Single version of new chapter model seems to leave clear space for next step battery-wed C-Class.

JUST one edition of the first car from Mercedes’ reimagined electric vehicle strategy is offering to Kiwis - perhaps as a pragmatic strategy given a big brother alternate is following close behind.

The CLA sedan has released solely in one battery format, the single motor C200 at $82,000 with a $2100 premium pack on top, and also as a hybrid petrol, which costs $11,300 more than the electric’s base price.

CLA is a key car for Mercedes Benz, being the model that heralds in a new electrified era for the German brand s it is the first EV created on the all-new MMA (Mercedes Benz modular achitecture) platform.

It is also the entry point into what is effectively the German brand’s second generation of electric vehicles, banishing the ‘EQ’ branded range of EVs to the history books.

MMA will underpin the forthcoming GLA and GLB range of electric SUVs and, as evidencing here, it also supports hybrid-combustion powertrains. This helps amortise production costs.

Mercedes’ regional operation also takes in Australia, and its common for the two countries to share product.

That’s not quite the case here, as our neighbour in addition to CLA 200 achieves an an all-wheel drive flagship CLA 350 4Matic.

There is no word from Mercedes Benz New Zealand as to why the more potent car has not also offered, but one reason might be to make for an easier pathway for the next electric Benz sedan coming.

That’s the first battery-fed version of a more important car, the C-class, which uses the MB.EA platform also employed by the GLC 400 also now here.

The regional rollout for that line begins early next year with a single C400 4Matic variant; that car and the CLA 350 are quite different propositions, yet are likely to attract a similar customer and might be too dissimilar for price.

Meantime, the CLA 200 pitches in with a single 165kW/335Nm electric motor driving the rear wheels, powered by a 58kWh lithium-iron phosphate (LFP) battery delivering a claimed 470km of WLTP tested driving range.

That’s far more modest than the CLA 350 4Matic, which packs a larger 85kWh nickel manganese cobalt (NMC) battery pack and can achieve 663kms.

The electric choice supports 800-volt architecture and the 200 is capable of 200kW DC fast charging, allowing for a 10-80 percent top-up in 21 minutes.

The hybrid CLA 220, meantime, takes a 140kW/300Nm four-cylinder engine. It has a claimed fuel consumption of just 5.7 litres per 100km.

Electrics often win appeal for being fast off the line, but in this instance the CLA 220 is faster than its battery-wed brother, with 0-100kms in 7.1 seconds lending a 0.4s margin.

Appearance-wise, you get a sleek four-door coupe. The biggest difference between the powertrain options comes up front. The EV’s nose features a solid ‘grille’ festooned with 142 illuminated stars whereas the petrol-hybrid gets a lower count of stars, arrayed on a functional grille and in chrome-finished plastic.

Heated front seats, ambient lighting, wireless charging and facial recognition are among standard features. The CLA 220 4MATIC petrol hybrid features AMG Line highlights, including sports seats, multifunction sports steering wheel, AMG floor mats, light carbon-grain aluminium trim elements, AMG bodystyling and sporty engine sound.

A head-up display, adaptive high beam assist plus, multibeam LED, a keyless go package including hands-free access, a Burmester surround sound system. and illuminated side sills are all standard to the CLA 220, but only occasion to the CLA 200 with the premium pack.

CLA also arrives with a five star score received from ANCAP in August.

An arrival date for the C400 has yet to be shared, but Australia is taking it from February.

The C400 4Matic uses two electric motors producing a combined 360kW and 800Nm outputs. Mercedes-Benz claims the electric sedan can accelerate from 0-100kmh in four seconds.

A 94kWh NMC battery provides a claimed WLTP-rated driving range of up to 753km in regional specification, and thanks to its 800-volt architecture, it can be DC fast charged at up to 330kW for a claimed 22-minute 10-80 percent top up.

Mercedes-Benz says up to 325km of additional driving range can be added in just 10 minutes under ideal charging conditions.

C-Class electric features Mercedes-Benz’s latest ‘MBUX Superscreen’ setup, incorporating a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster and two 14-inch displays for infotainment and the front passenger.

Other standard equipment includes 20-inch alloy wheels, AMG Line styling, a Burmester sound system, heated electric front seats, a head-up display and a panoramic glass roof with adjustable transparency.