2026 Mercedes-Benz CLA: A Quick Glance at the New Small Electric Sedan

Introduced to the market in 2013, the Mercedes-Benz CLA is getting a complete makeover for 2026. While on the outskirts of Stuttgart in Germany, we caught a glimpse of the new 2026 Mercedes-Benz CLA before its official unveiling.

• In Canada, the Mercedes-Benz CLA is the entry-level model.

• It is a four-door sedan with coupe-like styling.

• The new generation of the Mercedes-Benz will feature an electric engine and a hybrid powertrain.

Spotted shortly before its official unveiling, the new generation Mercedes-Benz CLA 2026 was seen while certain vehicle parts were still camouflaged. This was the case for the snout, the logo in the centre of the rims and the rear section.

As you can see from the photos we took, we got a close-up look at two examples of the model: one was painted blue and the other red.

Should You Buy a 2025 Mercedes-Benz EQB 300 4MATIC?

On the front fenders of the two 2026 Mercedes-Benz CLAs spotted today near Stuttgart, we noticed the presence of badges bearing the letters ‘EQ.’ In the Mercedes-Benz family, this inscription is used to identify vehicles from its all-electric range. This detail confirms information previously given by the manufacturer to the effect that the next generation of the CLA would be equipped with an electric powertrain. The 2026 Mercedes-Benz CLA, therefore, includes the technology first introduced with the EQXX prototype. We currently have no further technical details about this new powertrain. We’ll have to wait and see before finding out more about the electric motor’s power, the battery’s density and the range.

What’s more, it will be recalled that the German manufacturer had announced that the future 2026 CLA would also incorporate mild hybrid technology. At the time of writing, we don’t know what engine/electric motor combination will be under the bonnet. We know that it will be part of the MMA (Mercedes-Benz Modular Architecture) family and include 48V technology. It will also have an electrified transmission.

Other new features of the 2026 Mercedes-Benz CLA include the MB.OS operating system with MBUX virtual assistant.