The Electric Mercedes-Benz CLA: 602 Kilometres, 800 Volts and a Two-Speed Gearbox for $49,900 — Rated 8.2/10

Two clarifications before the numbers, because this nameplate currently means two different cars. Mercedes-Benz Canada sells the new-generation electric CLA as a 2027 model, not a 2026. And the 2026 CLA 250 4MATIC still listed at dealerships is the outgoing gasoline coupe — a mild-hybrid 2.0-litre making 221 horsepower, an entirely different vehicle from the one reviewed here.

The new car matters because of what sits under it. The CLA is the first model on Mercedes' MMA platform and the launch vehicle for both MB.OS, the company's own operating system, and an 800-volt electric architecture developed out of the VISION EQXX efficiency concept. It is the start of an entry-luxury family that will also produce electric GLA and GLB models.

Canada gets two versions. The rear-drive CLA 250+ costs $49,900 and produces 268 horsepower and 247 pound-feet from a single rear motor, reaching 100 km/h in 6.6 seconds. The all-wheel-drive CLA 350 4MATIC costs $55,900 and pairs motors front and rear for 349 horsepower and 380 pound-feet, cutting the sprint to 4.9 seconds. Both use an 85-kilowatt-hour battery, and both are quoted at up to 602 and 502 kilometres of range respectively — figures Mercedes-Benz Canada derives from Natural Resources Canada guidelines rather than an EPA or WLTP certification, which is worth knowing when comparing against rivals quoting other standards.

Charging is a genuine strength. The 800-volt system accepts up to 320 kilowatts of direct current, which Mercedes says takes the battery from 10 to 80 per cent in 22 minutes and adds roughly 300 to 350 kilometres in fifteen to twenty. The car ships with a native NACS connector for fast charging and a 9.6-kilowatt J1772 port for alternating current. There is also an unusual mechanical detail for an electric car: a two-speed transmission, fitted in the interest of both low-speed response and highway efficiency. Cargo space runs to 405 litres behind the rear seats plus a 101-litre front trunk, and the 500-kilogram battery pack uses permanent-magnet motors that Mercedes says contain almost no rare-earth elements.

Inside, the CLA launches the fourth generation of MBUX running on MB.OS, which Mercedes describes as the first in-car infotainment system with artificial-intelligence capabilities, with Microsoft and Google systems built into the voice assistant, over-the-air updates and driver facial recognition. A 14-inch central touchscreen and a 14-inch driver display are standard; the full MBUX Superscreen, which adds a third 14-inch display in front of the passenger, arrives with the $4,900 Pinnacle package alongside a head-up display and MULTIBEAM LED lighting. The Exclusive package sits between at $3,100. Customer deliveries in Canada are expected in the summer of 2026, and certain Premium-trim CLA 250+ configurations may qualify for the federal $5,000 electric-vehicle incentive, subject to Transport Canada's rules.

One competitive note closes the file. The CLA was a finalist in the 2026 World Electric Vehicle category and lost — to the BMW iX3 this desk reviewed a week ago and rated 4/10. Our two scores therefore invert the jury's result, and we say so plainly rather than leave readers to notice it themselves.

An 8.2/10 from the Torbrook Rating Agency reflects a car that brings 800-volt charging, a genuinely new software platform and better than 600 kilometres of quoted range in at under $50,000. The specifications above are Mercedes-Benz's; the score is ours.