Mercedes-Benz CLA Electric, record mileage and driving pleasure

Upon entering the car, the Mercedes choice to focus attention on the dashboard is evident. The MBUX Superscreen stands out, consisting of a 10.25-inch driver display and a 14-inch central display, integrated on a single continuous glass surface. An additional third display for the passenger, also 14 inches, is available as an option. The screens in the CLA are glare-free, legible, with dot graphics, both in the navigation screens and those emulating circular instruments for speedometer and consumption/power used. The panel in front of the passenger when the third display is absent, as in the model of our test, takes up the bright star motif and is somewhat 'plastic', contrasting with the excellent level of finish with almost all surfaces covered in leather or alcantara. The centre console has a very pleasing two-tier suspension structure, while the two side air conditioning vents are very conspicuous, framed by a chrome ring and illuminated, another element that could have been a little less prominent.

The CLA is the first car to feature the new MB.OS (Mercedes-Benz Operating System), a proprietary software architecture that integrates infotainment, automated driving, body (chassis) & comfort and charging functions. It is the Mercedes-branded application of the Software Defined Vehicle concept, a concept inaugurated by Tesla and which BMW has integrated into the iX3-Neue Klasse. That of the CLA is an architecture that extends the digital component of the car to the cloud and thanks to this integration Mercedes will be able to manage advanced OTA updates and the possibility of extending the digital services that can be activated by exploiting the 'Mercedes me Store'.

The CLA adopts native Google Maps navigation and Google Gemini conversational services, and features a three-dimensional reconstruction of the car's environment obtained by combining the images collected by all the peripheral cameras and sensors (eight cameras, five radars and twelve ultrasound emitters coordinated by a liquid-cooled supercomputer) that also power the rich array of ADAS. Among the most important assistance systems is the 'Distance Assist Distronic' adaptive cruise control as standard; the optional 'MB.Drive Assist' package extends to level 2 assisted steering and lane-change functions, while the 'MB.Drive Assist Plus' package is planned later as a further extension of the autonomous driving level. During the test, the voice assistant proved invaluable, helping to manage many functions of the infotainment system and avoiding the need to use the central touch screen, given the lack of physical buttons. Very difficult then to approve of the choice of using touch controls on the steering wheel. The impracticality of this solution is well known, so much so that Mercedes, gathering customer feedback, is already planning to reintroduce physical controls for future models.

We tested the 250+ version at length and on Sicilian roads and we can say that the CLA clearly has Mercedes DNA. Comfortable, very, it has a driving position and ergonomics that are practically perfect, the adjustment of the seats and steering wheel allow you to find the optimum position. The test we did, with several hours sitting in the car, confirmed the CLA's propensity to cope even with long journeys, also reaffirming the autonomy and efficiency declared by the German manufacturer. The CLA is switched on directly from the lever on the steering column, which also serves to put the car into gear and manage the four levels of generative braking, a convenient and ergonomic solution. On the move, the CLA immediately declares its aptitude for comfort, overcoming the speed bumps and potholes encountered on Palermo's roads without them seeping into the passenger compartment. It is not an exaggeratedly soft car, and if the pace increases it offers a good rigour in handling the trajectories, without excessive bending. The damping calibration and delivery, however, favour comfort, with smooth acceleration that doesn't immediately convey the high speeds the CLA manages to achieve in a very short time. The operation of the two-speed gearbox is almost unnoticeable and manages to give the feeling that the car is 'stretched out' during motorway journeys. On the motorway you reach code speed in no time, overtaking is instantaneous and dynamic noise is almost absent. It is in the mixed that the CLA amazes: a really high rhythm is maintained without fatigue and with a precision in keeping the trajectories of a true sports car. The hairpin bends we faced to reach the pyramid of Motta d'Affermo (a little corner of paradise that gave us a breathtaking view and that we suggest you visit if you are in the area) as well as the succession of changes of direction on the road leading to Cefalù confirmed the CLA's propensity for relaxed driving, even when you want to have fun at the wheel. The autonomy declared by Mercedes seems very close to reality: in mixed use, consumption varied from 13.8 kW/100 km in quiet mode to 16-16.5 kW/100 km when we drove with a slightly freer foot.

The price list places the CLA in direct competition with the best-selling electric models in its segment: it starts at 50,600 euros including VAT for the CLA 200 EQ, rising to 56,600 euros for the CLA 250+ and 62,200 euros for the CLA 350 4MATIC. The range will be expanded early next year with the Station Wagon model and hybrid versions.