- The 2026 Mercedes-Benz CLA 250+ is rated for 374 miles of vary from its 85 kWh battery. Edmunds achieved 434 miles on a single cost.
- Edmunds says that is the most affordable automobile it is ever examined to interrupt the 400-mile real-world barrier in testing.
- The 2026 Mercedes-Benz CLA 250+ goes on sale early subsequent 12 months beginning beneath $50,000.
Automobile corporations are stepping up their electrical car recreation in 2025 in nearly each method. One in every of newest on this newfangled crop of EVs is the Mercedes-Benz CLA. It’s launching quickly within the U.S. with a shocking 374 miles of EPA-estimated vary—however that score may simply be understated. Lately, Edmunds obtained its arms on one earlier than its U.S. launch and put it by its personal vary take a look at, the place it went a shocking 434 miles earlier than conking out.
Edmunds says it is now the most affordable automobile it has ever examined to cross the 400-mile vary mark.
Now, it is value noting that Edmunds’s take a look at isn’t precisely the identical because the EPA’s. And that helps clarify the outcome. General, the route is break up 60/40, with 60% of the automobile’s driving being finished within the metropolis and 40% at freeway speeds. The EPA’s process is 55/45, so it is a bit extra forgiving.
Additionally, Edmunds does its testing in temperate Southern California, with the inside temperature set to 72 levels. So, there’s no pesky winter climate hurting the vary of the CLA.
Nonetheless, that is very spectacular. Edmunds used the brand new CLA 250+ EV, which implies this automobile had an 85 kWh battery feeding a 268-horsepower motor turning the rear wheels. The value for this unit would begin at round $48,000 earlier than any further choices or improve packages. By comparability, Edmunds stated the Audi A6 E-Tron is among the few contemporaries that additionally crossed the 400-mile mark, however solely barely at 402 miles. Additionally, its base worth is kind of a bit larger than the CLA.
The Tesla Mannequin 3 Normal and its 339-mile result’s almost 100 miles behind the CLA.
This info does bode very properly for the way forward for Mercedes-Benz’s electrified car program. Initially, the model launched with its lozenge-shaped EQ-series crossovers and sedanshowever they’ve didn’t create the market traction that the model had hoped. Apart from the controversial styling, the automobiles are thought to be not being as good to drive as Mercedes-Benz’s gasoline automobiles.
However the CLA is shaping as much as reverse these impressions. Add in Edmunds’s robust charging take a look at outcomes, and it appears just like the CLA may find yourself being probably the most compelling EVs in the marketplace. I, for one, can’t wait to see how properly different variants of Mercedes-Benz’s new MMA platform carry out in the actual world. The lately introduced electrical GLB will share loads of under-the-skin particulars with the CLA, however in a boxier and crossover-shaped physique.

Picture by: Mercedes-Benz
This week, our personal Editor-in-Chief Patrick George might be flying out to the Bay Space to get some seat time with the brand new CLA. Let’s hope the remainder of the automobile is simply pretty much as good as its spectacular vary and effectivity figures.
Contact the writer: kevin.williams@insideevs.com
