Mercedes CLA EV is a Great Fighter in a Dying Sport

TL;DR

The Mercedes CLA 350 EV is an underrated $50K electric sedan excelling in ride comfort, range, and luxury in a market with shrinking competition.

Key Points

• 1.The electric sedan segment under $70K is nearly dead. The BMW i4 is being discontinued, Model S is gone, and Lucid Air starts at $90K, leaving the CLA 350 as one of the only premium options alongside Model 3 and Polestar 2.
• 2.The CLA 350 starts at $50K and tops out around $65K as tested. It offers 312 miles of range, 350 horsepower, dual-motor AWD, and a 0-60 time of approximately 4.8 seconds.
• 3.Exterior and interior materials punch above their price class. The car features dual charge ports (NACS and AC), a usable front trunk, power trunk, electrochromic sunroof, Burmester speakers (~$800 option), and Nappa leather with premium stitching.
• 4.Several small but frustrating omissions undercut the premium experience. The steering wheel lacks next/previous track buttons, rear window controls are awkwardly shared with front switches, and the charge port cover must be closed manually even when opened from the touchscreen.
• 5.Ride quality and refinement are the car's strongest selling points. The suspension is smooth and quiet on 19-inch wheels without adaptive dampers, and the soft, luxurious tuning clearly prioritizes comfort over sportiness.
• 6.A unique two-speed rear gearbox is a technical highlight. The rear axle shifts between first gear for acceleration and second for highway efficiency, and drivers can actually feel the gear change around 60–70 mph — a rare and noticeable EV trait.