AUTOMOTIVE & TECNOLOGY

• Gorgeous, effortless, intuitive, flexible – and award-winning: The new CLA adds “Car of the Year 2026” to its impressive roster of more than ten awards from around the world

• The new CLA continues to impress in awards – and is a popular hit with customers, too

Stuttgart. The all-new Mercedes-Benz CLA has been awarded “Car of the Year 2026” by the European Car of the Year jury at a ceremony at the Brussels Motor Show in Belgium. The new CLA combines stunning design, advanced safety, and dynamic performance, redefining what’s possible in its segment. Customers can choose between all-electric and high-tech hybrid CLA models. The spacious CLA Shooting Brake is also available with both powertrain technologies. The new CLA is the smartest, most flexible Mercedes-Benz yet delivered, and it’s ready to transform every journey into something extraordinary.

The new CLA is a game-changer, setting new benchmarks in intelligence, efficiency, and design. With its groundbreaking MB.OS operating system and next-generation MBUX powered by AI, the new CLA delivers an effortless, intuitive driving experience that gives customers a true “Welcome home” feeling. Its electric variant boasts an extraordinary range of up to 792 kilometres, making every journey seamless and worry-free. And when customers do eventually need to charge, its 800V technology can add up to 325 km of range in just 10 minutes. On sale in Europe since mid-2025, and arriving in the USA and many other countries soon, the all-new electric CLA has already proved incredibly successful. Electrified by international media recognition, customer orders exceed our expectations, and our order bank is already full through well into the second half of 2026. At the start of a jubilee year celebrating 140 years of innovation since Carl Benz invented the automobile in 1886, this award is the first highlight in what will be a full calendar of events.

“The new CLA was named Car of the Year 2026 — a proud moment for Mercedes-Benz. Jurors from across Europe have confirmed what our customers have been telling us: the CLA is a game-changer, delivering outstanding efficiency and effortless intelligence.”

Ola Källenius, Chairman of the Board of Management of Mercedes-Benz Group AG

With remarkably low consumption figures and an impressive range for any class of car, the electric CLA raises everyday electric mobility to a new level. With a range of up to 792 kilometres according to WLTP (CLA 250+ with EQ Technology, combined energy consumption: 14.1–12.2 kWh/100 km | combined CO₂ emissions: 0 g/km | CO₂ class: A), this 200 kW model can travel, for example, from Berlin to Brussels, or from Bremen to Munich without stopping to charge. It is the “one-litre car” for the electric era.

The CLA hybrid variant combines smart technology with high efficiency. With a consumption of around five litres per 100 kilometres and below, the CLA 180 (combined fuel consumption: 5.4-4.9 l/100 km | combined CO₂ emissions: 123-111 g/km | CO₂ class: D-C)2 is the most efficient Mercedes‑Benz vehicle with an internal combustion engine in this segment. The new electrified eight-speed dual-clutch transmission with integrated electric motor delivers a compact, space-saving design, while a new 48-volt lithium-ion battery powers the electric motor efficiently.

The CLA Shooting Brake combines the elegance, sporting character, and intelligence of the successful CLA with even more space for passengers and luggage. It is the ideal choice for those with active lifestyles, young families, and those with a lot of leisure gear.

The Mercedes-Benz CLA’s international recognition as “Car of the Year 2026” by 59 leading automotive journalists from 23 countries underscores its innovative strength. The CLA competed against 34 other new models and six finalists, with a winning score of 320 points – 100 points ahead of the second-place car.