The colleagues at auto motor und sport have driven the new Mercedes CLA for the first time, and they believe it could mark a new beginning for the brand’s electric future, impressing with its efficiency and charging power.
The test drive with the new Mercedes CLA took place in Copenhagen, the capital of Denmark, where more than 80% of new private car registrations are electric. But before this test, the auto motor und sport team had already had the opportunity to drive the new Mercedes during the electric endurance record attempt held at the Nardo circuit, the climb of the Grossglockner, and the winter tests in Lapland. Those were test vehicles, camouflaged — but now it’s time for tests with the final production model.
For the first test, the auto motor und sport team initially got behind the wheel of the Mercedes CLA 250+ with EQ Technology, equipped with an 85 kWh battery and a 200 kW (272 PS) motor on the rear axle. The range indicator promised over 600 km, and after completing a 200 km route, the remaining range was still over 400 km.
Efficiency has always been one of Mercedes’ top priorities. The permanently excited synchronous motor, directly derived from the Vision EQXX concept, has an efficiency of 93%. This means that 93% of the electric energy is converted into kinetic energy. The motor is mounted in a shared housing at the rear axle, along with a two-speed gearbox and a silicon carbide inverter.
New Braking System
The Mercedes EQS was harshly criticized for the inconsistent brake pedal feel during the transition from regenerative braking to mechanical braking. However, the Mercedes CLA uses a new braking system. Although Mercedes doesn’t explicitly mention it, ZF developed this “one-box” brake system that combines the brake booster, master cylinder, and ESP control into a single module. The brake pedal feel is now significantly improved.
Even though it lacks adaptive or air suspension, the auto motor und sport team appreciated the well-tuned comfort of the standard suspension. They also praised the way the two-speed transmission works. The first gear has a short 11:1 ratio that ensures quick acceleration, while the second gear, with a 5:1 ratio, is ideal for highway driving and helps reduce energy consumption.
The same motor and two-speed transmission are used on the rear axle of the top model, the Mercedes CLA 350 4Matic, which also has an additional 80 kW permanent magnet synchronous motor on the front axle.
The Mercedes CLA 350 4Matic drives just as smoothly, comfortably, and efficiently as the Mercedes CLA 250+. Although there’s a 80 kW (109 PS) difference between the two models, it only becomes noticeable during overtaking and strong acceleration, as the second electric motor activates only when more power is needed.
At the end of the test, real-world consumption for both models ranged between 14 and 15 kWh/100 km, which is an outstanding figure for a vehicle of this size and power.Mercedes promises charging power of up to 320 kW thanks to its 800V technology, although this wasn’t tested during the drive.
But is everything perfect?
The auto motor und sport team criticized the precise but overly light steering, the narrow access to the rear seats, and the limited rear and trunk space. They also found the operation of the new MB.OS system, developed in-house by Mercedes, to be quite complicated. And with a starting price of €55,859, the Mercedes CLA 250+ is very expensive compared to the Tesla Model 3.
However, in addition to the already announced 48V mild hybrid version, there will also be a more affordable plug-in hybrid version.
Verdict
The Mercedes CLA with EQ Technology made a strong debut. Its powertrain, range, efficiency, driving feel, and comfort are top-class. However, the price is quite high, and the rear space is limited.