I drove the Car of the Year, but a car £20k cheaper was better – and it's not BMW or Audi. The Mercedes-Benz CLA was named the European Car of the Year 2026, but after putting it to the test, a hybrid rival costing around £20,000 less proved to be the better all-round car.
The Award-Winning Mercedes CLA
Earlier this year, the Mercedes-Benz CLA was crowned European Car Of The Year 2026, a coveted accolade awarded since 1964. According to the official press release, the organisation declared that Europe had 'chosen its king'. The CLA, available in both electric and non-electric variants, accumulated 320 points from 59 jurors across 23 countries. It triumphed over rivals including the Renault 4, Citroen C5 Aircross, Dacia Bigster, Fiat Grande Panda, Kia EV4, and Skoda Elroq. This marked Mercedes' first victory since the 450 SE/SEL claimed the title in 1974.
Test Drive Experience
Following the CLA's success, I was eager to discover what the driving experience was like, and we were fortunate enough to spend three days with an electric version of the vehicle.
Specifications
I tested a CLA 250+ Electric AMG Line Premium Plus with an as-tested price of £53,300. Finished in Night black, it featured 19-inch wheels and ARTICO man-made leather upholstery. The infotainment system included a 14-inch central display equipped with Mercedes' virtual assistant, alongside a 10.25-inch driver display showing key information such as charge level and speed. As the AMG Line Premium Plus variant, it also boasted a head-up display, thermotronic automatic climate control, a winter package, and ambient lighting. At the front was a 101-litre frunk, while the rear offered a 405-litre boot. Regarding the powertrain, the vehicle housed an 85.5kWh battery delivering 268hp to the rear wheels via a two-speed gearbox. Overall, the specifications indicate the vehicle is capable of reaching a top speed of 130mph, with a claimed WLTP range of 452 miles — sufficient to travel between London and Brighton and back approximately eight times. All this cutting-edge technology is housed within a body measuring 4.7 metres (4,731mm) in length and 2 metres (2,201mm) in width, including the mirrors. The car stands 1.4 metres (1,469mm) tall and sits on a wheelbase of 2.7 metres (2,790mm).
Driving Impressions
As a compact 268hp rear-wheel-drive saloon, it performs admirably. The balance is impressive, the steering precise and responsive, and it handles London's notorious potholes and uneven surfaces with ease. The car feels agile, and range anxiety was never a concern throughout my time behind the wheel. Out on the motorway, it tackled some of the M25's rougher stretches with confidence, effectively suppressing most road noise. The M25 features a notoriously uneven section between the A3 junction and the M23 — the route most drivers take towards Gatwick Airport. In lesser vehicles, this stretch can feel as though both the car and your teeth are falling apart, but in the CLA it was a non-issue. Mechanically, Mercedes has done a sterling job with the suspension, ride quality, and overall dynamics. However, it wasn't without its faults.
The Issues
From an operational standpoint, several niggles left me questioning why it had been presented with the award in the first place. The first issue was the voice assistant, which had an annoying tendency to randomly conduct searches based on overheard conversation. Simply uttering the word 'toilet' while thinking aloud prompted it to search for nearby public conveniences. A similar occurrence happened when commenting on heavy traffic or making a mental note to pick up groceries after a drive; the system seemed overly eager to assist at every turn. The second gripe was the touchscreen; Mercedes would do well to take note of what rival manufacturers such as Kia, Hyundai, Fiat, and Alfa Romeo have already cottoned on to - drivers prefer physical buttons. Hopefully, we'll see more of these making a comeback. The third niggle was the rather modest boot opening. It was somewhat surprising to find the boot wasn't a hatchback-style affair, which would have allowed owners to load considerably larger items into the vehicle. The fourth issue was somewhat more peculiar and admittedly rather niche. While assessing rear headroom - unsurprisingly limited given the sloping roofline - attempting to exit via the side door proved impossible as the child locks were engaged. Disengaging them through the infotainment system wasn't an option; instead, they were tiny, unmarked switches tucked within the door lining, on the metal strip housing the door lock mechanism. No trim removal was required to reach these switches, as they were exposed, yet they were remarkably difficult to locate and could only be accessed by first exiting through the front door and opening the rear door from outside.
Taken individually, the points raised aren't deal-breakers, but they highlight something telling about the Mercedes-Benz CLA. On paper and behind the wheel, it's a superb and capable motor. Make no mistake about its comfort, efficiency and road manners, but when it comes to usability it falls short of competitors from BMW, Audi or Alfa Romeo, which simply edge ahead by being more straightforward vehicles to use and consequently less frustrating on a daily basis – which, ultimately, plays a significant role in whether somebody decides to purchase a car in the first place.
Verdict - 7.5/10
The One I'd Rather Have
When discussing hybrids – the CLA is available as a hybrid, incidentally – it can't match Honda's Civic, priced at around £35,945. Not only does it offer a more rewarding driving experience, but being a hatchback makes it more versatile as well. What's more, the additional physical buttons and absence of the automatic virtual assistant inside means it'll likely prove easier to live with too. Earlier this year at the SMMT Test Day, the Honda emerged as my standout vehicle amongst the 15 I tested. I commended it for its handling, versatility, styling and clever hybrid powertrain.
