Famous luxury car manufacturer Mercedes-Benz is known for its luxurious and luxurious sedans. The most prominent are the S-Class, E-Class and C-Class and then they have off-springs like the CLA and CLS, which take the guise of a desirable 4-door coupe sedan. There’s a new CLA in India for 2026 and it’s being launched here only with an electric powertrain.
The range starts with the CLA 200 Standard Range and Progressive Line styling and then we have the CLA 250+ Long Range with AMG Line styling. We drove the CLA 250+ AMG Line in Bengaluru, Karnataka for almost a day across a range of roads and driving conditions and here’s what we think about it.
Mercedes CLA 250+ first drive review
Bookings for the Mercedes CLA begin today, March 10, at a token price of Rs 1.5 lakh and the launch is slated for April 2026. Exact prices of the CLA EV have not been announced, but Mercedes-Benz India has put a tentative price tag, which is subject to change at the time of launch. Rs 55 lakh (ex-sh) for the CLA 250 and Rs 59 lakh (ex-sh) for the CLA 250+. Concrete prices will be announced in April 2026.
When the new generation of CLA was unveiled in March 2025, it shocked the world with its desirability and attractiveness. One of my favorite sedans of all time is the Mercedes-Benz W140 S-Class. That kind of boils down to my body style preference, which is the straight lines, commanding presence and luxurious look that one of Merc’s German rivals does best today.
However, there’s something about Merc’s CLA and CLS sedans that appealed to me in the past and continues to do so today. Where design is concerned, Mercedes-Benz has nailed it. The CLA EV is a handsome machine with its sloping coupe roofline, frameless windows, bright colors and striking lighting elements, including the 142 illuminated Merc logo in the grille and the 3-pointed star insignia in the headlights and taillights.
The AMG Line styling on the CLA 250+ gives it a sporty look, making it even more desirable than the Progressive Line styling. Notable elements include sporty 18-inch AMG wheels, chrome highlights, AMG Line front and rear bumpers, flush door handles that slide out automatically with key proximity, integrated tailgate release in the Merc logo, hidden antenna, gloss black contrast elements and more.
sensational interiors
The interior of the Mercedes CLA EV matches the exterior of this attractive 4-door coupe sedan. These interiors offer a sporty vibe and are in line with the overall aura emanating from the CLA 250+ AMG Line. The interior theme is dark for a sporty flair and contrasts perfectly with the dual-tone sporty seats and dual-tone door trims.
The materials inside the CLA EV are excellent with soft-touch plastics on the dashboard and most of the door trim area. Adding to the cabin ambiance are brushed metal trims and Alcantara-like materials used in the upholstery. Both front seats are electrically adjustable and the controls are on the door pads. The front seats are heated, but not ventilated, and they also get extendable thigh support.
There are only two window switches found in the driver’s door pad area, which can be rotated in the middle to control the front or rear doors. The dashboard is a large unit equipped with two displays – a 14.6-inch central infotainment screen running the latest MBUX system and a 10.25-inch TFT instrument cluster. The gear selector is located on the steering column, freeing up the floating center console with wireless charging pad and adjustable cup holders.
Below the infotainment screen, there’s a bunch of buttons to control driver modes with haptic feedback. The steering wheel is a similar unit to what we’ve seen with the latest S-Class. Touch pad and physical buttons are available in it. Other elements like turbine-like AC vents, auto-dimming IRVM, sporty aluminum pedals, AMG floor mats, fixed glass roof, rear AC vents with USB Type-C port, 40:20:40 split seats and more are also worth mentioning.
It has a fancy Burmester surround sound system that plays synthetic sounds through these speakers. Boot space is around 400L and it gets a saloon-type tail gate with good aperture to access the loading bay. If this is not enough, users can access the front truck (frunk), which has a capacity of approximately 100L. The bonnet gets hydraulic struts, which helps in easy access to this area.
Powertrain and performance
The vehicle we drove was the CLA 250+ AMG Line, which comes as standard with an 85.5 kWh Long Range battery pack that promises a range of up to 792 km on a single charge. The CLA 250+ is based on their new MMA platform, which gets 800V architecture, which allows for higher performance limits and faster charging. The sole rear motor is rated at 268 bhp and is capable of accelerating from 0-100 km/h in just 6.7 seconds.
The Mercedes CLA 250+ comes with a unique 2-speed gearbox that helps put down power better and unlock higher range. Even though we were heavy on the throttle during our time with it, the CLA 250+ didn’t show a significantly reduced range figure on the cluster. We got a consistent range indication of 700+ km on the cluster which was quite reassuring. Mercedes has also promised support for a 240kW DC charger in India, which can add 400km of range in just 20 minutes.
Drive and Dynamics
It was a lot of fun to drive the new Mercedes CLA 250+ AMG Line in and around Bengaluru. The throttle is dual-stage and when you floor it, a digital whoosh sound comes out of the speakers, which very quickly becomes very catchy. There are fast cars and then there are fast cars and the Mercedes CLA 250+ falls into the latter category. There’s a kick to the way it pulls and it feels faster than the official figures. Which is a good feeling.
The CLA 250+ offers an excellent driving experience and much of that is because it is a RWD vehicle. The entertainment quotient with the CLA 250+ is high and will bring a smile to your face as it did to me. The steering response isn’t as direct as a sportscar, but it’s quick enough for its price. If you control the steering well enough you can take the tail out with some throttle and bring the vehicle back to the desired line.
The ride quality is surprisingly good and its relatively high-profile 18-inch wheels on 225-section tires could be one of the reasons behind this. During our time with it, we had no problems with speed breakers or rough patches scratching its underbelly. Despite the frameless windows, the cabin is well insulated overall. Wind noise, suspension noise and tire noise are well controlled.
Braking performance was adequate and the electronic driver assists do their job well. The Mercedes CLA 250+ also has good straight-line stability and highway manners. The sophisticated ADAS suite also does its job and doesn’t feel intrusive as Mercedes assures that the system has been trained for Indian conditions. Even 30% green tint on the windows and dark tint on the fixed glass roof does a good job of keeping out heat and moisture.
Trifecta hit!
The Mercedes CLA 250+ AMG Line is a heartfelt decision and buyers may find more practicality in another vehicle. The sloping roof line ensures that users have to take care of their heads. There is less headroom for tall people in the rear seats and the rear seating position is above the knees, which quickly becomes uncomfortable due to the lack of under-thigh support. Also, the heated front seats may be suitable for the European market, but not for the Indian market.
The first-generation Mercedes CLA did not have rear-wheel drive and felt like a glorified A-Class, as it was. However, the second generation Mercedes CLA is much more than its predecessor. It is a stylish and dynamic 4-door coupe sedan with frameless windows and RWD powertrain. The CLA 250+ AMG Line is a trifecta for us, as it excels in performance, technology and design.
At a tentative price of around Rs 59 lakh (ex-sh), the Mercedes CLA 250+ AMG Line is an easy luxury vehicle for us to recommend. It feels like a proper driver’s car, with a composed drive and dynamics. There’s enough tech and safety to please you and enough sauce to surprise your friends and family. If you want a desirable 4-door coupe sedan with a RWD powertrain at around Rs 60 lakh (ex-sh), this is probably it.
