The 2026 Mercedes-Benz CLA with EQ TechnologyMercedes-BenzIt's unusual for a car brand to roll out its latest and greatest tech and design in an entry level car, but that's just what Mercedes-Benz did with the introduction earlier this year of the all-electric CLA.Hop behind the wheel of the 2026 the CLA with EQ Technology, priced from $47,950, and you'll find a very comfortable 267 hp, lovely quilted leatherette seating and a panoramic sunroof. While the redesigned sedan is estimated to have a driving range of 375 miles, you'll likely see something like 405 on the range indicator, as I did when I took of from Los Angeles International Airport not long ago for a drive down the coast and back.But what you might not see is how this car will propel you into the future as it whisks you down the freeway. That's because Mercedes-Benz loaded it with many of the newest tech and design features that we'll see roll out in other models later this year, from the new GLE and GLS to the GT 4-Door Coupe and even the Maybach luxury sedan. And it delivers some very nice standard luxuries for the price, making it a very competitive sedan as compared to others in its class, including the Lexus ES, BMW i4 or Audi A6 e-tron.The new interior of the Mercedes-Benz CLAThe Future of Mercedes Starts With MB.OSAfter driving the Mercedes-Benz CLA 250+ along the California coast for a few days, learning my way around its new tech interface and feeling the amazing freedom from range anxiety, it was clear to see company's where the company is headed with its EVs. This centers around bringing its electric-inflected design and cleverly crafted in-car tech together to create a cohesive experience and the future of Mercedes-Benz driving.AdvertisementAdvertisementIt starts with the new MB.OS multimedia system using AI to deliver a more responsive and intuitive experience. The idea is to anticipate what you'll need by learning what you ask for and what you prefer, to connect to the cloud for things like making appointments and answering your specific questions and smoothing the road ahead by avoiding bumps and congestion. If you're used to the MBUX system, the new tech interface will feel familiar but smarter. Mercedes-Benz enhanced the system with Google Gemini for better navigation and point of interest information.But the company integrated other AI systems to address specific needs throughout the car: its chips and hardware are via Nvidia; language computing is via ChatGPT and Liquid AI assists the car's systems in off-grid learning, eliminating the need to connect to the cloud for most capabilities. All of this, of course, can be updated with over the air updates that happen when the car is at rest.The new front face of the Mercedes-Benz CLA with EQ TechnologyAdvanced Charging Defines the CLAThe CLA is the first to get Mercedes-Benz' new upgraded 800 volt charge system, a far more efficient system both in terms of range and fast charging. The result is a range of 375 miles on the CLA 250+ — though the range monitor reported more than 405 miles for my test drive—and 300 for the dual motor AWD CLA 350.The CLA has a dual charging architecture to best accommodate both level 3 DC charging, which it can do in just 21 minutes at a public fast charger and level 2 charging for slower overnight charges. To accommodate this, it has two charge ports, which the company combined under a single charge port door: a NACS Tesla-style charger for level 3 and a J-1772 standard for level 2, which is what people typically use at home.AdvertisementAdvertisementBut what I most appreciated was the regenerative braking capability that let me use almost no energy in heavy California freeway traffic. Pulling the left paddle behind the steering wheel for max regeneration, crawling along the I5, the fuel was practically free: with the adaptive cruise system active, the car do to the dirty work of stopping and going and at low speeds it used almost no energy. I watched as the battery level sat unmoved at nearly the same range for quite some time.Iconic Mercedes-Benz design cues define the new design language in the CLADesign That Draws On The Brand's Iconic HeritageInside and out the Mercedes-Benz CLA's design feels fresh yet classic. On the outside the new face of the CLA is inflected with tri-star icons and glowing new tri-star headlights—a detail that denotes newer and fancier models—with a large Mercedes logo anchoring the grille.On the rear a light bar spans the trunk framed by round tri-star tail lights. Of course, the Mercedes logo doubles as the trunk latch and it hides the rear back-up camera, so it pops out when the car is in reverse. It's such a clever and novel detail, giving an 'if you know, you know' feel.Inside, the cabin of the Mercedes-Benz CLA has been completely redesigned. The turbine-style air vents that used to dominate the dashboard have been dialed down a bit; they now frame the dash and glow with ambient light. At the center are linear air vents tucked into the dash.AdvertisementAdvertisementA large expanse of glass, the brand's Super Screen approach, spans the dashboard housing the multimedia system at the center, a driver's display on the left and a passenger screen the right. It seems to be the look that the brand has comfortably settled into after trying out different screen styles, and they got it right: it's easy to see and use but doesn't dominate the space.Below the dash, the center console is simplified with a small panel of control buttons, a wireless phone charge pad, cup holders and an arm rest that hides a bit of storage space. Mercedes designers carved out a bit of storage under the console for small items like a clutch purse or a wallet.The overall feel of the new design is evolved and elegant, but still classic Mercedes-Benz.The rear end of the Mercedes-Benz CLA with EQ technologyTwo Models To Choose FromThe CLA 250+ with EQ Technology I drove is powered by a rear 200kW motor and an 85kWh battery, generating 267 hp and a 375-mile driving range; it's priced from $47,950. The focus here is on range and efficiency.AdvertisementAdvertisementBut for those who want to feel the thrill of more power, the CLA 350+ 4Matic with EQ Technology adds a second motor for all-wheel drive, increasing hp to 349 but reducing range to about 312 miles; it starts at $50,500.Both feature a sleek, bullet-shaped design, a hallmark of the CLA since 2020 and come with a standard panoramic sunroof and leatherette upholstery, though buyers can opt for leather for$1,450. The new smarter MB.OS with AI is standard and has features like a cabin-facing camera for Zoom calls, traffic monitoring and of course, "hey Mercedes" voice activation.Overall the system adds a seamless helpfulness to every drive, allowing you to focus on getting the most out of the battery and enjoying the fresh, more modern interior. And the fact that buyers of the entry-level Mercedes are the first to enjoy the future of this luxury brand is an early adopter's dream.This article was originally published on Forbes.com