Introduction to the 2026 Mercedes-Benz CLA hybrid
The second-generation Mercedes-Benz CLA made its debut as a fully electric model, putting its sleek silhouette to good work and delivering impressive driving range and refinement. Mercedes expanded the CLA offering with the introduction of a range of hybrid powertrains. These models look almost identical to their electric counterparts, and the lack of any need to plug in will no doubt be an attractive proposition to many buyers.
Pros & cons of the 2026 Mercedes-Benz CLA
Pros:
• Sleek styling
• Interior quality
• Front- or all-wheel drive
Cons:
• Firm ride
• Noisy engine
• No PHEV option
Exterior & design of the 2026 Mercedes-Benz CLA
• Better proportioned than before
• 17- to 19-inch wheel options
• AMG styling available
There's not a great deal to differentiate the electric CLA from the hybrid variant, the biggest clue being the open radiator grille at the front of the latter. Beyond that there's little that separates these two but it's worth mentioning that this generation CLA has a far more resolved design than its predecessor.
Arguably, there are too many little three-pointed stars dotted all around the car. They make up the daytime running light signature in the headlights, are splattered all around the front grille and can be found in the rear light clusters as well - just in case anyone behind in traffic wasn't entirely sure what you're driving.
But that aside, the proportions of this CLA versus its predecessor are better and even on the mid-grade (18-inch) wheel it looks good.
The cleanliness of the design has clearly been influenced by aerodynamics, and the hybrid also benefits from its slippery aerodynamic profile, while items such as the flush-fitting door handles (standard on all but entry-grade versions) add to the premium feel. The same can be said for the frameless doors.
Dimensions of the 2026 Mercedes-Benz CLA
Length: 4,723mm
Width: 1,855mm
Height: 1,450mm
Wheelbase: 2,790mm
Paint colours for the 2026 Mercedes-Benz CLA
The colour palette for the Mercedes CLA is a little on the conservative side as you might expect from a premium brand, but there are some good options available including Aquamint and Patagonia Red. Other hues include Alpine Grey, Cosmos Black Metallic, Clear Blue Metallic, High-Tech Silver Metallic, Solid Black and Polar White.
Interior, practicality, tech & comfort of the 2026 Mercedes-Benz CLA
• MBUX Superscreen option
• Decent 405-litre boot
• Panoramic glass roof
The CLA marked a change in tack from Mercedes in terms of interior quality and, in the highly specced test cars we got to sample, the material quality and equipment seemed very good for this segment.
The steering wheel is a new design that features the welcome return of physical roller and rocker controls, along with some haptic elements. It's a nice size and feels right in your hands.
Getting comfortable in the driver's seat
Thanks in part to its coupe-like profile, the CLA is more about those sitting in the front than the rear, so it's positive to see that the driver's seat is not only comfortable but can be electrically adjusted in numerous ways to a fine degree, too.
The steering wheel is also capable of adjustment over a good range, with plenty of adjustment for reach and rake, so most people should be able to get quite comfortable in the CLA.
As standard, the seats are heated and offer four-way lumbar support, but you'll need to move up through the specification grades to get seats with a memory function.
Infotainment and technology
The standout bit of tech in the CLA hybrid is the aptly named MBUX Superscreen. Available as an option, it takes the standard 10.3-inch instrument display and 14-inch touchscreen and adds a second 14-inch touchscreen for the front seat passenger to use. This can also be augmented with a head-up display for the driver.
If you don't opt for the third screen there is a panel in its place, so it still looks like a similar design rather than as if something is missing.
Wrapping it all into one vast upright panel that spans the full dashboard is a bold move and one that is sure to upset those of us that prefer proper buttons for things, but Mercedes has included one small strip of haptic controls beneath the air vents for drive mode selection and window clearing.
As much as Mercedes has leaned into digitising the CLA as much as possible, it's also aware that we have devices that require charging. So there are four USB-C ports with up to 100 watts of power and the availability of a wireless charging pad on the centre console on all but base line models.
Practicality around the cabin
For all the technology on show, the cabin of the CLA isn't the most practical out there, mainly due to a lack of any large storage spaces. There is a shallow storage shelf of sorts beneath the centre console between the front seats, but it's not the most accessible nor practical of spaces, though there is a useful elasticated band for holding certain items down in place.
The glovebox is an average size and the door bins in the front are big enough to hold drinks bottles. Two cupholders are on top of the centre console and further back the central armrest can open to reveal a small storage bin.
Rear-seat passenger space
Retaining a coupe-like profile means that rear passenger space is slightly limited, but it's not as bad as you might expect. Those of average height can fit in with just enough headspace to space, and there's decent enough levels of kneeroom. We suspect there's a touch more space in the hybrid as it doesn't have a large battery taking up floor space within the car.
Fitting child seats to the Mercedes-Benz CLA
Both of the outer rear seats are equipped to take an ISOFIX child seat, and the mounting points are quite easy to access. There isn't a great deal of space in the middle seat, so don't expect to be able to fit even a narrow booster seat in there.
Boot space in the Mercedes-Benz CLA Hybrid
The boot holds 405 litres, which is fine, although it's a touch shallow and the aperture isn't all that generous. Need more space than that? Well, there's always ths CLA Shooting Brake estate to consider.
Towing with the Mercedes-Benz CLA
The CLA is capable of towing up to 2,000kg with a braked trailer which is more than what some large SUVs can muster these days.
Safety in the Mercedes-Benz CLA
It hasn't been assessed by Euro NCAP yet, but Mercedes is expecting a full five-star score for the CLA, with high percentage scores in the individual categories. Certainly, it will be incredibly safe in an actual crash, thanks to its new centre front airbag (which stops you banging heads with your front-seat passenger), extra structural protection for the battery and a constantly evolving electronic safety setup.
All the mandated standard safety equipment is included of course, including audible speed limit alerts should you drift over the posted speed limit - though Mercedes has made it easy to mute this function by tapping a small symbol on the top corner of the central touchscreen.
Like Volvo, Mercedes sends investigating teams out to survey real-world accidents involving its cars in Europe, the US and India, giving the safety engineers valuable data from outside the laboratory. Mercedes says it conducted 150 physical crash tests of the new CLA in its development, as well as countless computer simulations.
Performance of the 2026 Mercedes-Benz CLA Hybrid
• Economical with fuel consumption
• Switches between motors smoothly
• Feels underpowered at times
All hybrid versions of the CLA use the same core petrol engine, a turbocharged 1.5-litre four-cylinder that is from the 'FAME' family of engines. These have outputs starting at 156hp for the CLA 180 rising to 211hp for the CLA 220.
Each version gets the same 22kW electric motor that is integrated into the eight-speed automatic transmission and uses a third clutch to fully disengage the driveline for coasting. That electric motor can also recuperate energy at 25kW.
Driving the Mercedes-Benz CLA hybrid on the road in Innsbruck, Austria - Dave Humphreys
The boffins at the Mercedes powertrain department have done a thorough job to make the hybrid system operate smoothly and for the most part they seem to have been successful.
At lower speeds, the engine runs smoothly and the car does switch between combustion and electric power with healthy frequency. The 1.3kWh battery might not seem that large in capacity, but the engineers have calculated that it is the optimal size for how most duty cycles are completed with the CLA.
Out of town and as you build up speed the four-cylinder engine can become more vocal and under harder acceleration it begins to feel strained. This is still a powertrain that is better suited to efficiency than spirited driving.
The CLA 220 improves slightly on this, but when you are pushing on a little more there are times when the dual-clutch transmission can hesitate as to whether to shift gear or not. It's possible to manually upshift or downshift by pressing the column-mounted lever forwards or back, but that's even less involving than paddles, which are missing from the CLA's steering wheel.
Body control through bends is good and it is a car that feels almost as low slung in the corners as it looks. The steering has a light but direct feel that's accurate, too.
Driving the electric Mercedes-Benz CLA on the road in Copenhagen - Neil Briscoe
When Neil drove the CLA 250+ in July 2025, he concluded:
This is potentially something of a game-changing EV in that its promised range is not illusory but is actually generally repeatable in the real world. Certainly, the CLA has more electric range than most drivers will ever need to realistically use in one day, and fast charging when you need it. It's also good looking, has a gorgeous interior with impressive tech and is ok, if short of brilliant, to drive.
Read the full review of the Mercedes CLA 250+
Read the full review of the Mercedes CLA 350 4Matic
Running costs of the 2026 Mercedes-Benz CLA hybrid
• Good real-world performance
• 51-litre fuel tank for decent range
• Not the longest warranty
The Mercedes CLA hybrid should be a relatively cost-effective car to run once purchased as it has so far demonstrated that it's capable of returning good fuel consumption figures and, if you mainly drive in urban settings then the utilisation of the hybrid setup should be beneficial.
Real-world efficiency of the Mercedes-Benz CLA hybrid
According to the official numbers the CLA 200 4Matic is capable of returning fuel consumption of between 5.2- and 5.7 litres/100km and, during our time behind the wheel, it was almost bang in the middle of that.
It is worth noting that our drive included some quite steep ascents but also some lengthy descents that resulted in prolonged periods of engine-off coasting - something the CLA does rather well. Still, we think this is one hybrid that is capable of delivering decent real-world consumption figures.
Mercedes-Benz CLA warranty
Mercedes only offers a two-year warranty on its new cars in Ireland.
Irish pricing & rivals to the 2026 Mercedes-Benz CLA
• No pricing yet
• Several versions expected
• Should undercut the CLA electric
We don't yet have any pricing details for the CLA hybrid, but we expect that it could undercut the electric variant when it goes on sale in 2026. It's likely that Mercedes Ireland will offer all versions of the CLA hybrid, with the CLA 180 and CLA 200 expected to be the most popular choices.
Verdict - should you buy the 2026 Mercedes-Benz CLA?
On one hand the CLA hybrid is a well packaged and attractive option in what is a limited segment. But the model to be chosen carefully as the CLA 220 has that little bit extra performance over the CLA 200, which at times can feel a little strained. Not everyone will need the 4Matic all-wheel-drive transmission, though, so if fuel efficiency is important to you, then you're better to stick with the simple front-wheel-drive setup.
FAQs about the 2026 Mercedes-Benz CLA
Is there a plug-in hybrid option?
No. Mercedes offers the CLA with a choice of electric and petrol-hybrid powertrains only.
Want to know more about the 2026 Mercedes-Benz CLA?
If there's anything about the Mercedes-Benz CLA we've not covered, or you'd like help in choosing between it and other cars, you can avail of our expert advice service via the Ask Us Anything page.
