This review assesses the 2026 Mercedes-Benz CLA, finding that the automaker's latest electric vehicle is its most efficient car ever.

The new CLA also marks a change in strategy for Mercedes. Rather than have different line-ups for electric cars – badged EQ – the CLA is available as an EV with two versions and a full hybrid with a 1.5-litre four-cylinder engine and small battery. In a further twist, Mercedes has said that both petrol and EV models should be priced similarly.

The all-new Mercedes Benz CLA has debuted in both EV and hybrid guise. Tap here for pictures, range data and launch details.

The Mercedes CLA with EQ Technology heralds a new generation of lighter and more efficient EVs, plus there’s hybrids on the way

The new Mercedes-Benz CLA is the company’s first car to be fitted with a multi-source heat pump as standard, which uses waste heat from the drivetrain, battery and ambient air to help warm the cabin. It is also the first Mercedes EV from the modern era to have a frunk, with a generous 101 litres of storage under the bonnet.

The electric CLA is the first Benz to put cargo in front of the driver in nearly 100 years. The last time was the W23 Mercedes-Benz 130, a small car with a rear-mounted engine and a luggage space in the front that Mercedes built during the early 1930s.

Mercedes-Benz CLA sedan will come as both an EV and a hybrid, and feature over-the-air updates and AI-based infotainment.

With a profile that renders the larger CLS-Class in miniature, the Mercedes-Benz CLA gets a more curvaceous look come fall when it goes on sale. Looking much like the 2023 Concept CLA-class, the entry-level 2026 Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class is still as sexy as ever.