Mercedes-Benz CLA 250+ EQ Technology Progressive Line electric RWD automatic

Sustainability rating
2026
91%

Mercedes-Benz CLA 250+ EQ Technology Progressive Line electric RWD automatic

Sustainability rating
2026
91%

Our verdict

Tested here is the Mercedes-Benz CLA EQ 250+. The vehicle is equipped with a large 90 kWh battery and has an empty mass of almost 2 tonnes, yet it managed to surprise by collecting all 5 Green stars with an average score of 91%. The car impresses with very low consumption values in all tests and demonstrates good usability properties in the Driving Experience assessment. The CLA 250+ shows that the high sustainability rating is not reserved for super-minis with small batteries, given the extent to which Mercedes-Benz has managed to improve the powertrain efficiency of this car.

  • As a fully electric vehicle, the CLA EQ has no exhaust emissions. Tyre abrasion scoring is limited due to the vehicle's high weight and aggressive accelerator response, but brake abrasion performance is strong thanks to high energy recuperation.
  • The CLA EQ shows very low energy consumption across all tests, confirming its high efficiency. Strong aerodynamics and an advanced heat pump system contribute to consistently good results, even in cold conditions.
  • The vehicle produces no direct emissions, and total life cycle emissions are relatively low at 119.2 g CO2‑eq./km. Most emissions come from production and energy supply, but the high efficiency and use of relatively green European electricity help keep the overall impact down.
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8.6 10 Clean Air

With its fully electric powertrain, the CLA EQ doesn't have any exhaust emissions. It only collects a few points for tyre abrasion due to its heavy weight and rather aggressive accelerator pedal response. For brake abrasion, however, 5 out of 6 points are awarded thanks to the very high energy recuperation rate, which assures a good result in brake dust mitigation. Because of the high mass and battery size, some assessment points are lost in the additional LCA evaluation, which considers production, energy supply, maintenance and end-of-life treatment.

Exhaust emissions

good
10.0 10

good

10.010
NMHC NOX NH3 CO PN PM Score
Legal test (WLTP) 8.08
Warm weather 10.010
Highway 10.010
Winter cold start 10.010
Winter warm start 10.010

good

10.010
NMHC NOX NH3 CO PN PM Score
Real-world mixed drive 10.010
Short city trip 10.010
Congestion 2.02
  • good
  • adequate
  • marginal
  • weak
  • poor
  • n.a.
Non-exhaust emissions

marginal
5.5 10

weak

1.66
Result Score
Influence of mass 1.13
Wheel alignment 0.51
Accelerator response 0.02

adequate

5.06
Result Score
Brake dust mitigation 0.04
Brake dust containment 0.06
Recuperative braking - warm test 5.06
  • good
  • adequate
  • marginal
  • weak
  • poor
  • n.a.
Additional Life Cycle Assessment information

adequate
7.3 10
Pollutants
*Exhaust emissions are not contributing to the score in Additional Life Cycle Assessment information because they are scored in the Exhaust emissions section above.
9.4 10 Energy Efficiency

The legal test consumption value of 12.2 kWh/100 km suggests that the tested car is either very small or, as in this case, extraordinarily efficient. With 13.9 kWh/100 km in the Warm weather laboratory test, as well as only 18.8 kWh/100 km in the dynamic high speed Highway Test, the CLA EQ 250+ truly impresses and highlights the advantage of the low aerodynamic drag design. The consumption in the ‑7°C Winter cold start test is unusually low and once the operating and cabin temperatures are reached, the car can continue driving with even much lower energy demand. Mercedes claim that an innovative multi-source heat pump system contributes to this high efficiency. The real-world mixed drive On-road test was performed at 9°C on dry roads and needed only 14.6 kWh/100 km. All the stated figures include the efficiency of the charging/discharging processes. This index's score is mainly based on the total primary energy demand, which is calculated as the sum of 18.4 kWh/100 km direct propulsion energy consumption and about 46 kWh/100 km from the other LCA phases.

Energy demand

good
9.4 10

good

10.010
Legal test (WLTP)
12.2 kWh/100 km
Warm weather
13.9 kWh/100 km
Highway
18.8 kWh/100 km
Winter cold start
26.4 kWh/100 km
Winter warm start
20.7 kWh/100 km

good

9.110
Total LCA energy consumption
*Direct propulsion energy share is not shown, it is included in ‘Fuel/energy supply’
Energy source share in total LCA consumption
Rolling resistance

good
10.0 10
  • good
  • adequate
  • marginal
  • weak
  • poor
  • n.a.
9.5 10 Greenhouse Gases

As an electric car, the CLA EQ does not emit any greenhouse gases directly. Its climate impact comes from the processes of production and distribution, energy supply, maintenance and end-of-life treatment. The total life cycle greenhouse gas emissions are calculated at just 119.2 g CO2‑eq./km, of which about 73 g CO2‑eq./km result from the vehicle production and recycling in Germany. This final figure also benefits from the relatively green European electricity mix.

Exhaust GHG emissions

good
10.0 10
In laboratory
Legal test (WLTP)
0 g CO₂-eq./km
Warm weather
0 g CO₂-eq./km
Highway
0 g CO₂-eq./km
Winter cold start
0 g CO₂-eq./km
Winter warm start
0 g CO₂-eq./km
Additional Life Cycle Assessment information

adequate
6.2 10
Total LCA GHG Emissions
*The scoring does not consider the direct exhaust GHG emissions at the tailpipe, because they are scored separately in ‘Exhaust GHG emissions’ above.

Vehicle Life Cycle Average Emissions 29 (+/-)
(Best 26 | Worst 33)

  • good
  • adequate
  • marginal
  • weak
  • poor
  • n.a.

Specifications

  • Vehicle class Small Family Car
  • System power/torque 200 kW/335 Nm
  • Engine size n.a.
  • Declared consumption 12.2 kWh/100 km
  • Declared driving range Overall 792 km City 924 km
  • Declared CO2 n.a.
  • Declared battery capacity Usable (net) 85.0 kWh Installed (gross) 90.0 kWh
  • Mass 1,979 kg
  • Heating concept Waste heat & PTC heater & heat pump
  • Tyres 205/55 225/50 R17
  • Emissions class AX
  • Tested car W1KFJ1DB1SJ00XXXX
  • Publication date 06 2026
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Disclaimer

Driving Experience

Consumption & Range

good
Estimated actual consumption What consumption can be expected in real world conditions?

good
Conditions Urban Rural Highway Mixed
Warm weather
15.4
14.5
15.7
14.8
kWh/100 km
Cold winter
28.6
19.9
22.0
23.6
kWh/100 km
Driving range What driving range can be expected in real world conditions?

good
Conditions Urban Rural Highway Mixed
Warm weather 651 690 636 674
km
Cold winter 350 503 456 425
km
Accuracy of display Is the consumption figure on the display correct?

good
  • good
  • adequate
  • poor
  • n.a.
Cold Winter Performance

adequate
Driving range benefit of pre-warming How much further can you drive in winter, if the car is pre-warmed?

good
Type Driving Range Benefit Result
Urban trip + 149km
Mixed trip + 105km
Cabin heating Does the vehicle get warm quickly in winter?

adequate
Type Front Rear
Head area
279s
481s
Footwell
1,268s
Rear left footwell target temperature was not reached during the test. The vehicle possibly recognised the empty seat and optimised energy use. Rear right footwell reached 16°C in 540 seconds.
  • good
  • adequate
  • poor
  • n.a.
Additional heating functions What functions can be used to improve heating comfort?
Y/N Fitment
Heat pump Standard
Seat heating front Standard
Seat heating rear
Steering wheel heating Optional
Scheduled pre-heating of seats Standard
Scheduled steering wheel pre-heating Optional
Scheduled cabin air pre-heating Standard
Smart cabin heating management Standard
Cabin thermal insulation How well does the cabin maintain its temperature?

adequate
Good Adequate Poor
Charging Capability

adequate
Battery pre-conditioning Does the vehicle have the ability to optimize the battery temperature for fast charging?
Manual Automatic
Battery pre-conditioning
Fast charging

good
Charging time How quickly can the battery charge?
Recharged range gain per charging time How long do you need to fast charge to drive a certain distance?
Charging power How quickly does energy flow into the battery, depending on its charge level?
Home charging efficiency Is charging at home efficiently utilizing the energy withdrawn from the grid?

adequate
Home charging efficiency
88%
Maximum home charging power 22 kW Optional
Bidirectional charging How capable is the vehicle of supplying energy from its battery to other devices or systems?

poor
Power output
Not available
Compatibility
Vehicle-to-Load (V2L) The inlet or the interior socket can provide AC power through an electrical domestic socket.
Vehicle-to-Household (V2H) The vehicle can provide power to a household through a charger.
Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G) The vehicle can return power to the grid.
Grid Integration
Basic No integration (just a socket for a stand-alone load). No scheduling option. Very basic visualisation.
Limited Energy management system through the vehicle app (timers availability and power monitoring). Dedicated interface in the car, with mobile app monitoring.
Advanced Advanced: Advanced settings available such as tariff and consumption control, linked to distributor energy prices. Advanced real time energy flow visualization. AI powered suggestions for optimal usage.

Green NCAP comments

Green NCAP's estimation of the real-world consumption values results in 'good' marks for all driving scenarios except Cold Winter urban driving, where the higher initial heating demand leads to an ‘adequate' rating. In combination with the large battery, the efficient powertrain earns the CLA EQ 250+ 'good' marks for driving range in all scenarios and practically leaves no reason for range anxiety. The board computer consumption readings are accurate. The entire Consumption and Range category receives the top mark.

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Download report (pdf) Download detailed test results (ods) Safety test results

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