Mercedes-Benz CLA Shooting Brake: Estate Electrified with Starry Ambition
Mercedes-Benz has unveiled its new all-electric estate, the CLA Shooting Brake, a car that merges practicality, luxury and sheer technological ambition with such flourish that even the most grounded family man might momentarily forget there’s a child seat in the back. It’s the brand’s first fully electric Shooting Brake, capable of covering up to 761 kilometers on a single charge.
From the windscreen to the tailgate stretches a panoramic roof that can turn opaque faster than a blink. It’s not just see-through. At night, it reveals a glowing starry sky, powerful enough to impress even passengers in the back. The car itself is low, wide, luminous and attention-seeking. The front grille features 142 individual LED stars, each glowing on its own.
Inside, floating surfaces, oversized screen arrays and more material options than most Scandinavian interior designers could dream of set the tone. Seats come in both synthetics and leather, in shades ranging from black ivory to walnut brown and pale beige. The dashboard resembles more an interactive museum installation than the cockpit of a vehicle.
The screen trio stretches across the cabin, allowing games, films, vehicle controls and conversations with the new MBUX AI, which remembers past exchanges and responds to emotion. When the car talks to you, it’s not as a machine, but like someone who already memorised your Spotify playlist and pauses to ask if you’re really sure you want to hear that song again.
The CLA 250+ Shooting Brake can travel up to 761 kilometers per charge. In ten minutes, it adds 310 kilometers of range. You don’t charge it—you stop for coffee. The more powerful 350 4MATIC version brings all-wheel drive and five-second acceleration to one hundred. A two-speed transmission adds grace, launching like a sports car in the city and gliding effortlessly down the autobahn in the higher gear.
Cargo capacity reaches 1290 litres with the rear seats folded. Under the front hood, there’s another 101 litres of space. Wheels, surfboards, backpacks and even a motorcycle on a trailer all fit. Towing capacity goes up to 1800 kilograms, meaning this electric CLA is ready to haul your horse or your jet ski.
Built on Mercedes-Benz’s modular platform, the new CLA Shooting Brake accommodates both fully electric and 48-volt hybrid drivetrains. That means every model in the CLA family follows the same architectural logic, making production flexible and future-proof. You can choose a hybrid or go fully electric.
