Mercedes-Benz CLA Hybrid: A German Sedan With a Chinese Heart?

Daily Car

18/12/2025

Mercedes-Benz has added a hybrid version of the CLA compact sedan called the CLA 220. From the outside it looks like the battery only models, but under the bonnet it carries a 1.5-litre turbo four cylinder engine that Mercedes developed together with Geely and that Geely builds in China. The engine is shipped to Mercedes plants for installation, a step that prompts some observers to ask how much of the car remains German.

Key points

The CLA 220 hybrid uses a 1.5-litre turbo engine that Mercedes besides Geely created side by side.
Geely manufactures the engine in China and forwards it to Mercedes for final assembly.
The hybrid set up adds a 1.3 kWh battery plus an electric motor - total system output is 208 hp.
The sprint from 0-60 mph takes 7.1 s.
The cabin gains a redesigned steering wheel that mixes haptic pads with physical buttons.

New power unit

The 1.5-litre turbo four cylinder works with a high 12:1 compression ratio plus a Miller-cycle combustion strategy. Mercedes says it “developed” the unit - yet the company also states plainly that Geely shared in both the engineering and the production. After the Chinese plant finishes each engine, it travels to Mercedes for installation in the cars.

Even though the block is small, it uses an all aluminium crankcase or Nanoslide-coated cylinder liners to cut friction and extend life. Extra sound proofing in the engine bay, along the A-pillars but also under the floor, keeps the cabin quiet.

Performance and economy

The electric motor sits inside the eight speed dual-clutch transmission. A 48-volt lithium ion battery rated at 1.3 kWh feeds the motor. Mercedes states that the car is able to drive on electric power alone up to 60 mph (96 km/h) and that the system recovers up to 25 kW during deceleration.

Combined output reaches 208 hp as well as 280 lb ft (380 Nm). Mercedes quotes 0-60 mph in 7.1 s and a top speed of 130 mph (209 km/h). Kerb weight is 3,594 lb (1,630 kg).

Cabin updates

The CLA 220 hybrid comes with a fixed panoramic glass roof as standard. Buyers may order the Superscreen package - it links a 10.25-inch driver display to a 14-inch central touchscreen plus a 14-inch screen for the front passenger.

The steering wheel is new - it keeps many haptic touch zones - yet adds a physical rocker for cruise control and a solid roller for volume replacing the touch only sliders seen on recent Mercedes models like the GLC EV.

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