The new 2026 Mercedes-Benz CLA EV joins the very small group of EVs that use a multigear transmission.We tested a rear-drive 2026 CLA250+ and a 2026 Tesla Model 3 with a fixed gear ratio on a five-mile oval at varying speeds from 50 mph to 100 mph to quantify the consumption and range gains a two-speed transmission provides.While the base Model 3 was significantly more efficient at the lower test speeds, the CLA closed the gap as speeds rose and pulled ahead slightly at the highest speeds.