Most? Fastest? Superlatives always seem absurd in the car world. And when the automotive world and the tech spheres collide, then you can pretty much throw the “mosts” and “maximals” out the window. But the Mercedes-Benz CLA, which is the first car to use the brand’s new MB.OS, has what’s known as “chip-to-cloud” architecture, which means it really is the most advanced mainstream vehicle you can buy.
Chip-to-what-now? In simple terms, this car is “live,” always in touch with the larger Mercedes-Benz ecosystem. It’s not getting over-the-air updates at regular intervals. It’s constantly being updated. In an interview last year with Morgan Stanley, Mercedes-Benz CEO Ola Källenius said the notion is to keep this new generation of Mercedes timeless, “so the car doesn’t age digitally.” Further, the idea is to merge car-specific functionality and infotainment into a single computing stack, rather than to run multiple, siloed systems like brakes and powertrain, and infotainment, all from different suppliers, which is increasingly leading to constant recalls from faulty software and hardware.
Okay, great, but what’s it like to experience the MB.OS? Well, it certainly takes some getting used to. But I’ll also say that compared to a lot of tech-laden whips in the past, the new CLA’s operating system is more than a little game-changing, even if I was feeling pretty skeptical at the start.
- Base Trim Engine
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EV
- Base Trim Transmission
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Automatic
- Base Trim Drivetrain
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Rear-Wheel Drive
- Base Trim Horsepower
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268 HP
- Base Trim Torque
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247 lb.-ft.
- Base Trim Battery Type
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Lead acid battery
- Make
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Mercedes-Benz
- Model
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CLA-Class
- Segment
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Subcompact Luxury Sedan
The MBUX Superscreen
Let’s just start with the basics. The dash-wide display in the new CLA is what Mercedes calls a “Superscreen.” Visually, it is pretty super, largely because it’s nearly seamless. Where other automakers are knitting together multiple displays—one for the instruments, another for the infotainment, a third for the front passenger—this appears to be a single unit. It’s not, actually. There’s a small seam between the instrument panel and everything to the right of the steering wheel, but that junction is practically invisible.
Theme Away
Both the gas and electric versions of the CLA get MB.OS, so you won’t feel left out of the digital future if you buy the gas model. In this case, I was testing the EV, and a benefit in that case is you get to stream videos while you recharge. Teslas have had that option for ages—but they don’t have a dash-wide display. Nor is the setup this slick. MB.OS features a massive variety of visual themes, and these pair with ambient lighting that beams forth from the vents and seems to trickle out from every pore in the cabin.
And, just like you can set a home screen on your phone, you can use the Superscreen to personalize your CLA’s display, incorporating pics of your kids or shots from a vacation as your car’s wallpaper.
Major Tom To Sky Control
You adjust almost everything through MB.OS, including the photochromic glass roof, which comes standard. You can choose which pattern you prefer, or if you’d like the glass to become entirely opaque, and the system also illuminates with LED stars at night. I have mixed feelings about fixed glass roofs. Mercedes says that when it’s opaque, this ceiling inhibits 99 percent of all UV and infrared rays. Which I certainly hope is true, since panoramic roofs in other cars have proved hot enough that the aftermarket has had to adapt quickly and provide sunshades to buyers.
A Roomier Compact
One benefit of this fancy lid—it provides more headroom, especially in the second row. And while second row legroom (33.6 inches) isn’t mind-blowing, it’s decent, and this Benz, despite being a compact car, will comfortably seat four adults.
Why The Mercedes-Benz CLA EV Could Be A Gamechanger
The new EV CLA introduces a host of thrilling and advanced features, thus taking to fight to the other established German EVs.
My Zoom Call Experiment
That’s not a reflection of me on the IP. That’s a video stream I was having with myself. Because MB.OS allows downloading conferencing apps directly to the vehicle (like Zoom and Teams), I was able to set up a video chat that I attended on my phone—and via the car. There’s a camera for this within the center display, and the camera angle is wide enough to show both front passengers on the call. I’m not here to weigh in on whether conferencing and driving simultaneously is a good idea. (Though I do wonder what your insurer will do if you wreck a car while attending a Zoom meeting.) Luckily, slideshows and more active levels of participation are disabled in these apps while the car’s in motion.
A More Natural Voice Assistant
This car features an optional Burmester sound system, and at $880 to get 16 speakers and a subwoofer, it’s a bargain. The sonic clarity is excellent. But I was listening to a podcast and wanted to reduce the bass. Rather than tap and swipe, I asked the car to do that for me. Previous Benzes had a pretty buggy voice control system where you’d say “Hey Mercedes,” and a robotic, feminine voice would try (and not always succeed) in responding. With MB.OS, the system not only sounds more like a human, it can also handle much more complex commands. I asked, “Which preset in the Burmester sound system is better for listening to podcasts,” and the guidance was flawless.
“Hey Mercedes, I’d Like A Massage”
After that interaction, I asked the car to turn the heat up. Then to turn it down. Then, turn on the seat massage. I was bummed to find out from the voice assistant that this car doesn’t have massaging seats. It has what are called Kinetic seats, which tilt fore and aft and up and down, essentially to keep you a bit more alert, and the car directed me to use that function.
I then asked Mercedes to read me the latest news, to tell me who the Steelers selected in today’s NFL draft, and to tell me about any significant trades in said draft, and I carried this out using natural conversation. The system never flubbed, though a few times it asked me to elaborate on my request. Mercedes credits working with both Microsoft and Google for achieving both a more complex comprehension of questions as well as the ability to thread from one thought to the next, and there’s little doubt, this is a major upgrade over prior tech. It’s also superior to any in-car voice control I’ve experienced.
Yeah, It’s Also A Darn Good Car
Ordinarily, you wouldn’t catch me sitting still in a car for hours and hours, watching YouTube, streaming videos, and holding conference calls. I would prefer to evaluate a vehicle by how it operates in motion, not statically. And I did actually drive the $47,250 CLA 250+, which is the rear-wheel-drive EV CLA that offers 268 horsepower. It’s quick enough, but if you want all-wheel drive, the 349-horsepower CLA 350 is also available for $49,800.
Most of what I noticed while testing this Benz is how, especially for an EV, it feels pretty light and happy to quickly turn in. At 4,553 pounds, the electric CLA is about 1,000 pounds heavier than the gas car, but it doesn’t handle or accelerate like it’s porky. And especially because we’re only now finally starting to see attractively designed EVs, the CLA stands out by not standing out. Save for its shield-like faux grille, the car’s quite handsome. Also, there are Kias, Hyundais, Toyotas and Subarus wearing an EV tag all in this price range. No shade to those brands: I’ve tested a lot of their EVs, and they’re good to great. But Mercedes has sex appeal none of those labels can touch.
TopSpeed’s Take
Considering the gas CLA starts at $42,750, it’s not a huge premium to jump from 208 horsepower to 268 horsepower by switching to the EV version of this car. Plus, with an impressive 374 miles of range, you’re not really going to miss filling up. Maybe Mercedes buyers don’t sweat the price of gas, but if you’re shopping at this entry-level Benz tier, I doubt you have unlimited funds.
As for the whole MB.OS experience, there’s little doubt it’s darned impressive. You can park and re-juice at a DC fast charger and tune in to YouTube or start streaming an entire film if you like.
MB.OS is Home Theater In Your Driveway
Also, you can tether video game controllers via Bluetooth and, yes, download games directly to the system. Though since this car uses Mercedes’ new 800-volt EV architecture, you can recharge from 10-80 percent in just 22 minutes, so I doubt you’re going to idle that long. Then again, I’d personally be tempted. This sound system will pipe through a film or TV show’s soundtrack, and it’s not like the battery will run dry. With onboard heating and cooling, it’d be pretty comfy to have movie night in this Benz. Just, you know, maybe try not to spill the popcorn in between the seats, will ya?
Sources: Mercedes, Morgan Stanley on YouTube