The fresh 2026 Mercedes-Benz CLA EV enters the tiny circle of electric cars fitted with a multi-gear transmission.
We put a rear-drive 2026 CLA250+ and a 2026 Tesla Model 3 equipped with a single fixed ratio through repeated laps on a five-mile oval, sweeping speeds from 50 mph to 100 mph, to measure the real consumption and distance gains delivered by the two-speed unit.
At the lower test speeds the base Model 3 proved markedly more frugal, yet the CLA narrowed the difference as velocity climbed and edged ahead slightly at the top speeds.

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An electric motor's efficiency stays far steadier across its full rpm band than a gasoline engine's. Even so, cutting motor speed at higher road speeds still yields gains. That is why the new 2026 Mercedes-Benz CLA EV stands among the few electric vehicles, such as the Porsche Taycan, that adopt a multi-gear transmission instead of a lone fixed reduction.

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To measure the consumption benefit unlocked by the CLA250+'s rear-mounted two-speed gearbox, we conducted repeated back-to-back runs with this car and an entry-level rear-drive Tesla Model 3 on a five-mile oval at steady speeds of 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, and 100 mph. At 60 mph and below the Tesla, riding on 18-inch wheels with aero covers, recorded clearly lower consumption than the CLA, partly because the Benz wore optional 19-inch summer tires rather than the more efficient 17- or 18-inch wheels offered.

The multi-gear advantage becomes clear once speeds climb. Past roughly 65 mph the CLA engages its taller ratio, halving motor rpm. At 90 mph, for instance, the CLA motor turns near 6000 rpm while the Tesla spins at 10,000 rpm. The reduced shaft speeds let the CLA motor reach up to 93 percent efficiency, Mercedes states, and the CLA narrowed the consumption difference with the Model 3, even surpassing the Tesla slightly at the two highest speeds.

Day-to-day driving rarely reveals the CLA's gentle one-two shift unless Sport mode is selected and the throttle is held wide open, which makes the upshift more pronounced by cutting power briefly before the change. The two-speed unit also contributed to strong results in our steady 75 mph highway range test. There the CLA250+ covered 340 miles, beating its 317-mile EPA estimate. That places it among the ten longest-range EVs we have evaluated, and among those leaders the CLA carries the smallest battery pack at 85 kWh.

Mercedes-Benz

The two-speed transmission sits inside the rear motor housing.

A CLA250+ on the most efficient 17-inch wheels might have reached 400 miles in the same highway test, yet the new CLA EV remains highly efficient even when fitted with the least favorable 19-inch tires.

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Dave VanderWerp has spent more than 20 years in the automotive industry, holding roles from engineering to product consulting before leading Car and Driver's vehicle-testing program. Dave began at C/D after submitting an unsolicited resume at the right moment for a part-time road-test position while studying at the University of Michigan, where he quickly developed a passion for automotive journalism.