A model where feelings always come first

In this Mercedes CLA 250+ test, I take a closer look at how the model has evolved from a design-focused four-door coupé to a modern electric car with a clear focus on range, efficiency and driving comfort. The CLA has always been more about emotion than uncompromising rationality, and in 250+ form that journey becomes even more apparent.

When Mercedes-Benz unveiled the CLA model in 2013, it was a clear statement. Here was a four-door coupé that took the styling and attitude of larger models and squeezed it into a compact format. The CLA wasn't meant to be rational in the first place, but emotional. Design took precedence over traditional virtues like cargo space and visibility, and that's precisely why the model stood out.

From emotional design to electric future

Already in connection with the launch in 2013, I had the opportunity to experience the model myself behind the wheel. At that time I was down in Malmö and test drove the Mercedes-Benz CLA 200, an early meeting that clearly showed what Mercedes wanted with the CLA. The focus was on design, driving feel and attitude rather than traditional rationality. The CLA immediately felt like something different from both the A-Class and C-Class and set the tone for the model's identity from the start.

In 2015, the family was extended with the CLA Shooting Brake, an unusually designed combination of sportiness and everyday functionality. By the time the second generation was unveiled in 2019, the model had matured. The lines were tighter, the proportions more confident and the overall look clearly more premium than before.

From a holistic perspective, this Mercedes CLA 250+ test shows how the CLA has gradually moved from being a design statement to becoming a technically more mature car, where efficiency, comfort and range play an increasingly important role.

In connection with the launch of the second generation in 2019, I myself was present at the international press run of the Mercedes-Benz CLA 250 4Matic in Germany. It was a car that, despite being in the shadow of the more extreme AMG versions, made a strong impression through its balance. It was tight, easy to drive and conveyed a sporty attitude without feeling overdone. On the winding roads of southern Germany, it felt almost like a small go-kart, its four-wheel drive and compact size making it both confident and playful.

Even back then, I described the feeling behind the wheel as zipping up a perfectly fitting leather jacket. Not because it boasts, but because everything fits right. It's an image that still says a lot about what the CLA stands for. A car where the experience has always been more important than chasing the biggest numbers possible.

From emotional design to electric future

With the new CLA 250+, things are completely different. The powertrain is electric, the technology new and the platform designed for a new era. Yet the ambition is the same. To create a compact four-door coupé that not only works in everyday life, but also conveys emotion, identity and a clear Mercedes DNA behind the wheel.

At the same time, the CLA has always been the car that attracted new customers to Mercedes-Benz, and with the CLA 250+ the ambition is clear. The same design focus and the same emotional appeal, but with a technical basis that is fully adapted for the future.

Behind the wheel of the Mercedes-Benz CLA 250+

After just a few days behind the wheel of the Mercedes-Benz CLA 250+, I have to admit that this leather jacket fits even better than the version I drove in 2019. What's more, the electric drive does the car just right. It's smooth, quiet and comfortable in everyday life, but at the same time really alert when it matters.

The CLA 250+ has already received very favourable reviews, and after living with the car for some time, it's easy to see why. This is simply a very pleasant car to get around in, whether it's for city driving, commuting or longer distances.

Small objections in everyday life

If there is one minor objection to be mentioned, it concerns the steering wheel controls. Here, Mercedes has chosen to use touch-based buttons instead of traditional physical buttons. For me, who often varies how I hold the steering wheel while driving, this can sometimes mean that the volume is inadvertently adjusted when my hand gets close to the outer edge of the steering wheel. It usually happens that the volume is raised, simply because the control is there.

In practice, it is basically a matter of habit and something you learn to adapt to over time, but it is still worth mentioning as a detail of everyday use, especially when it happens unexpectedly.

Another surprising detail is that Apple CarPlay is not included as standard. In a car in this price range, it feels cheap to have to pay extra for a function that is now self-evident to many. Whether it's navigation, music or seamless mobile phone integration, Apple CarPlay is something you'd expect as an option in a modern Mercedes.

Format, space and scope in practice

However, you should be aware of the car's format. The CLA was never intended as a family car for large groups of children, and this is true even in the electric version. Two grown-up people or taller passengers will be cramped in the back seat on longer journeys. Not because the car lacks comfort, but because it is simply compact in its proportions.

According to the WLTP, on a full charge you should be able to get up to about 750 kilometres. During my drive, the car showed a realistic range of just over 465 kilometres with my driving style, which in practice feels perfectly acceptable. This is enough for everyday life, commuting and longer journeys with planned charging stops, without the range becoming a stress factor.

An electric leather jacket that fits even better

The Mercedes-Benz CLA has always been about more than just transport. It has been the car that dared to put form, feeling and identity before uncompromising rationality. With the CLA 250+, Mercedes has succeeded in preserving that character, while entering a new electric era.

Despite this, the leather jacket is still the same, but it fits even better today. Quieter, more responsive and more confident in its role. For those looking for a compact, design-focused electric car with a distinct personality, the CLA 250+ is one of the most interesting options right now.

In summary, the Mercedes CLA 250+ test shows that the model has grown into an electric car where design, driving comfort and long range interact in a way that feels completely in line with the CLA model's original idea.

Mercedes-Benz CLA 250+

Technical specification (provisional)

Price: From around SEK 520 000

Engine: El

Effect: approx 272 hp, approx 335 Nm

Transmission: Rear-wheel drive

Acceleration 0-100 km/h: about 6.7 s

Top speed: about 210 km/h

Consumption (WLTP): about 12-14 kWh/100 km

Scope: up to about 750 km (WLTP). With my driving style: about 466 km

Service weight: about 1 800 kg

Dimensions (length/width/height): approx 4 720 / 1 850 / 1 460 mm