I drove the all-new Mercedes CLA and it wil change your mind about electric cars

Let’s be honest. The switch to battery vehicles (EVs) hasn’t exactly got off to an electrifying start. UK drivers remain understandably concerned about range, where to refill the battery, and the fact that most EVs simply sound a bit bland.

Thankfully, Mercedes reckons it is fixing some of the pain points of going electric thanks to the launch of its all-new CLA.

In fact, despite this model featuring both all-electric and petrol (hybrid) variants, you can only pre-order the battery version at launch.

That might seem like a risky move from the German firm, but having driven the new CLA 250+ with EQ technology around the streets of Copenhagen, I believe this really could be the car that finally offers a reason to ditch fuel for good.

Unlike all of Mercedes’ previous fully electric E-branded electric cars – which feature a more unique and futuristic styling – the CLA appears pretty much identical whether you buy the fully electric or petrol model.

Other than the front grille – which is completely flush on the EV rather than featuring vented holes for engine cooling – you’ll be hard pressed to spot the difference.

Another thing that’s pretty identical is the range, and it could be one of the biggest reasons to finally embrace the electric revolution.

At its launch, Mercedes boasted that owners could drive well over 400 miles without needing to stop and find a plug.

That all sounds very impressive, but we’ve heard these stats before, and they never come close to that in real life. During my test drive, I didn’t have enough time to travel 400 miles, but what I did see was still hugely impressive.

One trip took me on an 80-mile jaunt through the Nordic countryside, and the battery only dipped by 20 percent.

That was despite having the air conditioning blasting, the luxurious seats massaging my back, and the incredible Burmeister sound system blaring at full volume. Drive the CLA carefully and I see no reason why you won’t get over 400 miles of motoring – that’s just about enough to travel from London to Leeds and back again.

Even when things get low, you shouldn’t need to worry, as the CLA offers some seriously quick refilling.

Although I wasn’t able to test the fast charging during my travels, Mercedes promises a 200-mile boost in just 10 minutes. That means a very quick coffee break at a service station will give you enough juice to easily get you home. The change in range is all thanks to some very clever technology, which makes things far more efficient.

Firstly, there’s a new battery under the chassis, which helps improve the distance the CLA can travel.

Then there’s a two-speed gearbox which combines dynamism with high efficiency. The first gear enables acceleration and a high towing capacity. It is also better for range when in urban traffic. The second gear is designed for power delivery at high speeds and high efficiency on the motorway. It’s been designed to improve things when on long journeys – something that EVs have always struggled with.

Add to that some better aerodynamics and impressive battery regeneration, and you end up with some serious petrol-style range.

Along with that performance, the CLA has had a big facelift this year. I really like the new look, which now includes long light strips that swoop across the front and rear of the car. There’s also some added bling thanks to plenty of Mercedes stars that glow in the grille at night. Even the main lights get that famous Mercedes branding, and there’s no question people will know what type of car you drive when you pull up at the golf club.

The door handles are now flush and pop out when you need them, there are frameless doors with chrome trim, plus all models sport a massive panoramic glass roof which stretches over the entire length of the car.

Colours are pretty limited at launch – there’s just Blue, Red, White, Black and Grey – but hopefully Mercedes will bring some more shades to the range as time goes on.

Hop inside, and things appear futuristic and very high tech, with the dash dominated by a Superscreen.

This includes two bright LED displays as standard, including a 10.25-inch driver panel and a 14-inch central display.

At some point in the future, Mercedes will also offer the added extra of a third screen for the passengers to play games and watch other entertainment on.

This is also the first Merc to feature the latest MBUX operating system for the driver, and it really does make a huge difference.

Those massive screens finally feel much more like an iPad than a boring in-car infotainment panel. Swiping through menus feels fast and fluid and there’s no annoying stutter found on some other cars I’ve tried.

There’s even full Google Maps integration, and you can watch Disney+ or play games such as Angry Birds when you are parked up and waiting for the kids to finish their endless clubs.

Other apps include smart weather updates, YouTube and Tidal for high-quality music streaming. Gamers can even hook up their PS5 and Xbox controllers for a console-style experience.

This new system feels very intuitive and easy to use. Plus, there’s a much wiser MBUX Virtual Assistant in the car with full Google, Microsoft and ChatGPT integration.

I asked it numerous questions and it never really got stuck. Even things such as “Where is the best restaurant in Copenhagen?”, followed by “Please take me there” were all answered in a speedy fashion.

The only thing that stumped the chatty assistant were sports scores, “Sorry I can’t currently answer that right now,” was the reply when I asked who was playing at Wimbledon that day.

Along with asking questions, the new MBUX Virtual Assistant can fully control the car, including pumping up the heating, switching on those massage seats and launching apps.

That means you really don’t need to take your hands off the wheel or eyes off the road.

The CLA really is a nice place to be. The ride is smooth, the seats are comfy, and the panoramic roof makes it feel light and airy.

There’s also a refreshed steering wheel which definitely fixes some niggles with previous Mercedes cars, and it goes some way to stop the touch controls from being tapped by mistake.

Other nice extras include plenty of storage space, a head-up display and loads of charging ports, which are powerful enough to refill a laptop.

Having spent a few hours in the new CLA I genuinely enjoyed it but I did have some niggles. There’s a strange plastic control panel under the main central screen, which feels a bit cheap and looks a little out of place.

The cup holders are exposed, and there’s no way to cover them up. If you don’t add the third screen, your passengers will also be staring at a solid piece of dashboard, which—despite Mercedes adding more of its glowing stars and a round air vent—isn’t all that visually appealing.

My final concern is the fun factor.

This car is supremely nice to drive, it looks super stylish and it’s a very comfy place to be for a long weekend drive.

But would I say it’s exhilarating? Not particularly, and if you are after a car that’s going to get your heart pumping, the CLA is probably not for you.

It will race from 0-60 in under seven seconds, and you can even add some fake engine noise to help give you a buzz, but this isn’t a machine for thrill seekers.

The new CLA 250+ with EQ technology is a cruiser, and it does that very well indeed.

With that ludicrous range, high-tech interior and fast refilling, at its heart this is a car that proves going electric is the future.