Mercedes-Benz CLA EQ Technology Review 2025

The Mercedes CLA with EQ technology heralds a move away from Mercedes's exclusively electric models, and it's quite a statement of intent with its near-500 mile range. But how much else can it offer than a long time between charges? Find out in our full Mercedes CLA EQ Technology review. 

Car manufacturers tend to be taking one of two distinct paths in their quests for electrification. Some are making bespoke electric cars, while others are building models that are both electric and petrol-powered. Mercedes used to be in the former camp with its range of EQ-branded vehicles. But with the arrival of the Mercedes CLA with EQ Technology (we'll mostly refer to it as the Mercedes CLA EQ for the sake of brevity), it's doing a bit of both. Eventually, however, the EQ cars are for the chop completely. 

Technically, the Mercedes G-Class EQ Technology came first, but a £155k+ quad-motor electric SUV isn't exactly relevant for many buyers. The electric Mercedes CLA, on the other hand, has the potential to really shake things up with an official range figure nudging 500 miles. A few years ago, you'd have struggled to believe such a number. 

The Mercedes CLA EQ achieves this by various measures, including a super-slippery drag coefficient of 0.21Cd, extremely efficient motors and even a two-speed gearbox. 

As a result, it's able to cover 5.09 miles per kWh according to the official figures, which is unparalleled. Even the small, light Renault 5 E-Tech can only do 4.26 miles per kWh.

Picking some cars to compare the Mercedes CLA EQ to is actually quite difficult, primarily because Merc's arch rivals Audi and BMW don't have anything directly comparable, the closest option from the latter probably being the i4.

The Volkswagen ID.7 is similarly priced, but a fair bit bigger. The BYD Seal is closer in terms of size, but undercuts the Mercedes CLA EQ's price by some margin, while the Kia EV4 and Hyundai Ioniq 6 could also be considered rivals.

The Mercedes CLA EQ doesn't look massively practical compared to a lot of those, with its rear headroom-sapping sloping roofline and modest 405-litre boot. But it does claw back some ground by offering a decent-sized 'frunk', something many rivals do without entirely. 

It will eventually be possible to fill the latter space with an engine in the regular Mercedes CLA, which we'll be covering separately. Visually, it's tricky to tell them apart, with the main tell being a massive panel on the EV where the grille would normally be, packing some 142 three-pointed stars. Just in case you didn't know you were looking at a Mercedes model. 

There's a choice of two Mercedes CLA EQ Technology models from launch – the CLA 250+ and the CLA 350 4Matic, which each use the same battery with the latter gaining an extra motor.

There'll be a cheaper version with a smaller battery eventually, which could prove a handy way to save money if you don't really need a near-500-mile range. That's good news, because as it stands, you'll need the best part of £50,000 for the a Mercedes CLA EQ in a decent spec.

Mercedes CLA EQ Technology: Range and charging times 

For the headline 484 miles of range, you'll need to opt for the CLA 250+. You aren't losing much range by opting for the 350 4Matic, which can still manage 479 miles on a full charge. It's a good job you can go that far without stopping, because if you ever do need to stop for a top-up, your options will be more limited in the CLA than other EVs. 

Early versions will only be compatible with 800-volt rapid chargers, which rules out a lot of older units – around half of the UK's network.

The car's navigation will only pick up chargers it can use, which is handy, and eventually, there will be an optional extra that enables compatibility with the older 400-volt units. It won't be possible to retrofit this, however. 

320kW charging capacity means that once you are hooked up to a compatible charger, it only takes 22 minutes to take the battery from 10% to 80%. If you're in a hurry, it's also possible to get nearly 200 miles of range in just 10 minutes, although both of those figures we've mentioned assume you've found a suitably powerful charger and that conditions are optimal...

There's a definite focus on comfort in the way the Mercedes CLA EQ drives. It doesn't ride on cushy air springs like some more expensive Mercedes models do, but the more conventional suspension here does a commendable job of filtering out imperfections in the road surface, both big and small. 

It's not like it feels excessively soft in the corners, with the Mercedes CLA EQ's body staying relatively flat even when you take bends or roundabouts a bit quicker. Plus, like a lot of EVs, it hides its weight (all two and a bit tonnes of it) well, thanks to its low-lying battery pack giving a low centre of gravity. 

The Mercedes CLA 250+ has its sole motor at the rear, freeing the nicely weighted steering from any potential torque steer (when you get a tug through the wheel under hard acceleration). You're unlikely to notice for the most part, though, with a little scrabble from the rear wheels in damp conditions being the main clue.

The Mercedes CLA 350 has an additional motor for the front axle, providing 4Matic all-wheel drive, but we're yet to try it. Traction rarely seems to be an issue for the rear-wheel drive 250+, anyway, and grip levels are impressive.

It's reasonably well refined on the move, with wind noise nicely suppressed, although it's a bit more vocal than we'd like in terms of road noise. 

Initially, there are two versions of the Mercedes CLA EQ available – the CLA 250+ and the CLA 350 4Matic. Each has the same battery with a useable capacity of 85kWh, but the motor layout is different.

The 250+ has a single motor powering the rear wheels, while the 350 4Matic has twin motors to give all-wheel drive. A Mercedes CLA EQ with a 58kWh battery pack will join the range at a later date.

In the meantime, the Mercedes CLA 250+ develops a useful 272PS and 335Nm of torque. It's quite a heavy car, as already discussed, so the 0-62mph time isn't exactly breathtaking at 6.7 seconds. It never feels sluggish, though and is decently potent off the line, reaching the national speed limit in an effortless manner. 

Unusually for an EV, there's a gearbox here. The Mercedes CLA EQ has a two-speed transmission, with a first gear used for acceleration and lower speeds while a second gear ekes out more range while cruising. The shift is noticeable, but still very smooth. 

Anyone wanting more power and/or extra traction can opt for the CLA 350 4Matic with its 354PS and 515Nm of torque. It cracks 0-62mph in a hot-hatch rivalling 4.9 seconds. 

There's no Euro NCAP score for the Mercedes CLA just yet. But you get the usual array of airbags, plus a centre airbag, which Mercedes claims is a segment first. 

All versions of the car come with a driver attention monitor, blind spot assistance, evasive steering assistance, lane keeping assistance and speed limit assistance.

All versions of the Mercedes CLA with EQ Technology are rated to tow braked loads of 1800kg. 

The Mercedes CLA EQ's 405-litre boot is nothing particularly special and its saloon-style opening will make loading bulkier items trickier. It does have a trick up its sleeve, though. Or bonnet, we should say.

It's the brand's first-ever car with a 'frunk' storage area. And it's a decent-sized one at that, offering 105 litres of space. The rear seats fold in a 40/20/40 split, although no figure is given for the total boot volume this provides. 

A Tesla Model 3, for comparison, offers 88 litres of storage in its frunk, contributing to a total quoted capacity of 682 litres. Unhelpfully, that figure assumes you're loading to the roofline in the boot. Usually, boot space figures refer to loading up to the top of the rear seats. 

Meanwhile, a Volkswagen ID.7 doesn't have a front storage area at all, but its boot is much larger than the Mercedes CLA EQ's at 532 litres plus the hatchback opening arrangement will make life easier. Although it's a big bigger than the CLA, it is priced similarly. 

Anyone in the back will find that the Mercedes CLA EQ's coupe-like sloping roofline eats into rear headroom quite a bit, and that legroom is merely adequate. Up front, there are decent-sized door bins, a cubby under the central armrest and a storage tray under the 'floating' centre console.

There are no build quality issues which stick out inside the Mercedes CLA EQ but there are some curious design and material choices that cheapen the cabin.

Chief among these is the dashboard, which is made up of one massive slab of plastic that houses up to three screens (more on those below), with the passenger-side unit replaced with a panel showing dozens of illuminated three-pointed stars.

The round outer vents feel a bit flimsy and the lower sections of trim aren't especially premium. Where used, the leather trim feels nicely plush, though.

As standard, there's a 14-inch touchscreen infotainment system in the middle of that aforementioned slab, with a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster to its right.

Although not available at launch, the 'MBUX Superscreen' display will eventually appear on the configurator, offering an additional 14-inch display for the passenger, essentially turning the whole dashboard into one massive screen.

We're not expecting that to be an especially cheap option and we're not quite sure we see the need. As it stands, the central display works well – it's responsive to touch and the menu system is easy to understand. 

A Burmester surround sound system is said to be available as an option, although at the time of writing, it wasn't in the configurator. In any case, we were impressed with the standard system, although you do have to fiddle with the settings to get the best from it. 

Mercedes is making a big deal out of its AI-enhanced MBUX Virtual Assistant. When we tested it, we found it to be just as hit and miss at understanding commands as most of these systems seem to be. 

Prices start at £45,615 for a CLA 250+ EQ in Sport trim, rising to £49,375 if you upgrade to AMG Line or £51,770 in AMG Line Premium. Pricing for the CLA 350 EQ hadn't been confirmed at the time of writing. 

That might seem expensive, but then again, a Hyundai Ioniq 6 starts from £47,050. Yes, it's a bit longer than the Merc, but not drastically more practical, with a similar-sized boot and comparable rear headroom issues (albeit with better rear legroom).

The BMW i4, meanwhile, is more expensive, with the cheapest costing £51,370. Plus, neither the BMW nor the Hyundai can get anywhere close to the Mercedes CLA EQ when it comes to electric range. 

Of course, the up-front costs aren't all that relevant for a good chunk of people eying up a Mercedes CLA EQ as a company car, taking advantage of its 3% BiK (Benefit in Kind) tax rate as an EV.

Buying an EV no longer gets you out of paying Vehicle Excise Duty (VED), better known as car tax. It's now the same £195 annual flat rate from year two onwards as any other car.

Worse news is that EVs are also liable for the government's premium car tax supplement - and all versions of the Mercedes CLA EQ are beyond the £40,000 threshold. It's £425 annually from years two to six, bringing the total yearly tax bill during that time to £620.

On the other hand, there are some big running cost savings to be made if you can get yourself on a variable electricity tariff and time your charging during cheaper hours. Some providers even offer free electricity for brief periods if there's an excess of power generated by wind and solar. 

Even if you're on a normal tariff paying the average per kWh cost of electricity, it's only around £15 to fully charge the Mercedes CLA EQ. Assuming you can manage about 400 miles on that full charge, that works out at just 4p a mile. 

It's worth avoiding public rapid chargers, some of which can cost over 80p per kWh. Given the Mercedes CLA EQ's long range, using these should be a rare occurrence. 

The Mercedes CLA EQ is available in three trim levels: Sport, AMG Line and AMG Line Premium.

The Mercedes CLA EQ Sport comes with the following equipment fitted as standard: 

• 18-inch alloy wheels
• Panoramic roof
• LED headlamps with adaptive high beam 
• Electrically adjustable lumbar support
• 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster
• 14-inch touchscreen infotainment system 

Upgrading to the Mercedes CLA AMG Line adds the following equipment:

• 18-inch AMG alloy wheels
• AMG styling
• Keyless entry/start
• Puddle lights
• 64-colour interior ambient lighting
• Leather steering wheel 

The top-spec Mercedes AMG Line Premium builds on all of the above with:

• 19-inch alloy wheels
• AMG 'Night package' styling
• Multibeam LED headlamps
• Electrically adjustable front seats