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Mercedes-Benz CLA: Trims, Generations & Buyer's Guide
Last updated August 4, 2026
The Mercedes-Benz CLA is a compact luxury sedan styled like a four-door coupe. It is known for its dramatic profile, tech-focused cabin, and mix of everyday and performance-oriented versions.
The CLA arrived in the U.S. in 2014 as Mercedes-Benz’s smaller, style-led alternative to a traditional luxury sedan. Its enduring formula pairs a low, coupe-like shape with an increasingly digital interior. The 2020 redesign sharpened that theme, and the newest generation carries it into an electric sedan.
Strengths
- Its low roofline and flowing profile give it a more dramatic look than a conventional compact sedan.
- The cabin has emphasized screen technology and voice controls since the 2020 redesign, with dual 10.25-inch screens becoming standard for 2024.
- Its compact footprint and everyday comfort make it easy to use as a commuter or city car.
- The lineup covers a useful range of personalities, from the comfort-oriented CLA 250 to much sharper AMG models.
- The electric CLA moves the model forward with long range and very fast charging.
- Safety and convenience equipment improved steadily, including standard blind-spot assistance from 2021 onward.
Who it's for
The CLA best fits a style-conscious shopper who wants a compact premium four-door for commuting and everyday driving. It suits someone who puts design, cabin technology, and a sporty feel ahead of maximum passenger and cargo room.
Mercedes-Benz CLA lineup
The CLA 250 has long been the everyday core of the family, pairing the distinctive shape with a more comfort-focused character. The CLA 250 4MATIC keeps that basic personality but adds all-wheel drive for shoppers who want more traction. Since 2020, the AMG CLA 35 has filled the middle performance role, while the AMG CLA 45 is the more serious high-performance version. In the newest electric generation, pick the rear-wheel-drive CLA 250+ Electric for efficiency, or the CLA 350 4MATIC Electric for all-wheel drive and stronger performance.
Mercedes-Benz CLA generations
From 2014 to 2026, the CLA spans three generations. The current 3rd Generation — MMA arrived for 2026, following the 2nd Generation — C118 (2020-2025).
3rd Generation — MMA (2026-Present)
The third-generation CLA starts as an electric sedan on Mercedes’ new MMA platform. It brings new touchscreen software and an 800-volt charging system. Older gas-powered CLA models remain on sale alongside it during the 2026 transition.
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2026New generation
The all-new electric CLA 250+ and CLA 350 4MATIC launch on the MMA platform, while the older gas-powered CLA carries over with minor package and option updates.
2nd Generation — C118 (2020-2025)
The second-generation CLA moved to a newer compact-car platform with a larger, lower-looking body, a stronger base engine, and a more modern cabin. A 2024 refresh revised the styling, made dual 10.25-inch screens standard, and added wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
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2025
The lineup largely carries over after the 2024 refresh.
2024Mid-cycle update
Revised front and rear styling arrives with standard dual 10.25-inch screens, wireless smartphone integration, more standard assistance features, and an 8-speed automatic for CLA 250 models.
2023
The CLA carries over with the same design, powertrain, and basic cabin technology.
2022
The CLA carries over; SiriusXM is added to the optional Premium package.
2021
Blind Spot Assist and 64-color ambient lighting become standard across the lineup.
2020New generation
A full redesign brings a new platform, a larger body, a stronger base engine, a new touchscreen and voice-control system, and the AMG CLA 35.
1st Generation — C117 (2014-2019)
The first CLA sold in the U.S. was a compact four-door coupe with a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine and a 7-speed automatic. Its 2017 refresh updated the exterior, center screen, cabin details, and standard equipment.
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2019
The regular CLA 250 models carry over in the first generation’s final year.
2018
The Ice Edition special model joins, while the regular CLA 250 models remain largely unchanged.
2017Mid-cycle update
Revised front and rear styling arrives with a wider 8-inch center screen, updated cabin details, and a standard rearview camera.
2016Trim changes
Selectable driving modes become standard, along with smaller comfort and package updates.
2015
Keyless ignition, dual-zone climate control, a 7-inch center display, and upgraded collision-warning technology become standard; CLA 250 models also receive a softer standard suspension.
2014New generation
The CLA launches in the U.S. as a new compact four-door coupe, led by the CLA 250 and later joined by all-wheel-drive and AMG models.
What's new by year
See what changed in a specific model year of the Mercedes-Benz CLA.
Frequently asked questions
What kind of car is the Mercedes-Benz CLA?
The CLA is Mercedes-Benz’s compact, style-focused four-door. Gas versions use a coupe-like roofline, while the new-generation electric models are called sedans. Across the range, the emphasis is dramatic design and a screen-heavy cabin in a smaller package.
Is the Mercedes-Benz CLA a coupe or a sedan?
It is a four-door car with sedan practicality and coupe-inspired styling. Mercedes-Benz calls the older gas version a CLA Coupe because of its sloping profile, while the new electric generation is described as a CLA Sedan.
Does the Mercedes-Benz CLA come as a hybrid?
No hybrid CLA is described here. Used examples are mainly turbocharged gas cars, while the newest generation introduces fully electric CLA 250+ and CLA 350 4MATIC models.
Does the Mercedes-Benz CLA have all-wheel drive?
Yes. Gas CLA 250 4MATIC models use all-wheel drive, as do the early CLA 45 AMG 4MATIC and the new electric CLA 350 4MATIC. The gas CLA 250 uses front-wheel drive, while the electric CLA 250+ uses rear-wheel drive.
How many generations of the Mercedes-Benz CLA are there?
There are three generations in the history covered here. The first ran from 2014 through 2019, the second arrived for 2020 and continued as a gas model through 2026, and the third began in 2026 with the electric CLA sedan family.
Who is the Mercedes-Benz CLA a good fit for?
The CLA suits someone who wants Mercedes-Benz styling, everyday comfort, and a digital-focused cabin in a compact four-door. Gas models offer a familiar small luxury-car experience, while the new EVs focus on driving range, fast charging, and newer screen technology.
What is the Mercedes-Benz CLA known for?
The CLA is known for combining a dramatic coupe-like profile with a compact footprint and a tech-centered interior. Newer versions lean especially heavily on wide digital displays, smartphone integration, and Mercedes-Benz’s touchscreen system.
Mercedes-Benz CLA Reviews
What owners are saying about the Mercedes-Benz CLA.
4.2
Mercedes-Benz CLA
(1,682 reviews)
“once I sat in a Mercedes, I was never the same again. The same will go for lots of people. The quality and thought that went into that car is amazing.”
“I strongly recommend purchasing a vehicle like mine. The construction of the vehicle and the safety features within, make it easy to trust my family and me will be safe on the road.”
“I love my car. The problem that I had is something that could not be fixed. It is the jerk movement when I shift from stop/neutral to drive on ECO mode. The problem with my new vehicle is the ECO MODE. The car has a jerk movement from stop.”
“I LOVE my 2015 Mercedes-Benz CLA 250 in Night Black with the Sport Plus Option Group. This is my VERY 1st Mercedes-Benz. Other brands that I currently own include: Alfa Romeo, Chevrolet, Citroen, DAF, ISO Rivolta, Jaguar, MATRA, NSU, Peugeot, Qvale, and Renault (ALPINE). The Mercedes is my newest automobile and my black 1959 Peugeot 403 sedan is my oldest. My wife drives a black 2015 AUDI A3 sedan.”
“Well balanced sport sedan. Excellent overall performance (i.e. acceleration, steering, braking)”