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BYD Seal vs Mercedes-Benz CLA
Selected trimDesignChange trim354 mi · 82.5 kWh · £45,730
Selected trim250+ Sport EditionChange trim484 mi · 85 kWh · £45,615
At a glance
In this comparison, BYD Seal stays competitive across the board, while the Mercedes-Benz CLA leads on value for money, motorway range and charging speed.
Which should you choose?
Choose the Mercedes-Benz CLA if...
- you want the most for your money - best overall spec per pound
- you do long motorway journeys - it has the best estimated real-world range at speed
- you need the fastest charging of these options
- you want the lowest running costs - from just 1.5p per mile on off-peak electricity
How we reached the recommendation
Verdict
Our take
The Mercedes-Benz CLA leads in the most categories, but each car here has its strengths.
ValueMercedes-Benz
BYD
6.3
Mercedes-Benz
7.9
Motorway RangeMercedes-Benz
BYD
3.1
Mercedes-Benz
9
Family
BYD
6.7
Mercedes-Benz
6.5
Too close to call
ChargingMercedes-Benz
BYD
2.4
Mercedes-Benz
7.7
Cost Per MileMercedes-Benz
BYD
3.4
Mercedes-Benz
9.8
City Driving
BYD
3.6
Mercedes-Benz
3.9
Too close to call
What each car does better
See the specification differences behind the verdict, with supporting figures for each advantage.
Key specifications
Compare the key specifications for your selected trims.
| Measure | BYD SealDesign | Mercedes-Benz CLA250+ Sport Edition |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £45,730 | £45,615 (better) |
| Official range | 354 miles | 484 miles (better) |
| Boot space | 400 L | 405 L (better) |
| 10-80% rapid charge | 37 min | Not available |
| 0-62 mph | 5.9 sec (better) | 6.7 sec |
Size Comparison
View:
Align by:
BYD Seal
Mercedes-Benz CLA
Length
BYD Seal4,800mm
Mercedes-Benz CLA4,723mm-77mm
Width
BYD Seal1,875mm
Mercedes-Benz CLA1,855mm-20mm
Height
BYD Seal1,460mm-8mm
Mercedes-Benz CLA1,468mm
Space, size & parking
Parking & manoeuvring
Compare exterior dimensions to assess how each car fits UK parking spaces.
| Measure | BYD SealDesign | Mercedes-Benz CLA250+ Sport Edition |
|---|---|---|
| Length | 4,800 mm | 4,723 mm |
| Width (mirrors folded) | 1,875 mm | 1,855 mm (better) |
| Width with mirrors out | 2,150 mm | Not available |
| Height | 1,460 mm | 1,468 mm |
| Turning circle | 11.2 m | 11.2 m |
| Clearance in a standard bayA standard UK parking bay is 2,400 mm wide. | 525 mm spare | 545 mm spare (better) |
People & luggage
Compare seating, child-seat mounting points, boot space and towing capacity.
| Measure | BYD SealDesign | Mercedes-Benz CLA250+ Sport Edition |
|---|---|---|
| Seats | 5 | Not available |
| ISOFIX child-seat points | 3 | Not available |
| Boot space (seats up) | 400 L | 405 L (better) |
| Frunk | 53 L | 101 L (better) |
| Towing capacity (braked) | 750 kg | Not available |
How each stacks up
Percentile ranks against UK EVs of the same body style.
BYD Seal
- One of 33 of 232 UK EVs in our catalogue with V2L (vehicle-to-load) support.
- At 4,800 mm, shorter than 80% of saloon EVs in our UK catalogue.
- 11.2 m turning circle, tighter than 85% of saloon EVs in our database.
Mercedes-Benz CLA
- A 101 L frunk, one of 7 of 232 UK EVs in our catalogue with a front boot of 101 L or more.
- 484 mile WLTP range, longer than 95% of saloon EVs we track.
- At 4,723 mm, shorter than 85% of saloon EVs in our UK catalogue.
Full specifications
| Specification |  BYD Seal Design |  Mercedes-Benz CLA 250+ Sport Edition |
|---|---|---|
| Dimensions | ||
| Length | 4.80m | 4.72m-77mm |
| Width | 1.88m | 1.85m-20mm |
| Width (mirrors) | 2.15m | Not available |
| Height | 1.46m | 1.47m+8mm |
| Wheelbase | 2.92m | 2.79m-130mm |
| Capacity | ||
| Boot (seats up) | 400L | 405L (better) |
| Frunk | 53L | 101L (better) |
| Seats | 5 | Not available |
| Practicality | ||
| Turning Circle | 11.2m (better) | 11.21m |
| Kerb Weight | 2,055kg | Not available |
| Towing Capacity | 750kg | Not available |
| Electric | ||
| Battery | 82.5kWh | 85kWh (better) |
| Range (WLTP) | 354 mi | 484 mi (better) |
| Max DC Charge | 150kW | 320kW (better) |
| Pricing | ||
| UK MSRP | £45,730 | £45,615 (better) |
| Details | ||
| Body Style | Saloon | Saloon |
| Available | 2023+ | 2025+ |
Range & charging
Range, charging & battery
Check official and estimated driving range alongside charging speeds, efficiency and battery technology.
| Measure | BYD SealDesign | Mercedes-Benz CLA250+ Sport Edition |
|---|---|---|
| Official range (WLTP) | 354 miles | 484 miles (better) |
| Estimated motorway rangeEVcarsguide estimate at sustained motorway speed. | 244 miles | 403 miles (better) |
| 10-80% rapid charge time | 37 min | Not available |
| Max rapid charge rate | 150 kW | 320 kW (better) |
| Home AC charging | 11 kW | Not available |
| Energy consumption | 166 Wh/km | Not available |
| Usable battery capacity | 82.5 kWh | 85 kWh (better) |
| Battery chemistry | LFP | Not available |
| Battery architecture | 400V | 800V (better) |
| Heat pump | Standard | Standard |
Driving & everyday use
Performance & drivetrain
Compare acceleration, power and drivetrain specifications for the selected trims.
| Measure | BYD SealDesign | Mercedes-Benz CLA250+ Sport Edition |
|---|---|---|
| 0-62 mph | 5.9 sec (better) | 6.7 sec |
| Power | 230 kW (better) | 200 kW |
| Torque | 360 Nm (better) | 335 Nm |
| Drivetrain | RWD | RWD |
What the critics say
See how UK motoring publications rate each car in their road tests.
BYD Seal
Design
Mercedes-Benz CLA
250+ Sport Edition
Watch the reviews
Watch selected video reviews here, or visit each model page for the full collection.
Reviews and videos discuss each model overall; the specifications above apply to your selected trims.
Prices & deals
Calculate your real costs
For a useful running-cost comparison, factor in your mileage, charging access and current petrol or diesel car alongside the EV estimate.
Compare with petrol or diesel
Compare purchase price, energy, road tax and maintenance with a petrol or diesel alternative.
Calculate company-car tax
Work out monthly Benefit-in-Kind using current and future HMRC rates.
Cost per mile
Compare EV charging costs per mile with petrol and diesel using your charging options.
Check a lease quote
Assess the effective monthly cost alongside the list price and expected depreciation.
Safety & ownership confidence
Euro NCAP - BYD Seal Design
Tested 2023
Adult Occupant89%
Child Occupant87%
Vulnerable Road Users82%
Safety Assist76%
Full result on euroncap.com (opens in new tab)
Euro NCAP - Mercedes-Benz CLA 250+ Sport Edition
Tested 2025
Adult Occupant94%
Child Occupant89%
Vulnerable Road Users93%
Safety Assist85%
Full result on euroncap.com (opens in new tab)
Warranty
Check the published battery warranty cover for each selected trim.
| Measure | BYD SealDesign | Mercedes-Benz CLA250+ Sport Edition |
|---|---|---|
| Battery warranty | 8 years | Not available |
| Battery warranty distance | 250,000 km | Not available |
What owners say
Aggregated from UK owner forums and communities - the things you only learn after living with the car.
Shared watch-outs for both cars
Owners of every car here flag infotainment & software, real-world range, dealer & service support. Worth checking on a test drive whichever you choose.
BYD Seal
Design
Owners love
- Owners rate the Seal as excellent value: equipment and performance comparable with Mercedes or BMW for far less, with no option-pack creep.
- It is quick (the Excellence especially), quiet and comfortable on long journeys, with good rear seats and space.
- The exterior design and well-built interior impress, and owners prefer the interior to a Tesla Model 3's.
Watch out for
- Driver-assistance warnings and lane-keeping are intrusive and often need turning off at every start.
- Winter range falls to about 200-250 miles, and 150 kW peak charging is only average.
- Too many functions are in the touchscreen, which can be laggy.
Owner tips
- Charge to 100% when you need it: the LFP battery is designed for it.
- Turn down the safety-system alert volume and set your preferred assists at the start of each drive.
Mercedes-Benz CLA
250+ Sport Edition
Owners love
- Competitive pricing in the £45-51k bracket against Polestar 2 and Tesla Model 3
- 484-mile WLTP range is competitive with traditional petrol sedans
- Smooth, quiet driving experience with responsive handling and comfortable ride quality
Watch out for
- 800V-only design incompatible with majority of existing 400V rapid chargers across UK networks, significantly limiting public charging access
- Real-world range likely 320 miles rather than 484 miles WLTP claim, reducing practical usability on longer trips
- Scheduled charging feature missing at launch on CLA 250+, unlike other Mercedes EVs, with fixes delayed until 2026 OTA updates
Owner tips
- Verify 800V charger availability on your regular routes and confirm Mercedes charging network coverage before purchase, as 400V chargers are incompatible
- Use Mercedes Me app and onboard navigation for trip planning rather than third-party tools like ABRP, which cannot filter by 800V compatibility
Buying options
Get a quote
BYD Seal
Used on AutoTraderLease deals
Mercedes-Benz CLA
Used on AutoTraderLease deals
Live used listings
Active inventory from independent UK dealers.
BYD Seal
- £28,5822025Car360View
- £30,6992025Car360View
- £29,6822025Car360View
Mercedes-Benz CLA
No active listings.
Frequently asked questions
Which is cheaper to own over 5 years, the BYD Seal or the Mercedes-Benz CLA?
The Mercedes-Benz CLA is £115 cheaper to buy. The Mercedes-Benz CLA is cheaper to charge, roughly £120 a year versus £184 for the BYD Seal, at 8,000 miles on an off-peak home tariff. Add 5 years of charging and the Mercedes-Benz CLA comes out roughly £435 cheaper overall. These figures cover list price and home charging only - insurance, servicing, tyres and depreciation will move the real total.
What are the BYD Seal and Mercedes-Benz CLA like on a long motorway trip?
EVcarsguide estimates a real-world motorway range of about 244 miles for the BYD Seal and 403 miles for the Mercedes-Benz CLA - both below their WLTP figures, because sustained high speed is the hardest case for an EV. The Mercedes-Benz CLA goes roughly 159 miles further between charging stops.
Which is easier to park and drive in town, the BYD Seal or the Mercedes-Benz CLA?
The two are within 20 mm on width, so neither is meaningfully easier to thread into a tight space. In a standard 2,400 mm bay that leaves about 545 mm of total clearance for the Mercedes-Benz CLA and about 525 mm of total clearance for the BYD Seal.
Go deeper on each car
Visit the full model pages for owner feedback, expert reviews, used prices and battery-health information.
Compare against other rivals
Compare similarly sized and priced electric cars before finalising your shortlist.
More BYD Seal comparisons
More Mercedes-Benz CLA comparisons
See both cars in our rankings
EVcarsguide scores every verified EV on price, range, family use and running costs. Here is where this pair appears.
Where the BYD Seal and Mercedes-Benz CLA rank among long-range EVsWhere the BYD Seal and Mercedes-Benz CLA rank among the best motorway EVsWhere the BYD Seal and Mercedes-Benz CLA rank among the best city EVsWhere the BYD Seal and Mercedes-Benz CLA rank among the cheapest EVs to runWhere the BYD Seal and Mercedes-Benz CLA rank among EVs with the biggest bootsWhere the BYD Seal and Mercedes-Benz CLA rank among Best Used Electric Cars Under £10,000 (UK)
If neither is quite right
Explore other verified electric cars that may better suit the priorities this pair does not meet.
Further reading
Explore buying and ownership guides to help you choose between these electric cars.
Data accuracy
Specs are sourced from manufacturer websites and manually reviewed. These figures were last verified .