Test Drive Today
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MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Oct 2002
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From: Cincinnati
2010 E350 4Matic
Test Drive Today
Test drove a CLA 250+ EV today.
Exterior:
I'm thinking I will drive a used 2024 model 3 for comparison.
Exterior:
- It was ok, not bad not great. Could be because it was in white maybe in another color it would look better.
- Not a fan of frameless doors as they fail the reassuring solidity that the Mercedes thunk test provides which I have become accustomed to
- I liked the way the seats looked and felt.
- I prefer small cars but the interior space felt tight, likely aerodynamics driven.
- Rear legroom for the seat positioned for me (5" 9") was adequate.
- The screens were ok.
- Overall other than the seats it felt kind of cheap for what they want for the car.
- Plenty of power, No complaints here
- Quiet at low speeds but did hear some tire noise on the highway. I drove our KIA EV immediately after and the CLA was definitely quieter on the highway and if you have the radio on in the CLA you probably wouldn't notice the tire noise much.
- Didn't push it but no reason to think it wouldn't handle well. It actually felt light for an EV.
- Ride wasn't plush but acceptable.
- Most notable thing is the strong regent is strong. With time I suppose I could get used to it. I have become a pretty gentle driver and probably due to me age I had a hard time modulating the deceleration. I don't remember that being an issue with Model 3's I have driven.
- Reported range was outstanding at 411 with 96% battery charge. For reference this clobbers our KIA Niro EV which on it's best days would be lucky to report 300 mile without any HVAC. The reported efficiency during the test drive was 4 mi / kWh. For reference I drove our KIA 50 miles today taking my wife to the airport and going to the gym and home and returned with an average efficiency of 4.8 mi / kWh.
- Hopping back in the Kia Niro EV actually felt more comfortable partly being the more upright seating position and less slopey windshield.
I'm thinking I will drive a used 2024 model 3 for comparison.
Last edited by MBNUT1; May 12, 2026 at 06:32 PM.
MBWorld God!
Joined: Dec 2019
Posts: 32,222
Likes: 6,281
Test drove a CLA 250+ EV today.
Exterior:
I'm thinking I will drive a used 2024 model 3 for comparison.
Exterior:
- It was ok, not bad not great. Could be because it was in white maybe in another color it would look better.
- Not a fan of frameless doors as they fail the reassuring solidity that the Mercedes thunk test provides which I have become accustomed to
- I liked the way the seats looked and felt.
- I prefer small cars but the interior space felt tight, likely aerodynamics driven.
- Rear legroom for the seat positioned for me (5" 9") was adequate.
- The screens were ok.
- Overall other than the seats it felt kind of cheap for what they want for the car.
- Plenty of power, No complaints here
- Quiet at low speeds but did hear some tire noise on the highway. I drove our KIA EV immediately after and the CLA was definitely quieter on the highway and if you have the radio on in the CLA you probably wouldn't notice the tire noise much.
- Didn't push it but no reason to think it wouldn't handle well. It actually felt light for an EV.
- Ride wasn't plush but acceptable.
- Most notable thing is the strong regent is strong. With time I suppose I could get used to it. I have become a pretty gentle driver and probably due to me age I had a hard time modulating the deceleration. I don't remember that being an issue with Model 3's I have driven.
- Reported range was outstanding at 411 with 96% battery charge. For reference this clobbers our KIA Niro EV which on it's best days would be lucky to report 300 mile without any HVAC. The reported efficiency during the test drive was 4 mi / kWh. For reference I drove our KIA 50 miles today taking my wife to the airport and going to the gym and home and returned with an average efficiency of 4.8 mi / kWh.
- Hopping back in the Kia Niro EV actually felt more comfortable partly being the more upright seating position and less slopey windshield.
I'm thinking I will drive a used 2024 model 3 for comparison.
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 4,975
Likes: 1,343
From: Cincinnati
2010 E350 4Matic
Hard to answer that question It's not like they were noisey tires (I know the difference). I mentioned it to the sales representative and he made the comment that the tire noise is more apparent due to the absence of the engine noise. I would say that the engine noise on my E Class is barely present on the highway. What I would say is that I think that the car is quiet for it's class but it is not quieter than upper class Mercedes. Similar to a C isn't as quiet as an E and an E isn't as quiet as an S.
Last edited by MBNUT1; May 13, 2026 at 03:05 PM.
MBWorld God!
Joined: Dec 2019
Posts: 32,222
Likes: 6,281
Hard to answer that question It's not like they were noisey tires (I know the difference). I mentioned it to the sales representative and he made the comment that the tire noise is more apparent due to the absence of the engine noise. I would say that the engine noise on my E Class is barely present on the highway. What I would say is that I think that the car is quiet for it's class but it is not quieter than upper class Mercedes. Similar to a C isn't as quiet as an E and an E isn't as quiet as an S.
