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Finally, Mercedes has brought us a car with a full-Hybrid engine. It arrives here in the form of the CLA Hybrid, the combustion alternative to the EV powertrain the third generation CLA was primarily developed around. This petrol/electric variant won't save you much money over the EV, but it might be a better fit for your lifestyle.
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Background
All the headlines with Mercedes' third generation CLA have, understandably, been with the EV range-leading electric version. In the current climate though, arguably more important to the sales fortunes of Stuttgart's compact four-door Coupe and Shooting Brake estate is the Hybrid drivetrain we focus on here.
Mercedes has been producing mild hybrid versions of its mainstream engines for the last decade, but this is its very first full-Hybrid - which seems astonishing given that Toyota's been making the things for 30 years. Better late than never though and this CLA powertrain is certainly state of the current art. Let's take a closer look.
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Range data
| Min | Max |
| Price | 38700 | 53400 |
| CO2 (g/km) | 114 | 128 |
| Max Speed (mph) | 135 | 157 |
| 0-62 mph (s) | 8.7 | 7.1 |
| Combined Mpg | 56.5 | 52.3 |
| Min | Max |
| Length (mm) | 4723 | 4723 |
| Width (mm) | 2021 | 2021 |
| Height (mm) | 1468 | 1468 |
| Boot Capacity (l) | 405 | 405 |
| Power (hp) | 136 | 190 |
Driving experience
All CLA Hybrids use a 1.5-litre four cylinder turbo petrol engine unrelated to the previous un-electrified Renault-sourced unit of the same size. This new engine is entirely Mercedes' own work and comes in three different flavours. All see this powerplant mated to a small hybrid module with a 30bhp electric motor, which adds an extra 200Nm of torque and drives the front wheels, energised by a 48V 1.3kWh battery. Drive is via an eight-speed dual clutch 8F-eDCT auto gearbox. At urban speeds and when less than 22kW is needed, the hybrid models can drive using electric power alone. A special feature of the motor is its ability to recuperate in all eight gears, recovering up to 25kW of energy.
We said there were three different versions of this powertrain. It's at its most affordable in the CLA 180, which produces 136hp and makes 62mph in 8.8s on the way to 135mph. In the mid-level CLA 200, that engine is tuned up to 163hp, reducing the 0-62mph time to 8 seconds exactly, without affecting efficiency. Top speed is 144mph. At the top of the line-up is the CLA 220 4MATIC, which adds power to the rear axle for all-wheel drive. This version offers 190hp and makes 62mph in 7.1s en route to 147mph. All of these outputs are quite a way down on what you get from the full electric version of this CLA. The volume EV variant, the 'CLA 250+ with EQ Technology', has 272hp and gets to 62mph in 6.7s, while offering up to 483 miles of range.
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Design and build
CLA Hybrid variants look almost identical to electric CLA models. One of the few distinguishing features of the petrol/electric version is the front grille, with its central star and Mercedes-Benz pattern in chrome. It is framed as standard by a LED strip, which is illuminated when the headlights are switched on.
Previous generation CLAs championed futuristic styling over generally mundane mechanicals. Here, if anything, it's the other way round. The sleek design is smart but unremarkable and, as previously, can be had either as a four-door coupe (read 'small saloon') or in 'Shooting Brake' form (reads 'small estate'). There are some nice detail touches - like the three-pointed stars in the headlights and tail lamps. And the silhouette is super-slippery, its drag coefficient an impressive 0.21Cd.
Previous CLA models were cramped and claustrophobic in the back, so Mercedes has made this MK3 35mm longer, 25mm wider and 29mm taller than its predecessor; and added a standard-fit panoramic glass roof.
Inside at the wheel, you're faced with a huge full-width panel that incorporates a 10.25-inch driver instrument cluster and a 14-inch central infotainment display. In this panel's full (optional) 'Superscreen' form, there's a further 14-inch passenger-side display on which your fellow traveller can watch films, go online or set navigation destinations. With the standard set-up, this passenger screen is replaced by a glass panel with LED back-lit star logos which match the ambient lighting. Media connectivity is of course cutting-edge; there's the brand's very latest MB.OS software, Virtual Assistant voice control using generative AI and Google Maps built-in.
What else? Quality is taken a step up and the style of the seats and steering wheel champion a sporty vibe, particularly if you select one of the more exuberant cabin colour choices. That bigger body (with its 2,790mm-long wheelbase) will noticeably improve rear seat space. But disappointingly, boot capacity has fallen substantially - from 462 to 405-litres.
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Market and model
CLA Hybrid pricing starts at around £39,000 and there are five trim levels - 'Sport', 'Sport Executive', 'AMG Line Executive', 'AMG Line Premium' and 'AMG Line Premium Plus'. Price comparisons with the EV version are difficult because outputs and trim levels are different, but the 250+ with EQ Technology EV variant is priced somewhere between the CLA 200 and the CLA 220 4MATIC, if you get comparable trim.
Every CLA is equipped with a 14-inch centre display with smartphone integration and an integrated video camera, powered by state-of-the-art high-performance chips and real-time graphics from the Unity Game Engine. From launch the MBUX Superscreen, which adds a second 14-inch display for the front-seat passenger, is equipped as standard from 'AMG Line Premium' specification upwards.
There's an awful lot of new technology included across the line-up. Take MBUX Surround Navigation for instance, which the brand describes as a feature that 'seamlessly integrates the driver assistance view with a 3D representation of the surroundings and route guidance in real time on the driver display'. Then there's the Virtual Assistant with its generative AI system, which uses ChatGPT and Microsoft Bing for internet searches for the questions you might ask it.
Drive assist tech has also taken a step forward. All CLAs come with the brand's DISTRONIC Distance Assist and there's the option of the company's latest 'MB.DRIVE ASSIST' system. This complements Distance Assist DISTRONIC with Steering Assist, making it a state-of-the-art Level 2 driving assistance system. New in the CLA is Lane Change Assist, which facilitates lane changes with a simple click of the indicator lever. Standard safety features include active brake assist, lane keeping assist, speed limit warning, attention assist and a reversing camera.
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Cost of ownership
Let's get to the figures. Both the CLA 180 and the CLA 200 return 56.5mpg on the combined cycle, with CO2 emissions of 114g/km. For the CLA 220 4MATIC, Mercedes claims 52.4mpg and CO2 emissions of 123g/km.
In normal driving, Mercedes claims that this car can deliver 'diesel-level' efficiency (think over 50mpg in regular use), with a system that can provide several miles of engine-off propulsion. So much so that the brand has decided not to offer a Plug-in Hybrid derivative this time round. "We think Hybrid is the best combination we can offer for those who aren't completely ready for electric", says transmission engineer Jan Becker.
Service intervals for the CLA will depend on how far you drive and under what conditions - but Mercedes does offer 'ServiceCare', which allows you to spread your bills into manageable payments, guarantees the price of parts and labour for up to four services, and covers the cost of recommended service items such as brake fluid, spark plugs, air filters, fuel filters and screen wash. Another thing we'll need to tell you is that the comprehensive three year unlimited mileage warranty is built upon by Mercedes' Mobilo scheme which delivers breakdown cover for up to thirty years, as long as you continue to have your car serviced at a Mercedes main dealer.
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Summary
The third generation CLA wasn't primarily designed around this Hybrid engine, but this petrol electric unit turns out to be a good fit for this compact Mercedes four-door coupe. No range anxiety or plugging-in issues, achievable 50mpg economy and lively performance. All packaged in with Three-Pointed Star quality (though also, inevitably, at Three-Pointed Star prices).
Why Mercedes didn't develop this kind of full hybrid engine earlier is difficult to understand. Now that it has, the brand has a powertrain difficult to ignore in this size of car.
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