I often talk to myself while driving, but I don’t expect a car to talk back to me, let alone have a full-fledged conversation of sorts. But that’s what happened when I drove the new Mercedes-Benz CLA 250+.
It is the German manufacturer’s latest and greatest car, and the first vehicle built on their new MMA platform. It features multiple artificial intelligence platforms integrated directly into the vehicle — ChatGPT, Google Gemini, and Microsoft Bing.
So yes, I was talking to AI while driving and figuring out where to go, which is quite interesting. This is all powered by the Nvidia Drive Orin system-on-a-chip, which is capable of delivering 508 trillion operations per second. Mercedes has partnered with Nvidia for MB.OS, its own operating system developed by thousands of engineers at Mercedes-Benz Research and Development India (MBRDI) in Bengaluru.
But while having a conversation with a car is cool, how about the driving experience of the new CLA?
Ticks all the boxes
It’s pretty good actually. In fact, the CLA 250+ is the most enjoyable Mercedes-Benz I have driven that doesn’t wear an ‘AMG’ badge. And that is saying a lot for an electric vehicle. On the twisty roads around Nandi Hills, north of Bengaluru, the new CLA handled superbly, which served a reminder, yet again, that a sedan is just so much better than any SUV. And this sedan, with low centre of gravity due to the battery pack and a very low coefficient of drag at 0.21, just ticks all the boxes.
While the platform can run on multiple drivetrains, including hybrid, the car launched in India is a battery-electric variant. And with a 85.5 kWh battery, this sedan has an incredible tested range of 792 kilometres. This has been possible due to its extremely slippery shape and a very efficient motor that has 93 per cent efficiency while running a brand-new 800-Volt architecture.
This is not the first time the CLA nameplate has come to India. A decade ago, the CLA was Mercedes-Benz’ entry-level sedan and the new model’s look is inspired by the previous iteration, albeit modernised with features, such as a starlight grille that has some fascinating graphics.
But the most evident changes are in the interior. It feels modern and even though Mercedes-Benz interior designers have retained the turbine-shaped air vents, the large 14-inch screen, which features the new layout and icons of MB.OS, is modern. I know some of us might think that things like ambient lights are gimmicky and silly, but you know what, giving the colours names like ‘Frog Green’ and ‘Dolphin Blue’ was such a lovely touch. And the entire integration of the system that includes a route planner to help you plan your route with charging stops is good too.
Also read: India’s EV market needs affordable options. New Tata Punch EV tries to fill the gap
CLA is the future
To their credit, Mercedes-Benz India took feedback, including from automotive journalists like me, about their previous electric vehicle charging application and this new mobile application that is also built into the car and has integrated payment systems as well. Because the CLA sits on a 800-volt architecture, charging the vehicle from 20-80 per cent takes just 20 minutes with a high-speed 240 kilowatt charger. So, it can charge itself for a 400-km trip faster than you can finish your meal.
But does the CLA really have a market? Despite recent geopolitical events that might be making EVs more viable in India, EVs still command less than four per cent of the market.
Interestingly, in conversation with the MD and CEO of Mercedes-Benz India, Santosh Iyer, what emerged is that one in five Mercedes-Benz cars sold in India is electric. And with the CLA, despite being an import, he expects the percentage to rise even further. The CLA 250+ and its more affordable lower-range model, CLA 200, will be fully imported. But Mercedes-Benz is pinning a lot of hope on India, with Iyer saying that the company will bite the bullet and price the car very aggressively in the Rs 60-lakh range, which is incredible, given the luxury badge and what the car offers.
And I can’t blame him for his optimism, because with the fun drive, excellent range, and very well integrated software system, the CLA is the future.
Honestly, I’m not so sure of some things about the future, but if the future is good to drive, I can live with it.
Kushan Mitra is an automotive journalist based in New Delhi. He tweets @kushanmitra. Views are personal.
(Edited by Aamaan Alam Khan)