Mercedes-Benz CLA Shooting Brake & GLB Reviews
Some things in life are tricky. Trying to remember the plethora of passwords we all need to use every day, getting a doctor’s appointment…loading the dishwasher correctly.
And then there’s trying to keep up with the steady flow of new models from Mercedes-Benz.
Here’s the latest pair — the Mercedes CLA Shooting Brake (that’s estate in English) and the GLB SUV. Scroll down a bit if you want to read about the GLB. I had an hour in each of these cars, so here’s a quick run-down of my impressions, but there’ll be a more in-depth review in future weeks here on Driven.
Mercedes-Benz CLA Shooting Brake
I like estate cars, I’ve owned several. They rarely take up more space on the road than the equivalent saloon/hatchback and look a lot better. This is the case when comparing the 4-door CLA with this 5-door version, except that you now get more space in the boot and a touch extra headroom for those in the back.
Electric Range & Charging Times
It’s also the first Mercedes estate to be available as 100 per cent electric, although you can also go for a hybrid, which arrives in the UK around about now. The electric version is the one I tried because, if you go for the bigger battery, it makes the headlines, offering a fantastic 469 miles from a full battery. I drove the saloon a few months ago and easily racked up 370 miles in chilly winter weather. You can even manage a 10-80 per cent boost in a shade over 20 minutes if you can find one of the increasing numbers of 320kW chargers. The efficiency of the electric set-up is increased by the CLA having a two-speed automatic gearbox. The majority of electric cars just have a single gear, but the CLA comes with what is a glorified overdrive, which maintains speed while lowering the power usage. Clever.
Exterior
In terms of exterior design, it’s identical to the CLA saloon from the front as far back as the B-pillar. The big difference is the increase in carrying capacity from then on, with up to 1,290 litres of space available if you flop the rear seats forward. There’s even a 101 litre storage area under the bonnet which can cope with a couple of soft bags.
Mercedes hasn’t gone overboard. Okay, you get a flashy new grille which features 142 illuminated LED stars, but it looks very similar to the outgoing model. Exterior dimensions are almost identical (only 35mm longer, 25mm wider and 27mm taller), and it’s a similar story inside.
Options
Everything kicks off with the 218bhp CLA 200, which has a smaller 58kWh battery and can, on a full charge, manage 330 miles. This will suit a lot of folk who rarely do a long-haul journey. The 264bhp 250+ and 346bhp 350 4Matic get an 85kWh power pack, giving you that potential 469 miles, although you’ll take a bit of a hit in the all-wheel drive 350 due to the additional motor and bigger wheels.
One thing worth mentioning here is that the CLA Shooting Brake can’t charge on 400-volt CCS chargers. If you live out in the sticks, that could be a problem, so you’ll probably need to spend an extra grand on an optional bit of kit which will make slower charging available. Not ideal and doesn’t seem very fair, although it’s a problem which is easing as the spread of 800-volt chargers increases.
Trim Levels & Performance
There are five levels of trim: Sport, Sport Executive, AMG Line Executive, AMG Line Premium and AMG Line Premium Plus. Prices start from a not unreasonable £40,150 (May ’26) for the CLA 200 Shooting Brake in Sport trim. Although if you want the CLA 350 4Matic, you’ll need to move into AMG Line Executive and beyond, kicking off at £54,700.
As for performance, all models are restricted to 130mph, and in terms of 0-60mph pace, the 200 hits it in 7.8 seconds, compared to the 6.8 seconds managed by the 250+ and 5.0 seconds achieved by the 350 all-wheel drive. All models get a selection of driving modes — Comfort, Eco, Sport and Individual.
The CLA Shooting Brake feels lively, but it’s not about sprinting to the horizon. It’s all rather dignified and allows for easy progress. Our test route was a mixture of dual carriageway and country lanes, and the first thing you notice is that the CLA Shooting Brake has a supple ride, important for a car that’s likely to be used for family transportation.
Interior
The inside of the CLA Shooting Brake looks good and works well. The driver gets a 10.25-inch display, and there’s a central 14-inch touchscreen which both looks good and works well. You can also specify a screen in front of the passenger, which means the entire dashboard is a TFT screen. The seats are supportive, comfy and stylish, too.
In terms of kit, you get everything you really need, including sat nav, DAB radio, dual zone climate control, reversing camera, front and rear parking sensors, heated front seats, privacy glass, excellent audio system, LED headlights, roof rails, and even a panoramic sunroof, which helps make the interior bright and cheery. In fact, I wouldn’t bother moving up the trim range, as the entry-level Sport version is more than adequate for most folk.
Oh, and there’s also one of the best voice control systems around. Just talk to the car, and it’ll do most things for you. Easy.
Concluding Thoughts
If you like a car that looks good, handles tidily, feels solid, is decently equipped even in base level trim, and offers the potential for terrific range, the Mercedes CLA Shooting Brake is an ideal piece of kit for those of you who need additional space in the boot and, of course, added versatility. Stick with the Sport trim, and it represents good value too.
Mercedes-Benz GLB
If you are in the market for a premium 7-seater with the option of electric or petrol hybrid power, you’ll be looking at a short list of candidates.
It’s no fluke that the GLB and CLA Shooting Brake are being launched at the same time here in the UK because they share a lot of commonalities.
Trim Levels
The levels of trim (five of them) are as mentioned earlier: Sport, Sport Executive, AMG Line Executive, AMG Line Premium, and AMG Line Premium Plus. The list of equipment is also as mentioned earlier, and is why I like the Sport trim, because you get everything you seriously need.
Powertrains, Prices & Performance Figures
The powertrains are also shared, although the GLB electric model doesn’t get the entry-level 218bhp 200 unit. Just the 250+ and 350 4Matic are available. Performance is just about the same, but mileage dips because the GLB is a heavier vehicle and isn’t quite so streamlined. So, for example, the entry-level 250+ in Sport trim (£46,100 May ’26) can travel an estimated 380 miles while the 350 4Matic manages 360 miles, which, for a proper 7-seater, is more than reasonable. Incidentally, a 5-seat version is available in some countries, but not here…yet.
The GLB also has a petrol 1.5-litre full hybrid available. Three versions are available, all with the 1.5 litre engine, but with varying amounts of hybrid battery assistance. The GLB 180 develops 164bhp and offers up to a predicted 47.9mpg. The GLB 200 increases power to 190bhp (47.1mpg), while the all-wheel drive 220 4 Matic has a 217bhp output and 45.6mpg. Performance levels are a tad slower than the all-electric GLB, with the mid-power setup hitting 60mph in 8.7 seconds. Prices start at £42,070 for the GLB 1.5 full hybrid in Sport trim.
Boot space when travelling 7-up is obviously tight, although there’s a 127-litre frunk under the bonnet. Drop the rearmost seat of seats and you‘ll have 540 litres of baggage space.
As with the CLA Shooting Brake, if you want the more powerful and quicker 350 4Matic, you have to move up the trim range to AMG Line Executive, where prices start at £55,100.
Driving Experience & Interior
The GLB felt smoother to drive than the CLA. The brake regeneration also seemed to have more response to the settings. You can either go for auto, where the car senses the road ahead and adjusts the braking accordingly, or you can choose between off, normal and strong.
It also felt more refined on the move, again, probably due to the additional weight. Adaptive dampers are available on models with 20-inch wheels. On the version I tried, it produced a downright cushy ride.
The interior is a nice place to be and oozes quality. There’s plenty of room for seven people, although those heading for the third row need to be reasonably agile.
Should you buy one?
As with the CLA Shooting Brake, the Mercedes GLB is an accomplished people carrier. It looks good, is surprisingly spacious with plenty of head and leg room, drives nicely, is comfortable and gets all of the essential kit.
I’d stick with the electric 250+ power and Sport trim, which has decent value, adequate performance and the potential for excellent economy. If you’re still not sure about electric power, head for the full hybrid model. It’s hard to beat in what is a limited 7-seater automotive market.
words: Graham Courtney
pictures: Mercedes-Benz
