The Mercedes-Benz CLA has always stood apart. From its launch in 2013, the CLA blurred segments—neither a traditional sedan nor a coupe in spirit, it carved out a new path for compact luxury, wrapped in a sleek silhouette and Mercedes’ growing commitment to technology. Now, in 2025, the next-generation CLA arrives with a radical redesign that brings electrification, digitalization, and aerodynamic sophistication to the forefront of the entry-luxury segment.

Debuting in Europe first (with the U.S. model expected shortly after), the new CLA arrives not just as an aesthetic update, but as a fundamental reimagining of how a compact Mercedes should look, drive, and perform in a new era of premium mobility.

Exterior Design: A Streamlined Sculptural Statement

From the outside, the next-gen CLA immediately announces its ambition. It looks less like a “baby CLS” and more like a concept car brought to production.

The design language follows the Sensual Purity 2.0 ethos pioneered by Mercedes, where clean surfaces dominate and visual clutter is eliminated. Yet, despite its minimalism, the car has presence. The elongated bonnet, short overhangs, wide track, and sharply tapered rear all contribute to a profile that appears in motion even when parked.

Key exterior elements:

• Frameless doors remain, giving the CLA its signature coupe-like feel.
• The panoramic “shark nose” front end incorporates a lit Mercedes star surrounded by a gloss black panel, a nod to the EQ family.
• The new LED headlamps are slimmed and shaped like curved arrows, complementing the slightly domed hood lines.
• Aerodynamics have been enhanced with active grille shutters, flat underbody paneling, and a redesigned rear diffuser—all contributing to a drag coefficient as low as 0.23, placing it among the most efficient compact vehicles on the market.

The CLA is also longer and slightly wider than its predecessor, growing about 20mm in length and 10mm in width, enhancing cabin space without sacrificing maneuverability.

Interior: Hyper-Digital, Subtly Minimal

Step inside, and it’s clear that Mercedes doesn’t view the CLA as “entry-level.” The cabin mirrors what you’d expect in the higher-tier E-Class or EQE, only scaled to fit a more compact architecture.

The focal point of the interior is the new MBUX Superscreen, a wide-format, single-glass display that fuses the instrument cluster, infotainment screen, and passenger display. This evolution of the MBUX system runs on MB.OS, Mercedes-Benz’s proprietary operating system that promises quicker processing, better AI integration, and a longer lifespan of over-the-air updates.

Cabin highlights:

• Ambient lighting spans the dashboard, door cards, and footwells, offering 64 color zones and interactive themes that adapt to driving mode and temperature.
• Materials include vegan leather options, natural recycled textiles, and metallic fiber accents, part of Mercedes’ push toward sustainability without compromise.
• The steering wheel and touch controls have been simplified, with haptic feedback and a more intuitive layout.
• Rear seating gains slightly more legroom due to the longer wheelbase, though headroom remains slightly coupe-like, reinforcing the car’s sporting DNA.

The cabin’s vibe is simultaneously futuristic and warm—a difficult balance achieved through layered lighting and carefully selected materials. The noise insulation, double-laminated windows, and advanced filtration system (available via the Energizing Air Control package) all contribute to a premium feel.

Powertrain Options: Electrified Across the Board

The new CLA range will launch with an array of electrified drivetrains, including mild hybrids, plug-in hybrids, and eventually, a fully electric CLA that will ride on the MMA (Mercedes Modular Architecture)—a new EV-first platform for compact luxury models.

At launch in Europe, the lineup includes:

CLA 180 / CLA 200

• 1.5L four-cylinder turbo (gasoline)
• Integrated 48V mild hybrid system with starter-generator
• Power: ~136 hp (CLA 180) / 163 hp (CLA 200)
• 7- or 8-speed DCT transmission
• CO₂ emissions as low as 120 g/km (WLTP)

CLA 250e Plug-in Hybrid

• 1.3L turbocharged inline-4 with electric motor
• Combined output: ~218 hp
• 15.6 kWh battery, giving up to 100 km (62 miles) of electric-only range (WLTP)
• DC fast-charging capability up to 22 kW, rare in the plug-in space

Upcoming CLA EV (CLA EQ)

• Expected in late 2025
• Based on MMA platform
• Range expected to exceed 750 km (466 miles) WLTP
• 800V architecture for ultra-fast charging, with 80% top-up in under 20 minutes

This flexibility allows the CLA to be a bridge between combustion and electrification—a car that’s ready for now, but built for the future.

Dynamics: Precision Recalibrated

Mercedes is emphasizing that this CLA isn’t just a looker—it’s a driver’s car. And that’s not marketing fluff.

The next-gen model comes with a revised four-link rear suspension, better body rigidity, and a lower center of gravity. The steering system is now electric rack-mounted, improving feedback and agility.

Chassis and dynamic highlights:

• DYNAMIC SELECT system with modes: Eco, Comfort, Sport, and Individual
• Adaptive damping system available with AMG Line trim
• Regenerative braking modes for hybrids and plug-ins (adjustable via paddle shifters in the CLA 250e)
• Optional 4MATIC AWD system on CLA 220 and above, offering rear-biased torque split for cornering control

The result is a ride that is firm but composed, particularly in urban environments. On twisty B-roads, the new CLA offers improved turn-in response, more mid-corner confidence, and sharper exit traction—especially with the hybrid’s instant torque contribution.

Safety and Autonomy: Technology that Thinks Ahead

Mercedes continues to expand its semi-autonomous systems in the CLA, making this compact coupe a tech showcase in its own right.

Standard across most trims:

• Active Lane Keeping Assist
• Adaptive Cruise Control with Stop-and-Go
• Autonomous Emergency Braking with Pedestrian Detection
• Driver Attention Monitoring
• Blind Spot Assist with Exit Warning

Optional systems include:

• Level 2+ Highway Driving Package
• Intelligent Park Pilot, allowing for remote parking via smartphone
• Pre-Safe Sound and Impulse Side, systems designed to reduce impact trauma in the event of a collision

In addition, the MBUX Superscreen integrates a smart navigation overlay, which not only maps routes but visualizes them using augmented reality through the heads-up display and passenger screen.

Personalization and Trim Strategy

The CLA will be offered in several lines—Progressive, AMG Line, and eventually, Mercedes-AMG 35 and 45 variants. Paint options have been expanded to include Opalite Silver, Rosewood Red, and Digital White, with new matte finishes under the MANUFAKTUR line.

Wheel choices range from 17-inch aero-focused alloys to 20-inch AMG wheels with Y-spoke or turbine styling. Interior customization includes five material themes, ranging from minimalist eco-fabric to illuminated trim with etched patterning.

The AMG Shadow

While not yet officially unveiled, Mercedes insiders hint that the next-generation AMG CLA 45 will be “the most powerful four-cylinder compact car ever built,” potentially using the updated M139 engine paired with hybrid assistance and an electric turbocharger. Expect 450+ horsepower, torque-vectoring all-wheel-drive, and new performance telemetry built into the MBUX OS.

Pricing and Launch

Exact pricing for the U.S. market is TBD, but European pricing starts around €39,000 for the CLA 180 and climbs to over €55,000 for the CLA 250e PHEV with AMG Line Plus package.

Given Mercedes’ cautious strategy regarding global tariffs and battery supply chains, pricing in North America may hover close to current CLA levels—starting near $43,000 USD, with high-spec models topping out just under $60,000.

Impression

The next-generation Mercedes-Benz CLA is not just an evolution of its predecessor. It’s a manifesto—a statement about what compact luxury should look like in a decade of transition. It carries the elegance and innovation expected from the marque, but it also dares to innovate within its class, offering electrification, digitalization, and dynamic integrity that rivals larger, more expensive competitors.

 

 

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