The automotive world just witnessed a historic moment. Mercedes-Benz has officially unveiled the CLA Shooting Brake with EQ Technology—their first-ever fully electric estate car. This isn’t just another electric vehicle hitting the market; it’s a complete reimagining of what a family hauler can be in the electric age.
For decades, wagon enthusiasts have been waiting for manufacturers to electrify these practical yet stylish vehicles. Mercedes has finally answered that call with something truly special. The new CLA Shooting Brake represents more than just an evolution—it’s a bold statement about the future of electric mobility.
What Makes This Electric Wagon Special
The Mercedes-Benz CLA Shooting Brake with EQ Technology has a maximum estimated range of 473 miles on the WLTP cycle. That’s enough to drive from New York to Cleveland without stopping for a charge. Think about your longest family road trip—chances are, this wagon could handle it on a single charge.
The engineering behind this range is impressive. Both models share a nickel-manganese-cobalt (NMC) battery pack with a usable capacity of 85 kilowatt-hours. But it’s not just about the size of the battery; it’s how efficiently the vehicle uses that energy.
Mercedes-Benz says that a 10-minute charging session should result in 186 miles (300 km) of range, as long as a powerful enough DC fast charger is being used. That’s faster than most people take for a coffee break during a road trip.
Two Powertrains to Choose From
Mercedes isn’t offering just one version of their electric wagon. The base rear-wheel drive CLA 250+ Shooting Brake has 268 horsepower, while the all-wheel drive CLA 300 4Matic ups those figures to 348 hp. The acceleration numbers are respectable too—the base model reaches 60 mph in 6.8 seconds, while the AWD version does it in just 5 seconds.
These aren’t sports car numbers, but they’re perfectly adequate for a family vehicle that prioritizes efficiency and practicality over raw speed.
Space and Practicality That Actually Works
Anyone who’s owned a wagon knows that space efficiency matters more than flashy specs. The new EV measures 4,723 mm in length, or 35 mm longer than the outgoing model. Those extra millimeters translate into real-world benefits.
The cargo space measures 455 liters with seats up and up to 1,290 liters with them folded (40:20:40 split). There’s also a 101-liter frunk under the bonnet. For families juggling sports equipment, groceries, and vacation luggage, these numbers matter.
The rear seats fold in a 40:20:40 configuration, which means you can carry long items like skis while still seating passengers. The front trunk (frunk) provides additional storage that’s perfect for charging cables or items you want to keep separate from the main cargo area.
Real-World Family Features
With an extended wheelbase of 2,790 mm (+61 mm), the electric version offers 14 mm more headroom and 11 mm more legroom in the front. These might seem like small improvements, but anyone who’s spent hours in a car with family members knows how much those extra millimeters matter for comfort.
Standard roof rails can support up to 75 kg. A braked towing capacity of up to 1,800 kg is offered as well. This means you can still tow a boat or trailer, making this electric wagon genuinely practical for active families.
Technology That Enhances Rather Than Overwhelms
Mercedes has packed this wagon with technology, but it feels purposeful rather than gimmicky. The electric wagon gets the same goodies as the sedan, including the optional three-screen MBUX infotainment system that comes with a 14-inch central display, a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster and a 14-inch separate screen for the front passenger.
Some might worry about screen overload, but Mercedes has designed these interfaces to be intuitive. The passenger screen, for instance, can display entertainment content without distracting the driver.
The Starry Roof That Actually Matters
Here’s where Mercedes shows their attention to detail. For the first time ever, the panoramic roof in the electric CLA Shooting Brake is also illuminated with 158 stars. This isn’t just a luxury feature—it’s about creating an environment that makes long family drives more pleasant.
Mercedes-Benz is offering a large panoramic roof with heat-insulating glass and switchable transparency levels, enabling either opaque or transparent states at the flick of a button. On hot summer days, you can make it opaque to keep the cabin cooler. On clear nights, switch it to transparent for stargazing.
What This Means for Electric Vehicle Adoption
The CLA Shooting Brake represents something significant in the electric vehicle landscape. Mercedes-Benz has officially unveiled the all-new CLA Shooting Brake with EQ Technology—its first-ever fully electric estate car. This fills a gap that many families have been waiting for.
Electric sedans and SUVs are common now, but practical electric wagons have been surprisingly rare. Mercedes is betting that families want the efficiency of electric power combined with the practicality of a wagon—and they’re probably right.
Availability and Market Impact
The Mercedes-Benz CLA Shooting Brake with EQ Technology will hit European streets in March 2026. In the United States, the electric wagon is unlikely to make an appearance, seeing how the previous generation was a forbidden fruit. This is disappointing news for American wagon enthusiasts, but European families will have access to what could become the definitive electric estate car.
Besides the two all-electric versions, the family-friendly CLA will also be available with a hybrid powertrain with 48V technology. This hybrid option might eventually make its way to markets where pure electric adoption is slower.
The Bigger Picture
Mercedes’ electric wagon isn’t just about one vehicle—it’s about proving that electric cars can be practical, efficient, and desirable across all vehicle categories. The success of this model could encourage other manufacturers to electrify their wagon offerings, giving consumers more choices in this practical segment.
For families considering the switch to electric, the CLA Shooting Brake removes many of the traditional barriers. Range anxiety becomes less of an issue with 473 miles of capability. Space concerns are addressed with generous cargo capacity and smart packaging. Charging worries diminish with 10-minute rapid charging for 186 miles of range.
This electric wagon represents Mercedes-Benz’s commitment to making electric vehicles work for real families with real needs. It’s not about compromising on practicality for the sake of electrification—it’s about proving that electric can be better.