Mercedes goes after Tesla Model 3 with a 400-mile CLA sedan that beats it in key specs

At the new Mercedes CLA electric sedan announcement event, the CEO of Mercedes-Benz wasn't even hiding that the main competitor that it will be going after is the Tesla Model 3.

Granted, the Mercedes CLA comes at about a $10,000 price premium to the Model 3, but it also offers much more car for the money.

Starting with the large 85 kWh battery and the record for Mercedes efficiency, the CLA offer range between 694-792 km (WLTP) on a charge, while the Model 3 musters 530 km on the same cycle. When the Mercedes CLA is released in the US next quarter, it will be the EV offering one of the longest ranges on a charge, with a potential EPA estimate of up to 420 miles.

That's all there is to it, though, as it is the first electric Benz made on the Mercedes Modular Architecture platform intended for volume production. It offers 800V powertrain architecture for faster charging and more efficient motors, retuning up to 200 miles of range in 10 minutes on a 320+ kW charger like Tesla's V4 Superchargers, or 9 hours on something like the Tesla Wall Connector that allows for cheap charging at home.

A typical 10%-80% charging session takes 22 minutes, something that even Tesla's 800V Cybertruck can't pull off as its 4680 battery is behind the charging curve of other form factors.

The RWD Mercedes CLA offers 268 horsepower output, while the AWD model is rated for 349 hp and 4.8 seconds 0-60 mph acceleration. Interestingly enough, the range of the AWD model that Mercedes calls CLA 350 4MATIC with EQ Technology is only slightly shorter than the RWD version.

Mercedes explains this with the Disconnect Unit (DCU) it uses for the first time on a car in its C-class. The 107 HP front electric motor is only activated when acceleration or traction are really needed and DCU cuts it off right after, which "reduces parasitic losses at the front axle by up to 90 percent and increases electric range."

There are many other engineering bells and whistles to hit the record Mercedes CLA efficiency that allows it to beat the Tesla Model 3 range, including clever recuperation solutions while braking, or a record 0.21 drag coefficient.

Mercedes says that the CLA offers an exceptionally smooth and silent ride, while the larger size offers more passenger and cargo room. Inside, the CLA can be equipped with up to three screens that include the option for a passenger or head-up displays.

Perhaps the most interesting fact about the new CLA, however, is the attention to the software side of things. The car is the first to operate entirely on the homebrew Mercedes-Benz Operating System (MB.OS) that ties infotainment and driver-assist function together, with OTA updates bringing new features and functions as they become available. This goes for the car's MBUX Virtual Assistant, too, which piggybacks on ChatGPT and Google Gemini generative AI power to carry fluid conversations with the driver on any information topic needed.

The Mercedes CLA will also be offered with a smaller 58 kWh battery for a cheaper price, as well as a hybrid version with petrol engine for those who are not ready to go full electric just yet.