The rear-wheel-drive CLA 250+ uses a single electric motor producing 200kW, equivalent to 272PS, and 335Nm.
MERCEDES-BENZ Malaysia has officially launched the new CLA 250+ electric, seven months after the third-generation four-door coupe was first previewed locally.
Only one variant is offered for now, the CLA 250+ AMG Line, priced at RM274,888 on-the-road without insurance in Peninsular Malaysia. It comes with a four-year manufacturer warranty, while the high-voltage battery is covered for eight years or 160,000km.
Built on the new Mercedes-Benz Modular Architecture (MMA), the rear-wheel-drive CLA 250+ uses a single electric motor producing 200kW, equivalent to 272PS, and 335Nm.
It is paired with a two-speed transmission on the rear axle, with a shorter first gear intended for acceleration and urban driving while the second is optimised for higher speeds and efficiency. The CLA accelerates from zero to 100 km/h in 6.7 seconds and reaches a top speed of 210km/h.
An 85kWh usable NMC battery provides a WLTP range of between 673 and 792km, depending on specification, with energy consumption rated at 12.3 to 14.6kWh per 100km.
The CLA is also Mercedes-Benz’s first EV to use an 800-volt electrical architecture. DC charging peaks at 320kW, allowing the battery to go from 10% to 80% in 22 minutes, while up to 325km of WLTP range can be added in 10 minutes under suitable conditions.
Note that the CLA 250+ is not compatible with 400-volt DC fast charging stations, meaning it cannot use infrastructure such as Tesla Superchargers or other 400-volt-only networks.
AC charging is limited to 11kW, with a full charge taking around nine hours.
Inside, the Malaysian-spec CLA receives the MBUX Superscreen as standard, combining a 10.25-inch driver display with two 14-inch screens for the centre infotainment system and front passenger.
It is also the first Mercedes-Benz to run entirely on the new MB.OS operating system, which supports over-the-air updates across the vehicle.
The latest MBUX Virtual Assistant integrates ChatGPT and Microsoft Bing for general queries, while Google Gemini is used for navigation-related questions.
Google Maps also forms the basis of the built-in navigation system, while Mercedes-Benz Navigation with Electric Intelligence can plan charging stops based on factors including traffic, charger availability and energy consumption.
Other standard equipment includes 19-inch AMG wheels, Multibeam LED headlights, a panoramic glass roof, Artico and Microcut sports seats, Thermotronic climate control, 64-colour ambient lighting, a 360-degree camera and MB.Drive Standard driver assistance.
On the safety front, the CLA 250+ comes with eight airbags, including a driver knee airbag and a centre airbag, as well as a comprehensive suite of driver assistance systems under MB.Drive Standard.
This includes autonomous emergency braking, evasive steering assist, adaptive cruise control with stop & go, curve speed reduction, lane keeping assist, blind spot monitoring with collision avoidance, traffic sign recognition, emergency stop assist and parking emergency braking.
However, it does not support Level 2 semi-autonomous driving, as it does not include lane centring or automated lane change functions. These features are part of the optional MB. \Drive Assist package, which requires a subscription.
The new CLA also introduces a 101-litre front boot, the first on a modern Mercedes-Benz EV, alongside 405 litres of luggage space at the rear.
Mercedes-Benz Malaysia is also introducing MB.Charge Public with the CLA, allowing owners to access and pay for compatible public charging through the Mercedes-Benz app or vehicle interface.
