The Mercedes-Benz CLA has three generations to date: the original CLA introduced in the United States in 2013, a successor launched in 2019, and a new generation unveiled in 2025. Those are generation launch milestones—not a universal list of model years. Mercedes-Benz’s launch dates, U.S. model-year labels and European sales years can differ, so exact year ranges should be checked for the country and body style in question.
CLA generations at a glance
| Generation | Documented milestone | Body styles and powertrains | Notable change |
|---|---|---|---|
| First generation | CLA Coupé introduced in the United States in 2013. Mercedes-Benz said about 750,000 first-generation Coupé and Shooting Brake models had been sold by its January 2019 successor announcement. | The Coupé; Shooting Brake debuted in 2015. The sources cited here do not establish a complete market-by-market engine list. | Established the CLA as a compact four-door coupé, with a more practical five-door Shooting Brake joining the range. |
| Second generation | Coupé announced January 8, 2019, with market launch planned for May; second-generation Shooting Brake announced for September 2019. | Mercedes-Benz’s launch announcement described petrol and diesel models, with availability varying by market. CLA 250 e plug-in-hybrid Coupé and Shooting Brake versions were announced in March 2020. | MBUX features such as gesture recognition and augmented-reality navigation featured in the Coupé launch announcement. |
| Third generation | Unveiled March 13, 2025. The electric model launched in Europe in mid-2025; Mercedes-Benz described U.S. and many other market arrivals as upcoming in a January 2026 report. | Introduced as an electric vehicle, with a 48-volt hybrid announced for later in 2025. Confirm local body-style and powertrain availability with Mercedes-Benz. | Introduced MB.OS and fourth-generation MBUX. European-market electric specifications include WLTP range and charging claims detailed below. |
Mercedes-Benz’s official announcements document launch milestones and selected configurations, not a complete universal model-year table. The year a generation launched is therefore not necessarily the first model year in every market.
First generation: the CLA arrives in 2013
Mercedes-Benz identifies 2013 as the year the CLA Coupé was introduced in the United States. The company’s January 2019 successor announcement said about 750,000 first-generation CLA Coupé and CLA Shooting Brake vehicles had been sold cumulatively by then. That is a Mercedes-Benz-reported total, not an independently verified figure. The first Shooting Brake debuted in 2015, according to the same company announcement.
These milestones do not establish exact first- or last-model-year labels across countries, nor do they confirm a universal facelift year. For a used-car search, check the vehicle’s market, build date and VIN rather than treating a global launch year as a model-year boundary.
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Second generation: Coupé and Shooting Brake launch in 2019
CLA Coupé
Mercedes-Benz presented the second-generation CLA Coupé in Las Vegas on January 8, 2019, and said it would reach the market in May. The launch announcement described a petrol CLA 250 presentation and a broader petrol and diesel range planned for market launch; that does not mean every engine was sold in every country. The company highlighted the MBUX interior assistant, gesture recognition, augmented-reality navigation and driver-assistance features. Its emissions figures in that release were explicitly provisional.
CLA Shooting Brake
Mercedes-Benz announced the second-generation Shooting Brake separately, with a September 2019 market launch. It described the five-door body as combining a coupé-like profile with a practical rear opening. The launch release said it was 48 mm longer and 53 mm wider than its predecessor; those figures are a comparison between those two Shooting Brake generations, not dimensions that should be applied to later CLAs.
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Plug-in-hybrid CLA 250 e: announced in 2020
In March 2020, Mercedes-Benz announced CLA 250 e plug-in-hybrid versions of both the Coupé and Shooting Brake under its EQ Power label. This is a dated addition to the second-generation lineup, not evidence that the versions were available in every country or in every trim combination. Historical test-cycle consumption figures from the launch release should not be read as present-day real-world expectations.
Third generation: electric launch, with hybrid to follow
Mercedes-Benz unveiled a new CLA generation on March 13, 2025, describing it as the first model in a new vehicle family. The initial powertrain announcements centered on the battery-electric CLA; the company announced a 48-volt high-tech hybrid for later in 2025. The new generation also introduced MB.OS, which Mercedes-Benz called its first in-house vehicle operating system, and fourth-generation MBUX.
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European CLA 250+ with EQ Technology figures
For the European-market CLA 250+ with EQ Technology, Mercedes-Benz publishes up to 792 km of WLTP range and combined energy consumption of 14.1–12.2 kWh/100 km. It also says the car can gain up to 325 km of WLTP range in ten minutes at a DC fast-charging station rated at 500 amps. These are manufacturer figures based on the stated test cycle and charging conditions, not guaranteed real-world range or charging outcomes.
Availability depends on market
Mercedes-Benz said the electric CLA went on sale in Europe in mid-2025. In its January 2026 award report, it described U.S. and many other market arrivals as upcoming. Since order status can change by country, check the local Mercedes-Benz site or dealer for current availability before using the new generation as a shopping shortlist.
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How to interpret CLA model years
- Keep launch year and model year separate. A company announcement may give a presentation date, planned market-launch date or calendar-year sales period. None automatically identifies the first model-year label in every country.
- Check the body style. Coupé and Shooting Brake launch timing differed in both 2015 and 2019.
- Check local powertrain availability. A version announced by Mercedes-Benz is not proof it was offered in a particular country or configuration.
- Verify the specific vehicle. For a used car, use its VIN, build date and market-specific records to confirm generation and equipment.
Mercedes-Benz reported that the third-generation CLA won European Car of the Year 2026 with 320 points from a jury of 59 journalists representing 23 countries, finishing 100 points ahead of second place. That award is a distinction for the model, not a separate generation or a guide to model-year boundaries.
Quick Recap
Official Mercedes-Benz sources
- First-generation U.S. introduction and sales milestone: Mercedes-Benz USA, CLA Coupé announcement.
- Second-generation Coupé launch: Mercedes-Benz Media, January 8, 2019.
- First and second-generation Shooting Brake milestones: Mercedes-Benz Media, September 2019.
- CLA 250 e plug-in-hybrid announcement: Mercedes-Benz Media, March 2020.
- Third-generation unveiling and technology: Mercedes-Benz Media, March 13, 2025.
- European electric CLA specifications: Mercedes-Benz Media, CLA 250+ with EQ Technology.
- Regional launch status and award report: Mercedes-Benz Group, European Car of the Year 2026.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
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