The 2026 CLA — Mercedes-Benz's compact sedan, reengineered as an EV. Photo: Mercedes-Benz USA.

2026 Mercedes-Benz CLA: Brooklyn Buyers Guide

The most important thing to know before you cross-shop

Every prior CLA sold with a gasoline engine under the hood, including the version some of this dealership's own customers still drive. That generation is gone. The nameplate now belongs entirely to Mercedes-Benz's electric lineup, built on the brand's dedicated MB.EA architecture rather than a modified gas platform, and it shows in the details: a two-speed transmission instead of the usual single-speed EV drive unit, an 800-volt-class charging system, and a front trunk in addition to the rear one. If you came looking for a turbocharged CLA, that car isn't on the lineup this year — but the electric replacement outpaces it in nearly every measurable way, including sprint times, cabin technology, and running cost per mile.

Inside, the shift is just as complete. A 10.25-inch driver display and 14-inch central touchscreen run MBUX on Mercedes' new MB.OS software stack, with AI assistance from both Microsoft and Google baked into how the car answers plain-language requests. A selfie camera reads your face and loads your seat position, climate, and drive mode before you've buckled in. A fixed-glass panorama roof is standard on both trims, not an option box to hunt for.

Two ways into the new CLA

The CLA 250+ is the range play: a single 200-kW motor at the rear axle, 268 hp, 247 lb-ft, and the longer EPA-rated distance between charges. The CLA 350 4MATIC trades some of that range for a second motor up front — 349 hp combined, all-wheel grip, and a 4.8-second run to 60 that's more than a second and a half quicker than its sibling's 6.6. Neither is short on Brooklyn practicality: both share the same 10.3 cubic feet of trunk space plus a 1.4-cubic-foot front trunk, and both charge at up to 320 kW on a suitable DC fast charger.

Pick your 2026 CLA

A new car, a familiar service floor

Fourth-generation MBUX runs on Mercedes' new MB.OS software. Photo: Mercedes-Benz USA.

Because this is a first-model-year electric CLA, the store's newest reviews naming the nameplate still describe the outgoing gas car — but the same team is behind the counter for the new one. Susan A. wrote after a visit for her CLA 250: "Thank you to Kenny Singh for explaining the Service on my CLA 250. Kenny was very clear and answered my follow up questions and kept me informed on service status." Billy G., a first-time Mercedes-Benz buyer who purchased a CLA250 from this store: "From sales to service personnel respectful throughout. A shout out to my sales person Gio... Never met a more respectful person that answered every question and never hesitated to help me make the right decision." Mercedes-Benz of Brooklyn holds a 4.3-star Google rating across more than 800 reviews of its sales and service experience.

The ownership side

Everything past the handshake lives at the same Shore Parkway address: the CLA service & repair guide covers what's different about maintaining an electric Mercedes-Benz and what Brooklyn streets do to any car's tires and alignment. The pricing & leasing guide walks through both MSRPs, New York's 8.875% combined sales tax, and the state EV incentive currently available at the point of sale.

Frequently asked questions

How much will the 2026 CLA cost?

$47,250 for the CLA 250+ and $49,800 for the CLA 350 4MATIC, both before the $1,250 destination charge and before New York taxes and fees. The pricing guide breaks down the rest; current programs are on the offers page.

Is the 2026 CLA only available as an electric car?

Yes. This generation of CLA is electric-only — there is no gasoline or plug-in-hybrid version for 2026. If a combustion Mercedes-Benz sedan is what you're after, the C-Class is the closest equivalent still sold with an engine.

Is the 2026 Mercedes-Benz CLA a good car?

On paper it leads its segment on charging speed (320 kW), offers genuine luxury-grade cabin technology as standard, and starts meaningfully below Mercedes-Benz's larger EQ sedans. Whether it's the right electric car for your specific routine — where you'll charge, how far you drive daily — is worth settling with a test drive rather than a spec sheet.

Why does the CLA cost less than other Mercedes-Benz EVs?

It's the brand's compact entry point, built on a smaller footprint than the EQE and EQS sedans, with a correspondingly smaller (though still substantial) 85-kWh battery. Less car and less battery bring the sticker down without cutting the technology — MBUX, the panorama roof, and the safety suite are shared across the EQ family.

Is Mercedes-Benz discontinuing the CLA?

The opposite — the nameplate was relaunched for 2026 as an all-new, all-electric model after the prior gas-powered generation ended production. It's very much a current, actively sold car.

Where can I test drive a 2026 CLA in Brooklyn?

At Mercedes-Benz of Brooklyn, 1800 Shore Parkway — Belt Parkway Exit 5, in the shadow of the Verrazzano. Browse live new inventory first, or start the transaction online with the store's Express Car Buying process.

The car and the borough it lands in

An 85-kWh battery, 320-kW charging, and a starting price under $50,000 make the CLA a genuinely different proposition than any electric Mercedes-Benz that came before it. The two trims below cover the choice between range and grip; the service and pricing guides cover what happens after you sign. Brooklyn's only authorized Mercedes-Benz dealer has both on the showroom floor now.

All 2026 Mercedes-Benz CLA guides

• 2026 Mercedes-Benz CLA 250+
• 2026 Mercedes-Benz CLA 350 4MATIC
• Mercedes-Benz CLA service & repair in Brooklyn
• 2026 Mercedes-Benz CLA pricing & leasing in Brooklyn