Mercedes reveals new 2025 CLA

This is the all-new, all-electric Mercedes-Benz CLA.

Revealed at a glitzy event in Rome, the new CLA headlines with all-electric powertrain that promises up to 491 miles of battery range. However, a mild-hybrid CLA will also follow later in the year.

Naturally, there's a sleek new look, albeit one that maintains the CLA's trademark four-door coupe sillhouette, with elements taken from Mercedes' EQ range of full electric cars. Inside there's a new, cutting-edge infotainment system, and both electric and hybrid versions will have a choice of front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive.

When it goes on sale later this year, the new electric CLA will be a rival for cars like the Polestar 2 and the Tesla Model 3.

New 2025 Mercedes-Benz CLA: price and release date

No UK prices or on-sale dates have been confirmed yet, but we'd expect the order books to open fairly soon, with deliveries towards the end of the year. An educated guess at the prices would suggest a starting point of less than £40,000 for the mild-hybrid CLA models, while the electric versions be closer to £50,000.

New 2025 Mercedes-Benz CLA: exterior and interior

The exterior design of the new CLA features a long wheelbase (2790mm) with short overhangs, wide arches and a low roof to give it a sporty look. It's not just aesthetic though – the new look has a drag cooefficient of just 0.21 for improved aerodynamic efficiency. The long bonnet has some power domes added for even more visual dynamism, and the wheel arches house alloys from 17 inches to 19 inches in diameter. There will be 10 different designs of wheel to choose from.

The traditional grille now takes the form of an illuminated panel with 142 animated LED stars, which can greet and bid farewell to owners with various animations. That's on the electric version – the hybrid gets a more classic grille.

Full LED headlights are standard with Multibeam LED lights available optionally, and there are star-shaped LED tail-lights at the back.

Inside, Mercedes has gone for a minimalist design with a dashboard dominated by a new infotainment system, optionally controlled through an MBUX Superscreen. It comprises a 10.25-inch driver display and a large 14-inch central screen, with another optional 14-inch screen for the passenger available as an option, too. Other options include a head-up display and a Burmester sound system with 16 speakers and an 850-Watt amplifier.

Two types of seat will be available – comfort and sports – with recycled upholstery options, as well as leather and microfibre.

The boot should offer plenty of cargo space with its 405-litre capacity, and there's a 101-litre "frunk" under the bonnet, too. 

New 2025 Mercedes-Benz CLA: engines, motors, batteries and gearboxes

The new Mercedes CLA will come in full-electric form and with 48-volt mild-hybrid power.

Two electric models have been announced. They are, to give them their full names, the CLA 250+ with EQ Technology, and the CLA 350 4MATIC with EQ Technology. The rear-wheel-drive CLA 250+ uses a 272PS motor with 335Nm of torque, giving it a 0-62mph time of 6.7 seconds. Meanwhile, the all-wheel-drive CLA 350 has two electric motors – a 354PS unit on the rear axle and a 109PS unit on the front that kicks in when needed. That means a 0-62mph time of 4.9 seconds.

Both electric CLAs use an 85kWh (usable) battery that gives a very impressive official range of up to 492 miles in the CLA 250+ and up to 479 miles in the CLA 350. Both models support fast charging at up to 320kW, which would mean around 200 miles of range could be added in around 10 minutes.

Towards the end of the year, the hybrid CLA will be revealed in full. It uses a 1.5-litre petrol engine with a 48V system and an electric motor integrated into the transmission, which means it can run on electricity only at low speeds and for short distances.

Three version of the CLA are planned to start with, with either front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive and with three power levels. More details will be revealed nearer to launch.