In April 2026, the Lithuanian Car of the Year Organisation (LMA) declared the Mercedes-Benz CLA EV "Electric Car of the Year 2026 in Lithuania." Evaluation criteria included: achievement, technology, design, value, and market availability.
This article is a WHEELSTREET review of whether the decision is justified, what the real alternatives are, and what premium EV buyers in Lithuania are actually choosing in 2026.
WHEELSTREET — AI and tech startup (founded 2025), co-founder Jonas (tech and marketing) and CEO Julius. We import premium EVs from South Korea, China, and the UAE — at competitive terms. ~500 vehicles per year.
Table of Contents
- Mercedes CLA EV — key specs
- Prices in Lithuania
- WHEELSTREET review (pros / cons)
- Competitors: BMW i4, Audi A6 e-tron, Tesla M3
- 5-year TCO comparison
- FAQ
Mercedes CLA EV — Key Specs
The CLA EV is built on the new MMA (Mercedes Modular Architecture) platform — the first 800V architecture in Mercedes' premium compact class.
CLA 250+ (RWD)
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Powertrain | 1× electric motor, rear axle |
| Power | 200 kW (272 HP) |
| Battery (usable) | 85 kWh (NMC, 800V) |
| WLTP range | up to 792 km |
| 0-100 km/h | 6.8 s |
| Top speed | 210 km/h |
| DC charging | 320 kW (CCS) |
| 10-80 % time | ~22 min |
| AC charging | 11 kW standard, 22 kW option |
CLA 400 4MATIC
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Motors | 2× electric (front + rear) |
| Power | 260 kW (354 HP) |
| WLTP range | up to 720 km |
| 0-100 km/h | 4.9 s |
| Top speed | 210 km/h |
| Rest — same as 250+ |
Interior and Technology
- MBUX Superscreen — 14-inch central + 14-inch passenger display (option)
- Augmented Reality HUD — projected display on the windscreen
- Generative AI assistant — natural-language conversation (ChatGPT integration via OTA)
- Level 2+ ADAS — automatic lane change in traffic, parking assistant
Prices in Lithuania May 2026
| Model | Base price | Fully loaded |
|---|---|---|
| CLA 250+ (RWD) | €49 900 | €56 800 |
| CLA 250+ AMG Line | €54 200 | €61 500 |
| CLA 400 4MATIC | €58 500 | €66 200 |
| CLA 400 4MATIC AMG Line | €62 900 | €71 000 |
Note: Mercedes-Benz Vilnius (official dealer Silberauto) waiting list in May 2026 — 7–10 months. Direct import via WHEELSTREET — 2–3 months, saving 10–15 % off MSRP.
Import from UAE / DE → · Import calculator →
WHEELSTREET Review — Pros and Cons
Brief overview
CLA EV — the best Mercedes premium compact EV to date. But is it really the best €50K EV on the market?
Pros
- WLTP range 792 km — second-best on the market (after Lucid Air and Mercedes EQS)
- 800V architecture — DC charging 320 kW, 10–80 % in 22 min
- Premium design — new Mercedes "EV aesthetic," AMG Line variant
- MBUX Superscreen + AI assistant — most advanced infotainment
- Warranty — 5 years or 200 000 km Mercedes premium, 8 years battery
Cons
- Price — Tesla Model 3 LR at 629 km for €40 990 (€9 000 cheaper)
- Cabin — premium compact class, rear seat tighter than BMW i4 or Tesla M3
- Boot — 470 L (Tesla M3 — 561 L)
- First MMA platform vehicle — possible early software bugs, OTA updates during first 12 months
- Service — Mercedes official service expensive (~30–40 % more than Tesla)
Competitors — Full Comparison Table
| Parameter | Mercedes CLA 250+ | BMW i4 eDrive40 | Audi A6 e-tron | Tesla Model 3 LR |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Base price LT | €49 900 | €47 900 | €56 200 | €40 990 |
| WLTP range | 792 km | 590 km | 720 km | 629 km |
| 0-100 km/h | 6.8 s | 5.7 s | 5.4 s | 4.4 s |
| Power | 200 kW | 250 kW | 270 kW | 324 kW |
| Battery | 85 kWh | 81.3 kWh | 95 kWh | 79 kWh |
| Architecture | 800V | 400V | 800V | 400V |
| Max DC | 320 kW | 200 kW | 270 kW | 250 kW |
| 10-80 % time | 22 min | 31 min | 25 min | 27 min |
| Warranty | 5 y / 200k | 3 y / 100k | 4 y / 120k | 4 y / 80k |
| Boot | 470 L | 470 L | 502 L | 561 L |
Short verdict for each
- Mercedes CLA 250+: best design + premium tech combination, 800V, longest range
- BMW i4 eDrive40: best driving (sportiness, BMW DNA), but 400V and shorter range
- Audi A6 e-tron: most cabin space + 800V, but most expensive
- Tesla Model 3 LR: best TCO, best Supercharger network, most aggressive acceleration, but "cheaper" interior
5-Year TCO Comparison
Comparing 5-year ownership costs (Vilnius, 18 000 km/year):
Interested in one of these EVs — we can import
WHEELSTREET stocks Tesla Model 3 and BYD Seal, and can import CLA, i4, A6 e-tron from UAE/DE. Import 2-3 months, saving 10-15%.
| Item | CLA 250+ | i4 eDrive40 | A6 e-tron | Tesla M3 LR |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Purchase price | 49 900 | 47 900 | 56 200 | 40 990 |
| 5-y depreciation (-52 %) | -25 950 | -24 900 | -29 200 | -19 700 |
| Residual value | 23 950 | 23 000 | 27 000 | 21 290 |
| Electricity 5 y (~18 kWh/100) | 3 240 | 3 600 | 3 420 | 3 060 |
| Comprehensive insurance 5 y | 8 500 | 8 000 | 9 800 | 6 500 |
| TPL insurance 5 y | 1 350 | 1 350 | 1 400 | 1 200 |
| Service 5 y | 1 200 | 1 350 | 1 400 | 600 |
| Tyres 5 y | 1 800 | 1 800 | 1 950 | 1 700 |
| TCO 5 y total | €41 140 | €40 000 | €47 170 | €31 060 |
Conclusion: Tesla Model 3 LR — best TCO on the Lithuanian market in 2026 (€10 000 cheaper than CLA). CLA — premium design + tech leader, but TCO costs the "Mercedes premium."
Tesla import from UAE → · BYD EV alternatives →
Worth Waiting for the CLA, When You Can Buy BYD/Tesla Today?
WHEELSTREET customer decisions Q1 2026:
- 45 % chose Tesla Model 3/Y — best TCO, established Supercharger network
- 22 % — BYD Seal U / Atto 3 — best value among Chinese rivals
- 15 % — Hyundai Ioniq 5 / Kia EV6 — 800V architecture, good balance
- 10 % — VW ID.4 / Audi Q4 e-tron — traditional European pick
- 8 % — premium (BMW iX, Mercedes EQS, Porsche Taycan)
CLA fits buyers who care about: 1) the Mercedes brand, 2) longest range, 3) newest technology. For price and TCO — Tesla M3 or BYD Seal U.
