLA Shooting Brake will follow, as per the trend set by its Mercedes CLA with EQ Technology four-door coupe sibling, this rakish estate car will initially be sold exclusively as an EV.

Its name is symptomatic of the company’s decision to no longer promote its electric models as separate ranges with their own distinct styling and instead integrate them into the core range. To that end the imminent replacement for the previous Mercedes EQC is expected to be called GLC with EQ Technology, with the other EQ lines following suit as their production runs are wound down.

Few are going to lament that this compact wagon isn’t badged EQCLA or suchlike, when a more commonly cited barrier to electric car adoption remains the need to have long driving ranges — regardless of the fact that for most people this is psychological and a not an actual need. In this respect the Mercedes CLA Shooting Brake EQ is going to fulfil that customer requirement.

Mercedes’ engineers have gone to extraordinary lengths to ensure the electric CLA Shooting Brake scythes through the air effortlessly which, combined with a new wave of more efficient drive motors and a two-speed transmission with a cruising gear for energy-saving motorway munching, delivers eye-wideningly high range figures.

So how impressive are we talking? Well, albeit with the caveat that these are provisional and not fully homologated WLTP Combined cycle figures, the entry-level Mercedes CLA 250+ Shooting Brake with EQ Technology is said to be capable of up to 472 miles on a single charge. For comparison the fully approved range of the CLA Coupe with the same drive system is as high as 484 miles.

Don’t forget, the CLA 250+ Shooting Brake also produces 272PS and 335Nm of torque, sufficient for 0-62mph sprint time of 6.8 seconds — the five-door bodywork’s penalty being only 0.1 seconds compared with its four-door sibling.

If you’re not yet accustomed with the notion of miles per kiloWatt hour (mi/kWh), think upon it as EV equivalent of combustion-engined models’ miles per gallon (mpg). Based on the provisional data, the electric CLA 250+ Shooting Brake is capable of a best of 4.89mi/kWh. For context, the excellent little Renault 5 E-Tech’s best efficiency figure is 4.26mi/kWh.

Should you wish to trade some range in exchange for all-wheel drive traction and even greater levels of performance then the Mercedes CLA 350 4Matic Shooting Brake with EQ Technology might tempt you. A second motor propels the front wheels for total outputs of 354PS and 515Nm of torque, reducing the 0-62mph benchmark down to 5.0 seconds flat. Driving range drops to a provisional 453 miles.

Harbouring the electric CLA Shooting Brake’s electrical energy is an 85kWh battery mounted under the floor of the passenger area, with the ability to be recharged using a DC ultra-rapid public facility at a rate of up to 320kW. A 10-80% recharge could take as little as 22 minutes. Mercedes doesn’t quote figures specifically for a typical UK domestic wallbox with a 7kW AC connection but it’s likely to be in the region of 14 hours.

Charging details are a little vague at this stage, but both of the electric Mercedes CLAs can manage an ultra-rapid DC charge of up to 320kW, theoretically enabling a smidge under 202 miles of additional driving range to be added in just 10 minutes.

Mercedes complements the CLA Shooting Brake’s smooth exterior, complete with an illuminated grille vanity panel containing 142 three-pointed star logos, with a fuss-free interior. Dominating the dashboard — when specced as an extra-cost option — is the triple-display MBUX Superscreen package. Without it the third screen facing the front passenger is replaced by a glossy panel that mimics the grille’s finish.

Integrated into the native navigation package is Google’s mapping function, enabling EV-efficient routes to be chosen with en route charging facilities flagged along the way. Sadly, physical controls on the dashboard are few and seem to be limited to a small arrangement of haptic touchpads on the centre console and the steering wheel’s spokes. We’ve not been fans of these previously, so whether they’ve been improved for the CLA remains to be seen.

Trim levels are expected to mirror those of the CLA Coupe with a choice of Sport Edition, AMG Line Edition and AMG Line Premium Edition. Even the entry-level model is generously appointed although it’s disappointing to see the spectre of what Mercedes refers to as Digital Extras among the options list.

What’s that when it’s home, then? Essentially, you’ll be paying a subscription fee to turn on functions such as automatic main beam, automatic self-parking and even wireless Android Auto or Apple CarPlay. 

Slightly longer, wider and taller than the outgoing Mercedes CLA Shooting Brake, the newcomer provides more space overall for those up front, while those in the back — a space better-suited to two passengers, not three — have got less room than before for legs and arms, yet can afford for their hair to grow 7mm more without glancing the ceiling.

Also smaller is the CLA Shooting Brake EQ’s boot, in part due to the relocation of various ancillary components. With the rear seats in use its 455-litre capacity is 30 litres down over its predecessor but a still-useful 50 litres more than the four-door CLA musters. 

With the 40/20/40 split-fold seatback lowered, a 1290-litre volume when loaded to roof height is yielded, some 60 litres down compared with the old CLA wagon. Usefully there’s a 101-litre ‘frunk’ at your disposal when you’ve popped the bonnet.

Returning to our opening gambit the electric CLA Shooting Brake’s credentials evidently champion efficiency but aren’t commodiously estate-like when it comes to carrying people and their belongings, begging the question which cars does it rival? In short, none directly, which means thinking more laterally to include more conventionally shaped EV estates and lower-slung SUVs.

That broadening of horizons produces an obscure assortment encompassing models as disparate as the intriguing DS No8, the underservedly slow-selling Genesis GV60 and even the Peugeot E-308 SW.

Prices for the electric Mercedes CLA Shooting Brake with EQ Technology will be announced later in 2025 with the first customer deliveries expected before the end of the year. Expect prices to encompass a £1500 premium over the four-door equivalents suggesting a starting point of around £47,100 when order books are opened.

Keep this page bookmarked to read our full and comprehensive electric Mercedes CLA Shooting Brake with EQ Technology review in the weeks ahead.