Mercedes CLA 250e
Discussion
Looking at one of these to replace my BMW 330e. Insurance has risen to uninsurable levels for seemingly all BMWs for me, Teslas and other full EVs are uninsurable and I am not interested in any sort of boring family SUV so my eye has been caught to this as a replacement wallet-friendly daily driver for an early 20s single man.
My current role and next role doesn’t offer any kind of salary sacrifice company car scheme but does offer a car allowance.
I also live in a city so prioritise comfort over hooning.
My 330 gets around 20-22 miles to a charge (claimed 27) and the CLA offers a claimed 40.
What attracts me to the CLA over the A250 is 1) looks 2) more sophisticated suspension 3) more standard equipment
I’ve sat in a normal CLA and wasn’t wowed like I thought I would be but it seemed smart enough. Perceived quality was above the BMW but actual quality probably less.
Interested to see if anyone drove the CLA250e ideally, or maybe the A250e. I’m worried about how bad axle tramp is (read its much less prominent in the CLA)
My current role and next role doesn’t offer any kind of salary sacrifice company car scheme but does offer a car allowance.
I also live in a city so prioritise comfort over hooning.
My 330 gets around 20-22 miles to a charge (claimed 27) and the CLA offers a claimed 40.
What attracts me to the CLA over the A250 is 1) looks 2) more sophisticated suspension 3) more standard equipment
I’ve sat in a normal CLA and wasn’t wowed like I thought I would be but it seemed smart enough. Perceived quality was above the BMW but actual quality probably less.
Interested to see if anyone drove the CLA250e ideally, or maybe the A250e. I’m worried about how bad axle tramp is (read its much less prominent in the CLA)
My experience relates to 2 years in an A250e Saloon, so I can't offer comment on the "more sophisticated suspension" aspect.
Equally I am not sure if I could tell the difference if I was looking at a CLA or A as I thought they were identical bar the rear boot area and lights?!
The interior feels extremely cheap and very plastic like, drivers display overstyled and doesn't tell you much, capacitive steering wheel selectors for the screens are rubbish and could drive you mad.
Thankfully it has CarPlay (wired though) so you don't have to use the trackpad in the centre console very much.
Drivetrain works quite well I guess, and genuinely feels quite torquey, but the engine is very gruff and unpleasant sounding and quite loud compared to any other hybrid I have used.
40 miles would be hard work, but I did get 30+ a few times all electric.
Hybrid mode on the drivetrain is very annoying, it seems to just use all of the electric up straight away regardless of journey profile, whereas all the others I have driven seem to use electric where its best (low speed) and the engine where it is best (higher speed constant load)
Overall, I was very glad to hand it back.
Equally I am not sure if I could tell the difference if I was looking at a CLA or A as I thought they were identical bar the rear boot area and lights?!
The interior feels extremely cheap and very plastic like, drivers display overstyled and doesn't tell you much, capacitive steering wheel selectors for the screens are rubbish and could drive you mad.
Thankfully it has CarPlay (wired though) so you don't have to use the trackpad in the centre console very much.
Drivetrain works quite well I guess, and genuinely feels quite torquey, but the engine is very gruff and unpleasant sounding and quite loud compared to any other hybrid I have used.
40 miles would be hard work, but I did get 30+ a few times all electric.
Hybrid mode on the drivetrain is very annoying, it seems to just use all of the electric up straight away regardless of journey profile, whereas all the others I have driven seem to use electric where its best (low speed) and the engine where it is best (higher speed constant load)
Overall, I was very glad to hand it back.
JD said:
Equally I am not sure if I could tell the difference if I was looking at a CLA or A as I thought they were identical bar the rear boot area and lights?!
The CLA is significantly bigger than the A, its about 14-15cm longer than the A saloon and about 7cm wider. It’s actually larger than the C Class and the 3 series and uses a completely different suspension setup more akin to those. I think refinement is improved but its definitely still less refined than a C. My 330e is also disappointingly gruff and also tries to use all the EV straight away, so no changes there then. But I have been in a CLA 200 (same engine) and I was also disappointed by the rough idle.
JD said:
My experience relates to 2 years in an A250e Saloon, so I can't offer comment on the "more sophisticated suspension" aspect.
Equally I am not sure if I could tell the difference if I was looking at a CLA or A as I thought they were identical bar the rear boot area and lights?!
The interior feels extremely cheap and very plastic like, drivers display overstyled and doesn't tell you much, capacitive steering wheel selectors for the screens are rubbish and could drive you mad.
Thankfully it has CarPlay (wired though) so you don't have to use the trackpad in the centre console very much.
Drivetrain works quite well I guess, and genuinely feels quite torquey, but the engine is very gruff and unpleasant sounding and quite loud compared to any other hybrid I have used.
40 miles would be hard work, but I did get 30+ a few times all electric.
Hybrid mode on the drivetrain is very annoying, it seems to just use all of the electric up straight away regardless of journey profile, whereas all the others I have driven seem to use electric where its best (low speed) and the engine where it is best (higher speed constant load)
Overall, I was very glad to hand it back.
My wife also has an A250e (70 plate). Hers is the AMG Premium Plus which has all the bells and whistles apart from the Drivetronic I believe it's called. It can't put down even the electric 100Hp motors power unless in the dry in a straight line and the sat nav is supposed to prioritise the EV part around town and use the motor on motorways but it never does. The matrix lights are great and I think it is a nice place to sit. The ambient lights are a bit of a gimmick but are nice enough and the app allows pre heating and departure times to be set like most other cars these days. We do seem to get mid 30's from all ev power in the summer and not much less in the winter. We've done a few family holidays driving to Germany and it is fine at motorway speeds with a full load and roofbox. All in all it's a nice car but not very inspiring. It was a good everyday car when I had my MX5.Equally I am not sure if I could tell the difference if I was looking at a CLA or A as I thought they were identical bar the rear boot area and lights?!
The interior feels extremely cheap and very plastic like, drivers display overstyled and doesn't tell you much, capacitive steering wheel selectors for the screens are rubbish and could drive you mad.
Thankfully it has CarPlay (wired though) so you don't have to use the trackpad in the centre console very much.
Drivetrain works quite well I guess, and genuinely feels quite torquey, but the engine is very gruff and unpleasant sounding and quite loud compared to any other hybrid I have used.
40 miles would be hard work, but I did get 30+ a few times all electric.
Hybrid mode on the drivetrain is very annoying, it seems to just use all of the electric up straight away regardless of journey profile, whereas all the others I have driven seem to use electric where its best (low speed) and the engine where it is best (higher speed constant load)
Overall, I was very glad to hand it back.
Seemingly all PHEVs do a poor job of managing when to move between the engine and the electric motor. I’ve got a Kuga PHEV and left in its default ‘auto’ mode, it’ll chew through the full battery charge, irrespective of whether you’re in town or hurtling down the motorway, before the engine kicks in.
I have to swap between ‘EV now’ and ‘EV later’ to move the power source between EV and ICE, depending on what driving I’m doing.
I have to swap between ‘EV now’ and ‘EV later’ to move the power source between EV and ICE, depending on what driving I’m doing.
V 02 said:
The CLA is significantly bigger than the A, its about 14-15cm longer than the A saloon and about 7cm wider. It’s actually larger than the C Class and the 3 series and uses a completely different suspension setup more akin to those. I think refinement is improved but its definitely still less refined than a C.
My 330e is also disappointingly gruff and also tries to use all the EV straight away, so no changes there then. But I have been in a CLA 200 (same engine) and I was also disappointed by the rough idle.
The wheelbase is the same though right? So still as small inside as each other? My 330e is also disappointingly gruff and also tries to use all the EV straight away, so no changes there then. But I have been in a CLA 200 (same engine) and I was also disappointed by the rough idle.
If you think an 330e motor is rough, you are going to find this one awful.
Any of the Vw platform Phev seem to have much better battery using logic from experience.
JD said:
The wheelbase is the same though right? So still as small inside as each other?
If you think an 330e motor is rough, you are going to find this one awful.
Any of the Vw platform Phev seem to have much better battery using logic from experience.
I believe the wheelbase is 30mm longer going off Wikipedia. Not sure if that makes any significant difference.If you think an 330e motor is rough, you are going to find this one awful.
Any of the Vw platform Phev seem to have much better battery using logic from experience.
What I find annoying with the BMW is that the engine sounds strained and rough higher up in the rev range. It also tends to hang on to 1st gear far too long which really is hugely irritating. Sometimes I have seen it rev to 4000rpm in 1st with moderate throttle.
The BMW also feels a bit lethargic at low speed. It doesn’t really pick up very well without eBoost.
A positive was though with RWD and fat tyres it could handle the EV power very well and is relatively fun to drive. Well as fun as a 2 ton saloon can be, I guess.
Did you find the A250e lethargic or hanging on to gears? I can forgive the roughness of the engine if at least it doesn’t feel lethargic.
I think I need to get a drive this weekend.
cerb4.5lee said:
I was given an A250e as a loan car and I wasn't all that impressed with it(I actually preferred the A180 that I had a few months back in comparison).
The battery was empty on it, so it basically left me with the 1.3 engine on its own. That 1.3 engine has quite a lot of work to do because the car is actually heavier than the M4 is!
It was also one of the worst handling cars that I've ever driven, and it understeered basically on every corner I went around. Plus the engine is really rough sounding as well when it kicks in. I read a couple of reviews on it and they mirrored my experience with it as well.
I do like having these loan cars because it gives me a bit of experience with other cars other than my own I think.
This was what I said about the A250e that I had as a loan car, and I can't say that I was all that impressed with it sadly. The battery was empty on it, so it basically left me with the 1.3 engine on its own. That 1.3 engine has quite a lot of work to do because the car is actually heavier than the M4 is!
It was also one of the worst handling cars that I've ever driven, and it understeered basically on every corner I went around. Plus the engine is really rough sounding as well when it kicks in. I read a couple of reviews on it and they mirrored my experience with it as well.
I do like having these loan cars because it gives me a bit of experience with other cars other than my own I think.
V 02 said:
I believe the wheelbase is 30mm longer going off Wikipedia. Not sure if that makes any significant difference.
What I find annoying with the BMW is that the engine sounds strained and rough higher up in the rev range. It also tends to hang on to 1st gear far too long which really is hugely irritating. Sometimes I have seen it rev to 4000rpm in 1st with moderate throttle.
The BMW also feels a bit lethargic at low speed. It doesn’t really pick up very well without eBoost.
A positive was though with RWD and fat tyres it could handle the EV power very well and is relatively fun to drive. Well as fun as a 2 ton saloon can be, I guess.
Did you find the A250e lethargic or hanging on to gears? I can forgive the roughness of the engine if at least it doesn’t feel lethargic.
I think I need to get a drive this weekend.
Lethargic in comfort, annoyingly keen to stay in lower gears in sport meaning you get to hear a lot of the rough engine.What I find annoying with the BMW is that the engine sounds strained and rough higher up in the rev range. It also tends to hang on to 1st gear far too long which really is hugely irritating. Sometimes I have seen it rev to 4000rpm in 1st with moderate throttle.
The BMW also feels a bit lethargic at low speed. It doesn’t really pick up very well without eBoost.
A positive was though with RWD and fat tyres it could handle the EV power very well and is relatively fun to drive. Well as fun as a 2 ton saloon can be, I guess.
Did you find the A250e lethargic or hanging on to gears? I can forgive the roughness of the engine if at least it doesn’t feel lethargic.
I think I need to get a drive this weekend.
Can't argue with Lee's thoughts above, but I think the understeer is symptomatic of adding 200kg between the rear wheels of a FWD platform.
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