The Mercedes CLA offers great EV specs for an average price

Despite headwinds from the current administration, automakers continue to release well-equipped EVs with bigger battery packs and increasingly faster charging speeds. For those who want to travel further between plugging in, the future is still bright, just slightly tinted. But there haven’t been many sedans starting around or below $50,000, as crossover SUVs have largely taken up this territory. Now, Mercedes-Benz has released its CLA compact sedan which ticks every box above for the 2026 and 2027 model year, and throws in pleasant interior amenities and fun driving character for good measure. The CLA with EQ Technology (Mercedes’ term for “EV”) is based on its latest MMA platform—the driving kind, not the fighting kind—and comes in two flavors: CLA250 Plus and CLA350 4Matic. They both pack 85 kWh batteries, 800V architecture, a maximum charging capacity of 320 kW, and the ability to go from 10-80 percent charge in just 22 minutes at that maximum rate. The 250 Plus utilizes just a rear motor for propulsion with an output of 268 horsepower and 247 pound-feet of torque, which will shove its 4,553-pound stature to 60 mph in 6.6 seconds. The 350 4Matic utilizes a motor on each axle with a combined output of 349 and 380, respectively, and its 4,729-pound heft will reach 60 mph in just 4.8. The 250 Plus has an EPA-estimated range of 374 miles, whereas the 350 4Matic travels 62 fewer. Prices start at $48,500 and $51,850, respectively. …