This year, Mercedes-Benz will introduce an all-new electric car in the US, the 2026 Mercedes-Benz CLA with EQ Technology (yes, that’s an unusual name). The electric CLA will be available in sedan body style, though Europe also gets a Shooting Brake version.

This model will be the fastest-charging Mercedes-Benz in the US and the first to feature a NACS (SAE J3400) charging port. With a driving range of up to 374 miles, it may be one of the most compelling EVs from the German brand to date.

2026 Mercedes-Benz CLA with EQ Technology

Battery and Range

The Mercedes-Benz CLA with EQ Technology is based on the Mercedes Modular Architecture (MMA) EV-dedicated platform. The car is equipped with an 85-kWh battery (800-volt class).

There are only two powertrain versions: rear-wheel-drive (RWD) and a dual-motor all-wheel-drive (AWD). It’s worth noting that the Rear Electric Drive Unit features a 2-speed transmission.

Powertrains for the 2026 Mercedes-Benz CLA with EQ Technology:

• CLA 250+ (RWD): 200 kW and 335 Nm
  • 0-60 MPH in 6.6 seconds
• CLA 350 4MATIC (AWD): 260 kW and 515 Nm
  • 0-60 MPH in 4.8 seconds

Depending on the powertrain, the vehicle might get up to 374 miles of EPA Combined range (CLA 250+).

The all-wheel drive version has a significantly lower range of 312 miles (20% shorter) despite using the same battery.

Energy Consumption

The EPA energy consumption rating for the Mercedes-Benz CLA with EQ Technology does not explain the significant difference between the RWD and AWD versions.

Mercedes-Benz CLA 250+’s total energy consumption (including charging losses) is estimated at 126 MPGe or 267 Wh/mile (3.7 miles per kWh). The AWD version is right behind at 118 MPGe or 286 Wh/mile (3.5 miles per kWh). The percentage difference is lower than 10%. At this point, we need to wait for real-world range tests.

Charging: SAE J1772 and NACS

The 2026 Mercedes-Benz CLA with EQ Technology features a unique approach to charging ports, as it’s equipped with NACS (SAE J3400) for DC charging and SAE J1772 for AC charging. We also saw a similar combo in the new Nissan Leaf.

We don’t fully understand this approach, as one of the advantages of NACS is that it can handle both AC and DC charging scenarios.

The model can use NACS DC fast chargers, including Tesla Superchargers, directly (Mercedes-Benz has been one of Tesla’s NACS partners since February 2025). Access to CCS1 DC fast chargers is possible through a CCS1-to-NACS adapter, as shown below:

For AC charging, direct access requires SAE J1772 connectors. To access NACS AC charging points, an AC adapter will be necessary (NACS-to-J1772).

AC Charging and Onboard Charger

The car comes standard with a 9.6-kW onboard charger, so it should be fully charged in roughly 9 hours.

DC Fast Charging

The 2026 CLA with EQ Technology is the fastest-charging Mercedes-Benz on the market. According to the manufacturer, it can recharge from 10% to 80% state of charge (SOC) in just 22 minutes at a high-voltage charger. Mercedes-Benz says that the maximum power is 320 kW, though some unofficial reports already indicate that the peak power is closer to 350 kW.

All other Mercedes-Benz EVs (EQB, EQE, EQE SUV, EQS, EQS SUV, and G 580 with EQ Technology) needed just over half an hour (31-32 minutes) to complete a 10-80% SOC session. Their peak power also plateaued around 200 kW. In other words, the electric CLA is a big step forward.

The model will feature a DC/DC converter, necessary to access low-voltage chargers (400-500 volts), although charging performance at such chargers will be compromised. Interestingly, the initial batch of demo cars does not have the converter.

Assuming an EPA driving range of 374 miles and a stated 10-80% SOC charging time of 22 minutes, the model replenishes miles at an average rate of 11.9 miles/minute, which matches the E-GMP-based Genesis GV60. The car replenishes over 260 miles of range in 22 minutes at an average power of over 160 kW.

The AWD version with a lower range has a noticeably lower replenishment rate of about 10 miles/minute. These numbers are considerably better than those of other Mercedes-Benz EVs (ranging from 4.5 to 8.8 miles/min).

Some reports indicate that the electric CLA can replenish 100 miles of range in 5 minutes and 202 miles of range in 10 minutes. These numbers come from official Mercedes-Benz press releases, although they were calculated for the WLTP test cycle, not the EPA. Thus, they shouldn’t be used 1:1 with EPA range numbers.

We can cautiously assume that 10 minutes of charging might add over 150 miles of EPA range, but to know for sure, we have to wait for State Of Charge‘s test.

Most likely, the CLA will be slightly behind the upcoming BMW iX3, Volvo EX60, and Lucid EVs.

Pricing

The 2026 Mercedes-Benz CLA with EQ Technology starts at an MSRP of $47,250 ($48,500 including the obligatory $1,250 destination fee). The AWD version costs $2,550 more.

Excluding the EQB, the new electric CLA is the most affordable Mercedes-Benz EV by a large margin. This, combined with its solid driving range and faster charging speeds, suggests Mercedes-Benz is seeking to strengthen its competitive position.