2026 Mercedes-Benz CLA 250+ Shooting Brake

The CLA 250+ Shooting Brake Electric is one of those EVs that makes a very strong case for itself.

It looks good, drives well, feels premium, uses surprisingly little energy and charges so quickly that long-distance electric driving suddenly feels almost effortless. In Europe, the CLA 250+ Shooting Brake Business Line electric starts from around €58,806, so no, it is not cheap. But this is also not just another expensive EV hiding behind a badge. This is a genuinely strong electric Mercedes.

Design: the Shooting Brake is the one you want

The CLA Shooting Brake has always been the more interesting CLA. It has more character than the saloon, more elegance than most compact SUVs and enough practicality to make it more than just a design statement. This new electric version continues that nicely.

The proportions work. The long roofline looks sleek, the rear is elegant and the overall shape feels premium without trying too hard. The only detail we are not fully convinced by is the full-width front light bar. It adds visual drama, but it is not the most timeless design choice. Apart from that, this is a seriously good-looking electric car.

Range and efficiency: seriously impressive

The version we drove was the CLA 250+ Shooting Brake Electric, with 200 kW, or 272 hp, rear-wheel drive and an 85 kWh usable battery. Mercedes claims up to 753 km of WLTP range, with a combined consumption of around 13 kWh/100 km. Those are big numbers, but the impressive part is that the CLA actually feels efficient in the real world too.

During our test, with a good amount of motorway driving, we averaged between 14 and 15 kWh/100 km without much effort. That is excellent. No eco-driving tricks, no slow driving, no stress. Just normal use, with consumption figures that make the CLA 250+ Shooting Brake feel like one of the most efficient premium EVs in its class.

Charging: this is where it really shines

The range is strong, but the charging speed might be even more important. Thanks to its fast-charging capability, the CLA can recover a serious amount of range in a very short time. In practice, this means that on longer trips you rarely feel like you are waiting around.

After less than 10 minutes of charging, you often have enough range to simply continue your journey comfortably. That changes the whole EV experience. Because this is what electric cars need to become truly easy: not just a big WLTP number, but fast, reliable and useful charging in the real world. The CLA does that extremely well.

Driving: calm, refined and very Mercedes

The CLA 250+ Shooting Brake is not trying to be a performance EV. And that is a good thing. With 272 hp and rear-wheel drive, it is more than quick enough for daily use. Acceleration is smooth, instant and easy to control, but never unnecessarily aggressive. This car is not about shocking your passengers. It is about making every journey feel calm, refined and effortless.

The steering is clean, the chassis feels solid and the overall driving experience is exactly what you expect from a good Mercedes: stable, mature and trustworthy. Compared with the petrol version, the electric CLA is not quite as comfortable. The battery weight is clearly there, and over sharper bumps you do feel that this car is heavier. But the ride is still very well judged, especially on the motorway.

One-pedal driving: one of the best parts

The regenerative braking system is one of the highlights of the car. Mercedes gives you different recuperation levels, including D-, D, D+ and D Auto. The automatic mode works well and tries to adapt to traffic, road conditions and what is happening ahead of you. But we preferred D-.

It is strong, predictable and makes the CLA very easy to drive smoothly. The one-pedal feel is excellent and quickly becomes one of the most satisfying parts of the car. In traffic, in town or on flowing roads, it makes the whole driving experience calmer and more natural. Sometimes the cleverest mode is not the smartest one.

Interior: premium, digital and pleasant to live with

Inside, the CLA Shooting Brake feels properly premium. The design is modern, the materials feel good and the overall atmosphere is very Mercedes. The digital setup gives the cabin a high-tech feeling, but thankfully it does not completely destroy usability.

The screens look impressive, the driving position is good and the interior feels like a place where you can easily spend several hours without getting annoyed. Some EVs feel like tech products first and cars second. The CLA does not. It still feels like a Mercedes, just with a very modern digital layer on top.

There is also enough practicality for daily life. The Shooting Brake body gives you more luggage space than the saloon, and the extra versatility makes this version far more appealing to us. No, it is not a traditional boxy estate. But that is not the point. It is a stylish electric estate for people who want efficiency without giving up design.

Price: expensive, but justified by the engineering

At around €58,806, the CLA 250+ Shooting Brake Electric is clearly not a bargain. But the substance is there. You get strong real-world efficiency, a big usable range, very fast charging, premium refinement, good design and a driving experience that feels mature rather than gimmicky.

That combination matters. Many EVs are either efficient but boring, stylish but compromised, or expensive without feeling properly engineered. The CLA feels like Mercedes spent real time getting the fundamentals right. And that makes the price easier to understand.

AutoNext Verdict

The Mercedes-Benz CLA 250+ Shooting Brake Electric is a brilliant electric car that will probably not get enough attention. It looks good, drives well, feels premium and delivers the kind of efficiency and charging speed that make electric driving genuinely easy. During our test, it averaged between 14 and 15 kWh/100 km, even with motorway use, which is seriously impressive for a premium EV with this much range.

It is not perfect. The front light bar is not our favourite design detail, the electric version is heavier and less comfortable than the petrol model, and D Auto recuperation is not always as predictable as we would like. But the fundamentals are excellent.