CLA 220 vs CLA 250+ vs CLA 350: Which 2027 CLA Should You Buy?

The 2027 CLA comes in three flavors, and the most important difference is not power or price. It is that one is a hybrid and two are fully electric. Decide that first and the rest gets easy.

2027 CLA lineup at a glance

All prices exclude destination and delivery.

Should I get the hybrid or the electric CLA?

This is the real question, and it comes down to where you park.

If you can charge at home, buy electric. The CLA 250+ delivers 374 miles of EPA range, which covers a week of East Valley driving for most people between charges. You wake up full every morning and rarely think about it.

If you cannot charge where you live, buy the CLA 220 Hybrid. An EV without home charging is a worse experience than a good hybrid, regardless of how impressive the range figure is. There is no shame in that answer, and it saves you $4,050 up front.

CLA 220 Hybrid: who it’s for

The 220 pairs a 1.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder with a small electric motor integrated into the eight-speed dual-clutch transmission, drawing on a 1.3 kWh battery. You never plug it in. The electric assist smooths low-speed driving and helps efficiency; it does not drive the car on its own for any distance.

It is the least expensive way into the new CLA at $43,900, and it is the right choice for apartment dwellers, anyone who road-trips constantly, or anyone who simply does not want to think about charging.

Note on all-wheel drive: the 220 launches front-wheel drive. A CLA 220 4MATIC® is expected to follow in late 2026. If you want AWD in the hybrid, that timing matters.

CLA 250+: the range champion

At 374 miles of EPA range, the CLA 250+ has the longest range of any Mercedes-Benz EV. That is not a small claim, and independent testing has exceeded the EPA figure rather than falling short of it.

268 horsepower and 0–60 in 6.6 seconds is genuinely quick in daily driving, because electric torque arrives immediately. For $2,550 less than the 350, it is the value pick of the two electrics and the one we would steer most buyers toward.

CLA 350 4MATIC®: the performance one

The 350 adds a second motor on the front axle for 4MATIC® all-wheel drive and 349 combined horsepower, cutting 0–60 to 4.8 seconds. That is a substantial gap, not a rounding difference.

The trade is 62 miles of range — 312 versus 374 — and $2,550. Worth it if you want all-wheel drive or you will actually use the acceleration. At 312 miles, most East Valley drivers still charge about once a week.

How fast do the electric CLAs charge?

Both electric models use the same 85 kWh battery on an 800-volt architecture, accepting up to 320 kW DC fast charging — roughly 10% to 80% in 22 minutes. At home on Level 2, they take 9.6 kW, which fills overnight comfortably.

Both also use a clever two-speed transmission, unusual among EVs, which helps efficiency at highway speed.

Does Arizona heat hurt the range?

Summer cabin cooling costs range, as it does in any EV. Three habits keep the loss small: precondition while still plugged in so the cooling runs on grid power, park covered when you can, and charge to 80% for daily use. Even with a summer penalty, a 374-mile car covers typical Gilbert commuting for a week.

Which CLA holds its value best?

Too early to say for this generation with any honesty. Anyone quoting residuals on a car this new is guessing. Ask us what current lease residuals look like, since those are the manufacturer’s actual bet on future value.

What’s new for 2027?

The electric models add an available dimmable Sky Control sunroof and a redesigned steering wheel that brings back physical controls. All three run the fourth-generation MBUX system.

Come drive them back to back

Twenty minutes in each answers this better than any spec table. The difference between the hybrid and the electric is something you feel in the first block.

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