The new Mercedes-Benz CLA is more of everything—more power, more technology, more luxury. It's a clear signal for the future of Mercedes-Benz that leaves its competition far, far behind, and it's in large part thanks to artificial intelligence.
In the North American market, Mercedes most closely competes with Audi and BMW. Unlike the models those automakers have as part of their lineup, Mercedes will offer the CLA in hybrid and battery-electric form. No matter the powertrain chosen, each car's infotainment ecosystem is loaded with AI technology.
The all-electric CLA, the CLA 350 4Matic, will be the first model to arrive to market, filling a gap on the lower end for Mercedes, which right now sells midsize and larger electric SUVs and sedans. A few months later, the automaker will roll out sales of its variant with a mild-hybrid, 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine, the CLA 250+.
The only way to tell the models apart from the outside to the casual observer is by the grille—the electric has a solid shield-like surface while the others have more traditional vented grilles. No tailpipes are visible.
Underpinning the models is Mercedes' new vehicle architecture, which will eventually serve as the base for four models: CLA, CLA shooting brake, GLA and GLB. The architecture's 800-volt capability means that the battery-electric CLA can charge faster than any other Mercedes on the market, gaining as much as 186 miles of range in as little as 10 minutes under ideal charging conditions.
The Hyundai Ioniq 6 and Lucid Air are two of the fastest-charging vehicles in the U.S. today. The Ioniq 6 can add 193 miles of range in 15 minutes while the Air can add 150 miles of range in 12 minutes.
The four-cylinder and battery-electric CLAs, as tested at the Mercedes proving grounds in northern Sweden, deliver ample power off the line, with the gas-powered version's eight-speed dual-clutch transmission sorted to smoothly move the car from the line and through the gears without hesitation or lurching, even under extreme cold weather conditions.
There are significant driving dynamics differences between the electric and hybrid CLAs, with the gas-powered version being noticeably lighter at every turn. Operationally, the two handle very differently. When tested back-to-back, those differences became more apparent. The hybrid is classically drivable, if not predictable in its behavior, even with ice under its tires. The battery-electric vehicle responds more precisely to steering wheel movements and throttle touch, utilizing every bit of its software stack to stay moving in the direction you want to go, icy conditions be damned.
Its compact and coupe-like exterior design does not do the interior justice. As is the case with most battery-electric models, the interior of the CLA is more spacious than it first appears. There is enough room for someone who is 6-foot-5 to sit comfortably in the back and get in and out with ease.
There is not a better-appointed car in CLA's class. The Mercedes design team has covered surfaces with materials befitting a more expensive model, with special attention paid to surfaces where fingertips and arms are likely to pause.
The new seat adjustment controls are sleek with textured edges and are just weighty enough that they could live inside a Maybach without any consideration that they don't belong.
The pièce de résistance of the car is its available near pillar-to-pillar Supercreen. Under a singular housing are a screen in front of the driver, one in the center and one for the passenger. Climate control vents are integrated into the glass surface at either end.
AI enhances the Mercedes-Benz Operating System (MB.OS). Not only is the technology updatable over the air, but it can make the CLA more personalized than any Mercedes in history. Mercedes has integrated AI from both Microsoft and Google in the car, a first in the automotive world, which it says will allow for "intuitive interaction" between the car and its occupants.
Mercedes' latest operating system is smartphone-like in its appearance and operation—more Apple than Samsung. Most of the functions owners will regularly use are within a touch or two of the home screen, and the most-used apps can nest at the bottom of the screen.
The luxury automaker has installed the MBUX Virtual Assistant in the vehicle. That technology uses ChatGPT and Microsoft Bing to answer queries. And, Google Gemini's natural language and generative AI capabilities are utilized to answer navigation-related questions.
The emotionally intelligent, AI-enabled system can answer questions like, "Hey Mercedes, I have a date today. Do you have any ideas for something special to do nearby?" by offering up suggestions.
In a demonstration at the company's research and development center in Sindelfingen, Germany, a Mercedes employee used the voice assistant to find a romantic restaurant for a date and make a reservation while both hands were still on the wheel, using light conversation rather than direct commands.
While Mercedes Drive Pilot hands-off, eyes-off self-driving technology is available in the EQS Sedan and S-Class in some regions of China, Europe and the U.S., CLA will not have the same technology. Mercedes aims to deliver a less automated but still safe driving experience for CLA owners with automation-enhanced steering, distance maintenance, acceleration and braking part of the standard suite of technologies. Market-dependent automatic lane change capability, similar to what is available on the current E-Class, will be available at a later date.
The new car comes with eight cameras, five radar sensors, 12 ultrasonic sensors and a water-cooled, high-performance computer that is purposefully designed to have power reserves for future functions that will come to the model via over-the-air updates.
While most automakers have relegated AI to safety-system technology in current models, Mercedes' use of AI in the cabin is a new frontier for the North American market, especially for a vehicle on the lower end of a company's lineup.
About the writer
Eileen Falkenberg-Hull leads the Autos team at Newsweek. She has written extensively about the auto industry for U.S. News & ... Read more