Mercedes CLA Hybrid Isn’t As German As Mercedes Wants You To Think

Mercedes-Benz has added a new member to the CLA family, but this one is quiet a bit different from the others. Not only is this new CLA a hybrid, but it also uses an engine that’s not from Mercedes, but rather is being sourced from China. Yes, your next German car might just come with a Chinese heart.
 

The new model is the CLA 220 hybrid, announced this week. Visually, it stays close to the all-electric CLA variants Mercedes has already introduced, but under the hood it’s powered by a 1.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine that features an unusually high compression ratio of 12:1.
 
Mercedes says it “developed” this new engine, though what it doesn’t openly advertise is that it was co-developed with Geely. According to reporting by China’s IThome, the engine won’t just be designed with Chinese input, it will also be built in China, then shipped to Mercedes for integration.
 
Despite its modest size, the 1.5-liter unit uses the Miller cycle combustion process and is packed with efficiency-minded hardware. There’s an all-aluminum crankcase and a Nanoslide coating on the cylinder liners, the latter designed to reduce friction and improve durability.
 
Mercedes has also gone to some lengths to quiet things down, adding extra bulkhead insulation around the engine bay, including along the A-pillars and under the floor.
 

How Does It Perform?
The engine works alongside an electric motor incorporated into the eight-speed dual-clutch transmission, and a 48-volt lithium-ion battery pack with 1.3 kWh of capacity. To aid in efficiency, Mercedes notes that the CLA 220 can run purely on electric power at speeds of up to 60 mph (96 km/h). It can also recuperate up to 25 kW under braking.
 
All up, the CLA 220 hybrid delivers 208 hp and 280 lb-ft (380 Nm) of torque. Mercedes says it can hit 60 mph (96 km/h) in a respectable 7.1 seconds and then continue through to 130 mph (209 km/h). It tips the scales at 3,594 lbs (1,630 kg).
 

A Familiar Cabin
Inside, all CLA 220 hybrid models come standard with a one-piece fixed panoramic glass roof. Shoppers will also be able to option Mercedes-Benz’s Superscreen, combining a 10.25-inch display, a 14-inch infotainment screen, and a 14-inch front passenger display. However, this isn’t the part that we think will excite most shoppers.
 
The CLA 220 hybrid debuts a revised steering wheel design. At a glance, it looks unchanged from the one found in other CLA models or across the Mercedes lineup, but it now includes some subtle changes.
 
Most of the haptic touch points remain, but as with the latest GLC EV, there’s a new rocker switch for cruise control and a physical roller for volume, replacing their previously touch-sensitive counterparts.