Mercedes is getting closer to revealing the production version of the 2026 CLA-Class EV, and these latest spy photos show it far along in its journey to prime time. This will be the brand’s new entry EV, and it will serve as an alternative to the gas-powered CLA, now entering its third generation as a hybrid.
As the car gets closer to its reveal in 2025, Mercedes is testing it with less camouflage than ever before, and we get to see how the new CLA stands up to the concept car that preceded it. What we get is pretty attractive, especially for an entry-level car, and gives us a good sense of what we’ll see when it hits the roads, most likely for the 2026 model year.
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The Cool Tech That Defines The Mercedes CLA EV
Mercedes has revealed some details about its upcoming entry-level EV, and it is looking impressive so far.
A Sleek Silhouette
Though this prototype is still wearing some camouflage, specifically covering the front and rear of the car, we do get a good sense of what it will look like. The silhouette appears fairly faithful to the concept car, with more visible pillars and with some of the flashier show-car features toned down. Its sleek shape looks a little less jelly-beany than those of the longer EQE and EQS sedans, but still with a sleek profile that was influenced by aerodynamics for maximum efficiency. The CLA EV is, after all, largely a result of the learnings from
the Vision EQXX project
. We’ll see just how coherent the aesthetics actually are when the last bits of camo come off the car.
From what’s on display here, we can see the flush-fitting door handles adorned with a bit of brightwork to help them stand out visually from the rest of the sheet metal. This particular model features a black roof, black wheels, and black rocker panels, giving it a sporty look. The front and rear lighting is still largely disguised, but we can see a hint of what appears to be a three-pointed star suggested in the lighting, a detail that will become clearer when the wraps come off.
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The CLA EV rides on the brand’s new Mercedes-Benz Modular Architecture (MMA) platform, which should underpin future electric SUVs as well. Powered by the Electric Drive Unit 2.0 this CLA will offer a 268-horsepower motor at the rear axle, while 4Matic all-wheel-drive examples will get a 107-horsepower front motor that can disconnect when not needed to help increase driving range. It also uses a two-speed transmission, again to increase efficiency and range. Mercedes expects the CLA EV to achieve 466 miles per charge on Europe’s generous WLTP testing cycle. That will certainly be rated lower by the EPA in the U.S., but will still boast very competitive range figures.
It will also use an 800-volt battery architecture that will allow for fast charging times. The CLA EV will be able to make almost full use of 350-kilowatt charger, with a peak charging rate of 320 kilowatts. Considering how efficient the CLA promises to be, this will replenish a lot of miles back to the battery in a short amount of time. Mercedes says it can add 186 miles of range in 10 minutes, but, again, that will change in translation to EPA ratings.
The EV’s sibling will be a CLA hybrid with a turbocharged 1.5-liter four-cylinder bolstered by a 27-horsepower electric motor for a total of 188 horsepower.