If You Want a Wagon, But Not Too Much of a Wagon – The Mercedes-Benz CLA Shooting Brake Is Your Car

Mercedes-Benz has unveiled the new CLA Shooting Brake. But what exactly is it? Well, it's a wagon… if you squint a little and tilt your head just right. You see, Mercedes has attempted to create something practical—but not too practical—because heaven forbid someone should use a CLA Shooting Brake as a moving van.

When Mercedes introduced the third-generation CLA sedan, it was only a matter of time before the Shooting Brake version followed suit. And, unsurprisingly, it has borrowed everything from its sedan sibling: the design language, headlights, and those unmistakably “elegantly dynamic” lines that marketing brochures love to highlight. Much like its predecessor, the new Shooting Brake retains its swooping roofline, which looks fantastic but slightly undermines the whole "wagon practicality" concept.

Electrification – Because You Can’t Sell a Car in 2025 Without Saying It Three Times
In today's automotive world, every new model must be described as "electrified" at least three different ways, or people start questioning if it's truly future-proof.

And Mercedes has certainly delivered on that front. The lineup includes:
Plug-in hybrid – Up to 100 km of pure electric range, after which the petrol engine will begrudgingly take over.
1.5-liter mild-hybrid petrol engine – Producing 190 hp, because moderation is key.
Fully electric version – Boasting 354 hp and all-wheel drive, because no EV is complete without neck-snapping torque.
The most powerful plug-in hybrid – A solid 300 hp, because let’s be honest, someone will try to race a BMW in this thing.

And because no car can be considered “modern” unless it accelerates unnecessarily fast, the quickest version of the CLA Shooting Brake will sprint to 100 km/h in 4.8 seconds—ensuring that you can burn through your battery before you've even left the city limits.

When Can You Get One?
The CLA sedan will go on sale in Europe this July, while the Shooting Brake will have its grand unveiling at the IAA show in Munich this September.

Final Verdict
If you want a wagon that isn’t too much of a wagon, and you’re willing to pay a premium for that unmistakable “German quality”, regardless of how impractical it may be—then the CLA Shooting Brake is the car for you.