Mercedes-Benz CLA
250+ EQ Technology Progressive Line electric RWD automatic
Sustainability Rating: 5 stars
Our verdict:
Tested here is the Mercedes-Benz CLA EQ 250+. The vehicle is equipped with a large 90 kWh battery and has an empty mass of almost 2 tonnes, yet it managed to surprise by collecting all 5 Green stars with an average score of 91%. The car impresses with very low consumption values in all tests and demonstrates good usability properties in the Driving Experience assessment. The CLA 250+ shows that the high sustainability rating is not reserved for super-minis with small batteries, given the extent to which Mercedes-Benz has managed to improve the powertrain efficiency of this car.
- As a fully electric vehicle, the CLA EQ has no exhaust emissions. Tyre abrasion scoring is limited due to the vehicle's high weight and aggressive accelerator response, but brake abrasion performance is strong thanks to high energy recuperation.
- The CLA EQ shows very low energy consumption across all tests, confirming its high efficiency. Strong aerodynamics and an advanced heat pump system contribute to consistently good results, even in cold conditions.
- The vehicle produces no direct emissions, and total life cycle emissions are relatively low at 119.2 g CO2-eq./km. Most emissions come from production and energy supply, but the high efficiency and use of relatively green European electricity help keep the overall impact down.
Driving Experience
Our comments:
- Green NCAP's estimation of the real-world consumption values results in 'good' marks for all driving scenarios except Cold Winter urban driving, where the higher initial heating demand leads to an æadequate' rating. In combination with the large battery, the efficient powertrain earns the CLA EQ 250+ 'good' marks for driving range in all scenarios and practically leaves no reason for range anxiety. The board computer consumption readings are accurate. The entire Consumption and Range category receives the top mark.
- An additional driving range of more than 100 km can be achieved in cold winter conditions, if the vehicle can be pre-conditioned before the trip while being plugged to the charger. The cabin heat-up performance of the CLA EQ is seen as adequate on average, but the heating speed at the different cabin locations is not uniform and the front footwell is measured to take long to reach the target temperature. In the insulation test at ambient -7°C, the cabin lost 5.6°C after 30 minutes – a result evaluated as 'adequate' and very close to 'good'. The vehicle offers good standard and optional equipment with a number of efficient and thermal comfort enhancing functions.
- The fast-charging performance is another aspect where the CLA EQ 250+ impresses. A maximum of 342 kW charging power was measured, the average being 286 kW. The charging time (10-80% SoC) was only 22.6 minutes and confirms the manufacturer's official claim. With 88.3%, the 11 kW home charging grid-to-battery-output efficiency is around the industry average. It is worth noting that a 22 kW AC charging capability is optionally available. The CLA EQ does not offer any kind of bidirectional charging functionalities.
See datasheet for more details.