Mercedes-AMG CLA 45 4MATIC+: electric compact with 680 hp beating the Tesla Model 3 Performance
mercedes-benz.com
The tri-motor AMG CLA 45 4MATIC+ makes 680 hp, offers up to 670 km of WLTP range and 800-volt charging — and fakes the sound and gearshifts of a combustion engine.
The Mercedes-AMG CLA 45 4MATIC+ shows how the meaning of a sporty version is changing in the electric era. This is no longer simply “a more powerful CLA”: the car packs three electric motors, 680 hp and a 0–100 km/h sprint in 2.7 seconds — quicker than the Tesla Model 3 Performance and its 3.1 seconds.
The powertrain layout is unusual for a compact Mercedes: one motor up front, two at the rear. It uses axial-flux electric motors, just like the larger Mercedes-AMG GT 4-Door Coupe. The car is available not only as a sedan but also as a Shooting Brake, so AMG leaves buyers a choice between striking dynamics and a more practical format.
The battery is different from the regular CLA too. Instead of the 58 and 85 kWh packs, the AMG version gets a battery with a usable capacity of 94 kWh. Claimed range is up to 670 km WLTP for the sedan and 640 km for the wagon. For a car with this much power that is a strong figure: Mercedes is trying to dispel the familiar fear that a fast EV is only good for one short burst before it demands a charge.
The 800-volt architecture allows it to accept up to 330 kW of DC power. Charging from 10 to 80% takes 22 minutes. The cells use anodes with silicon oxide and graphite: compared with a conventional graphite anode, gravimetric energy density can be up to 20% higher, while volumetric density is quoted at 680 Wh/l.
AMG worked separately on the emotion. The AMGFORCE S+ mode mimics the behaviour of a combustion car: the sound of a four-cylinder AMG appears, and torque is briefly interrupted during virtual shifts. It echoes the idea behind the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N, where engineers openly admitted that some buyers want not just acceleration but a mechanical feel to the driving.
There are six drive modes: Slippery, Comfort, Sport, AMGFORCE S+, ECO and Individual. The AMG Dynamic Plus package adds Race. They alter the steering, accelerator, suspension, stability control and regeneration. Notable details include AMG Ride Control adaptive suspension, an active rear spoiler on the sedan and a roof-edge spoiler on the Shooting Brake. An illuminated grille is optional.
A comparison with the Tesla Model 3 Performance is inevitable, but Mercedes plays in a different price and image field. Tesla is strong on efficiency, software and its charging ecosystem, the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N on emotional tuning and a more honest “playful” delivery, the BMW i4 M50 on familiar German handling. The CLA AMG counters with range, 800-volt charging, a Mercedes interior and a more complex three-motor layout.
For any market without official support the practical questions matter more than a pretty sprint time: access to diagnostics, high-voltage battery repair, recalibrating driver assists after a crash, AMG body panels and the powertrain warranty. A fast EV without factory backing can turn out to be expensive not at purchase, but at the first serious service case.
The Mercedes-AMG CLA 45 4MATIC+ is interesting precisely because it does not try to be a cold electric accelerator. AMG gave it sound, “shifts” and the behaviour of a sports model — now the question is whether buyers are as willing to pay for simulated emotion as they once paid for a real engine.
