A Game-Changer in the EV Market: Mercedes CLA 250+ Review

The Mercedes CLA 250+ has been making waves in the electric vehicle (EV) market, and for good reason. After some criticism on design and price, Mercedes revamped its EV offerings, starting with the revamped CLA 250 for the 2027 model year. This luxury electric vehicle (LEV) is aimed directly at the Tesla Model 3, and it may have just stolen the spotlight with its impressive features, sleek design, and competitive pricing.

What sets the CLA 250+ apart from other luxury EVs is its striking design. Gone are the days of the blobby, swoopy EQ styling. The CLA 250+ looks sharp and aerodynamic, with handsome, properly resolved proportions. The tri-pointed star daytime running lights are a nice touch, adding a touch of elegance to the front of the vehicle. However, some may find the illuminated grille to be a bit too showy, studded with 142 lit-up stars.

Inside the CLA 250+, the fit and finish are genuinely impressive. The dash layout is clean and minimalistic, with good-quality materials and vegan leather that feels surprisingly close to the real thing. However, one common complaint in modern cars is the lack of physical buttons, and the CLA 250+ is no exception. Nearly everything is touchscreen-controlled, which can be both convenient and confusing at times.

One notable feature of the CLA 250+ is its panoramic glass roof, which not only provides a sense of openness but also helps with the car's aerodynamics. The trunk is also impressively spacious, making it easy to carry large items on road trips. The CLA 250+ has a modular architecture, meaning it runs on a single rear motor for rear-wheel drive, with a dual-motor all-wheel-drive version (the CLA 350 4MATIC) on the way.

As an EV, the CLA 250+ makes 268 horsepower and 247 lb-ft of torque, available from a standstill. The acceleration is genuinely zippy around town and brisk getting up to highway speed. Pushing past 80 mph, the oomph tapers off, but for daily urban and suburban work, it's more than enough. Mercedes quotes 0-60 in 6.6 seconds and a top speed electronically limited to 130 mph.

Range is where the CLA 250+ truly shines, with a 85-kWh battery rated at up to 374 miles (EPA). My test vehicle on 19-inch wheels came in at 317 miles, still comfortably ahead of most rivals. The EPA figure tops every Model 3 in Tesla's lineup, which spans 309 to 363 miles depending on trim.

Pricing is where the Mercedes CLA 250+ truly nailed it. The base trim starts at $47,950 in rear-wheel drive, which is remarkably competitive with Tesla's Rear-Wheel Drive Premium at $42,490 (363-mile range). The CLA 250+ also lands right in the thick of the range of the other Model 3 trims, with a cabin that is a much nicer place to be.

The CLA 250+ has received widespread praise for its balance of real luxury with enough performance in a handsome package. While my test vehicle, optioned up, hit $64,030, that's a lot of money, but with the average new car in America now near $50,000, it isn't an outrageous amount given what the car offers.

The strategic question that arises is whether a brand like Mercedes, which often focuses on ultra-high-net-worth customers, should be selling a $48,000 entry EV. However, if the goal is to get electric powertrains into more hands and let the technology filter up through the lineup, this might be the right move. It'll also do especially well in global markets without America's EV transition headaches.

Bottom line, for a long time, nobody built a genuine premium rival to the Model 3. Mercedes may have just done that, at a price that makes a lot of sense. The CLA 250+ is a game-changer in the EV market, and it will be interesting to see how it shapes the industry in the years to come.

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