The all-new Mercedes-Benz CLA has been named Car of the Year 2026 by the European Car of the Year jury, with the result announced at the Brussels Motor Show.
The Car of the Year organisers said the CLA won the final vote with 320 points, ahead of six other finalists: the Citroën C5 Aircross, Dacia Bigster, Fiat Grande Panda, Kia EV4, Renault 4 and Škoda Elroq.
Mercedes-Benz, in its own statement, said the jury comprised leading automotive journalists from 23 countries, and said the win was recognition for efficiency and digital innovation.
Mercedes-Benz is using the award to spotlight the CLA’s electric credentials.
The car has an electric range of up to 792km and uses an 800-volt charging system that can add up to 325km of range in 10 minutes under suitable conditions.
For the CLA 250+ with EQ Technology, Mercedes-Benz also quotes combined energy consumption of 14.1–12.2kWh/100km on the WLTP cycle.
The CLA has been on sale in Europe since mid-2025, with launches in the United States and other markets planned.
Mercedes-Benz said customer demand was running ahead of expectations and that its order book stretched “well into the second half of 2026”.
The company is heading into a 2026 programme marking 140 years since Carl Benz’s 1886 patent car, and it is treating this award as an early success in that anniversary calendar.
