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2026 Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class

ElectricHybridGas
Compact Cars
7 EPA-rated configurations
Data refreshed 2026-09-11
A
Safety Signal
92 / 100 from the NHTSA recall record
RecallsNHTSA campaigns1
Complaintsowner reports to NHTSA1
Crash ratingNHTSA overall—
EV rangebest configuration, EPA374 mi
Fuel economybest combined, EPA30 mpg
202720262025202420232022202120202019201820172016

The 2026 Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class is sold in the U.S. as a electric, hybrid and gas compact car with 7 EPA-rated configurations. Its longest-range version, the CLA250 Plus with EQ Tech (R22), is EPA-rated at 374 miles with 126 MPGe combined efficiency. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for this model year, which gives it a Safety Signal grade of A. Owners have filed 1 complaint, most often about the forward collision avoidance.

Specs & fuel economy

Source: EPA fueleconomy.gov
ConfigurationPowertrainDriveEngine / motorCityHwyCombRangekWh/100miCharge (240V)Annual fuel*
CLA250 Plus with EQ Tech (R22)ElectricRWD200 kW ACPM 3-Phase127124126 MPGe374 mi278.8 h$600
CLA350 4matic with EQ TechElectricAWD81 and 210 kW ACPM 3-Phase120115118 MPGe312 mi298.8 h$650
CLA250 Plus with EQ TechElectricRWD200 kW ACPM 3-Phase112105109 MPGe317 mi318.8 h$700
CLA250HybridFWD2.0L 4-cyl turbo263630———$2,600
CLA250 4maticHybridAWD2.0L 4-cyl turbo253429———$2,650
AMG CLA35 4maticHybridAWD2.0L 4-cyl turbo222925———$3,100
AMG CLA45 S 4maticGasAWD2.0L 4-cyl turbo202823———$3,350

*EPA estimate at 15,000 miles/year at EPA reference fuel and electricity prices. fueleconomy.gov record ids: 50031, 50032, 50030, 49263, 49262, 49802, 49261.

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Recalls (1)

Source: NHTSA recall database
▲high

Seat Belts

15 vehiclesElectric only
ProblemMercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2026 CLA 350 4MATIC (EV) and CLA 250+ (EV) vehicles. The front passenger seat belt retractor may have been manufactured with a defect that prevents the deactivation of the child seat safety function (Automatic Locking Retractor). As a result, the seat belt may remain in a locked position and cannot be extended.RiskA passenger who is unable to fasten their seat belt is not properly restrained, increasing their risk of injury in a crash.FixDealers will replace the front passenger seat belt, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 24, 2026. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will be searchable on NHTSA.gov beginning May 8, 2026.
NHTSA campaign 26V278000reported May 1, 2026Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC

Owner complaints

Source: NHTSA complaint database
1complaints filed

0 involved a crash · 0 a fire · 0 injuries · 0 deaths reported

Filed per year: 2026: 1

Most-cited components

Forward Collision Avoidance3

What owners describe

“While driving at 50mph, the vehicle came to a full stop in 2 seconds by auto breaking (to avoid collision) when there was no object or vehicle in front of the car. I almost got rear-ended as stopping from 50mph to 0 mph on a highway was extremely dangerous but luckily the car behind me was able to use the lane to my ri…”Aug 20, 2026 · Forward Collision Avoidance · NHTSA owner report

Complaint counts are raw owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects, and scale with how many were sold. Use them to spot patterns, not to rank.

Crash ratings

Source: NHTSA NCAP

NHTSA has not published 5-Star crash ratings for this model year.

Other CLA-Class model years

A

2027 Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class

0 recalls · 0 complaints

A

2025 Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class

0 recalls · 1 complaints

A

2024 Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class

0 recalls · 2 complaints

A

2023 Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class

1 recalls · 6 complaints

A

2022 Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class

0 recalls · 4 complaints

C

2021 Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class

6 recalls · 9 complaints

F

2020 Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class

13 recalls · 25 complaints

D

2019 Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class

6 recalls · 22 complaints

F

2018 Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class

10 recalls · 46 complaints

F

2017 Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class

10 recalls · 27 complaints

F

2016 Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class

9 recalls · 67 complaints

Sources & method

Safety Signal starts every model-year at 100 and subtracts points per open NHTSA recall campaign by severity: critical 15 (fire risk, park-outside or do-not-drive advisories), high 8 (brakes, steering, airbags, loss of drive power, structure, battery), moderate 6, minor 3 (software, labels, lighting fixed by an update). Floor 35. A ≥ 90, B ≥ 80, C ≥ 70, D ≥ 60, otherwise F. Complaint counts and NHTSA crash ratings are shown separately and are not blended into the grade.

EPA figures come from fueleconomy.gov vehicle records. Recalls, complaints, investigations and crash ratings come from NHTSA's public flat files, refreshed weekly.

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