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Mercedes-Benz CLA vs Polestar 2
Selected trim250+ Sport EditionChange trim484 mi · 85 kWh · £45,615
Selected trimStandard range Single motorChange trim344 mi · 70 kWh · £45,210
At a glance
In this comparison, Mercedes-Benz CLA leads on value for money, motorway range and family practicality, while the Polestar 2 leads on city driving.
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 most family-friendly option with good safety and space
- you need the fastest charging of these options
- you want the lowest running costs - from just 1.5p per mile on off-peak electricity
Choose the Polestar 2 if...
- you need the best car for city driving and tight parking
How we reached the recommendation
Verdict
Our take
The Mercedes-Benz CLA wins almost every category - it's the clear choice unless price is the deciding factor.
ValueMercedes-Benz
Mercedes-Benz
7.9
Polestar
6.2
Motorway RangeMercedes-Benz
Mercedes-Benz
9
Polestar
4.7
FamilyMercedes-Benz
Mercedes-Benz
6.5
Polestar
6
ChargingMercedes-Benz
Mercedes-Benz
7.7
Polestar
4.1
Cost Per MileMercedes-Benz
Mercedes-Benz
9.8
Polestar
6
City DrivingPolestar
Mercedes-Benz
3.9
Polestar
4.9
What each car does better
See the specification differences behind the verdict, with supporting figures for each advantage.
Polestar 2
Standard range Single motor
No standout advantages - closely matched on the measurable specs.
Key specifications
Compare the key specifications for your selected trims.
| Measure | Mercedes-Benz CLA250+ Sport Edition | Polestar 2Standard range Single motor |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £45,615 | £45,210 (better) |
| Official range | 484 miles (better) | 344 miles |
| Boot space | 405 L | 407 L (better) |
| 10-80% rapid charge | Not available | 26 min |
| 0-62 mph | 6.7 sec | 6.4 sec (better) |
Size Comparison
View:
Align by:
Mercedes-Benz CLA
Polestar 2
Length
Mercedes-Benz CLA4,723mm
Polestar 24,606mm-117mm
Width
Mercedes-Benz CLA1,855mm-4mm
Polestar 21,859mm
Height
Mercedes-Benz CLA1,468mm-11mm
Polestar 21,479mm
Space, size & parking
Parking & manoeuvring
Compare exterior dimensions to assess how each car fits UK parking spaces.
| Measure | Mercedes-Benz CLA250+ Sport Edition | Polestar 2Standard range Single motor |
|---|---|---|
| Length | 4,723 mm | 4,606 mm |
| Width (mirrors folded) | 1,855 mm (better) | 1,859 mm |
| Width with mirrors out | Not available | 1,985 mm |
| Height | 1,468 mm | 1,479 mm |
| Turning circle | 11.2 m (better) | 11.5 m |
| Clearance in a standard bayA standard UK parking bay is 2,400 mm wide. | 545 mm spare (better) | 541 mm spare |
People & luggage
Compare seating, child-seat mounting points, boot space and towing capacity.
| Measure | Mercedes-Benz CLA250+ Sport Edition | Polestar 2Standard range Single motor |
|---|---|---|
| Seats | Not available | 5 |
| ISOFIX child-seat points | Not available | 2 |
| Boot space (seats up) | 405 L | 407 L (better) |
| Boot space (seats down) | Not available | 1097 L |
| Frunk | 101 L (better) | 41 L |
| Towing capacity (braked) | Not available | 1,500 kg |
How each stacks up
Percentile ranks against UK EVs of the same body style.
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 90% of saloon EVs in our UK catalogue.
Polestar 2
Not enough peers to make confident percentile claims.
Full specifications
| Specification |  Mercedes-Benz CLA 250+ Sport Edition |  Polestar 2 Standard range Single motor |
|---|---|---|
| Dimensions | ||
| Length | 4.72m | 4.61m-117mm |
| Width | 1.85m | 1.86m+4mm |
| Width (mirrors) | Not available | 1.99m |
| Height | 1.47m | 1.48m+11mm |
| Wheelbase | 2.79m | 2.73m-55mm |
| Ground Clearance | Not available | 151mm |
| Capacity | ||
| Boot (seats up) | 405L | 407L (better) |
| Boot (seats down) | Not available | 1097L |
| Frunk | 101L (better) | 41L |
| Seats | Not available | 5 |
| Practicality | ||
| Turning Circle | 11.21m (better) | 11.5m |
| Kerb Weight | Not available | 1,995kg |
| Towing Capacity | Not available | 1,500kg |
| Electric | ||
| Battery | 85kWh (better) | 70kWh |
| Range (WLTP) | 484 mi (better) | 344 mi |
| Max DC Charge | 320kW (better) | 180kW |
| Pricing | ||
| UK MSRP | £45,615 | £45,210 (better) |
| Details | ||
| Body Style | Saloon | Saloon |
| Available | 2025+ | 2024+ |
Range & charging
Range, charging & battery
Check official and estimated driving range alongside charging speeds, efficiency and battery technology.
| Measure | Mercedes-Benz CLA250+ Sport Edition | Polestar 2Standard range Single motor |
|---|---|---|
| Official range (WLTP) | 484 miles (better) | 344 miles |
| Estimated motorway rangeEVcarsguide estimate at sustained motorway speed. | 403 miles (better) | 231 miles |
| 10-80% rapid charge time | Not available | 26 min |
| Max rapid charge rate | 320 kW (better) | 180 kW |
| Home AC charging | Not available | 11 kW |
| Energy consumption | Not available | 149 Wh/km |
| Usable battery capacity | 85 kWh (better) | 70 kWh |
| Battery chemistry | Not available | LFP |
| Battery architecture | 800V (better) | 400V |
| Heat pump | Standard (better) | Not standard |
Driving & everyday use
Performance & drivetrain
Compare acceleration, power and drivetrain specifications for the selected trims.
| Measure | Mercedes-Benz CLA250+ Sport Edition | Polestar 2Standard range Single motor |
|---|---|---|
| 0-62 mph | 6.7 sec | 6.4 sec (better) |
| Power | 200 kW | 200 kW |
| Torque | 335 Nm | 490 Nm (better) |
| Drivetrain | RWD | RWD |
What the critics say
See how UK motoring publications rate each car in their road tests.
Mercedes-Benz CLA
250+ Sport Edition
Polestar 2
Standard range Single motor
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 - 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)
Euro NCAP - Polestar 2 Standard range Single motor
Tested 2025
Adult Occupant93%
Child Occupant89%
Vulnerable Road Users80%
Safety Assist83%
Full result on euroncap.com (opens in new tab)
Warranty
Check the published battery warranty cover for each selected trim.
| Measure | Mercedes-Benz CLA250+ Sport Edition | Polestar 2Standard range Single motor |
|---|---|---|
| Battery warranty | Not available | 8 years |
| Battery warranty distance | Not available | 160,934 km |
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. Worth checking on a test drive whichever you choose.
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
Polestar 2
Standard range Single motor
Owners love
- Excellent build quality and interior materials, notably superior to Tesla and ID.4 alternatives
- Outstanding Google infotainment system with intuitive interface, useful voice assistant, and no lag
- Improved range (350-409 miles WLTP) and efficiency reduce long-distance charging stops
Watch out for
- Performance Pack suspension is unrelenting on poor UK roads, compromising daily comfort and refinement
- Significant winter range loss of 15-30% in cold weather; real-world winter efficiency often disappoints versus WLTP ratings
- Excessive touchscreen reliance for basic controls like mirror adjustment and glove box access creates safety concerns
Owner tips
- Consider non-Performance Pack variants or request Ohlins free first setup service to optimize suspension tuning for your driving conditions
- Verify real-world winter range expectations before purchase; plan for 15-30% range loss during cold months and budget charging infrastructure accordingly
Buying options
Get a quote
Mercedes-Benz CLA
Used on AutoTraderLease deals
Polestar 2
Used on AutoTraderLease deals
Live used listings
Active inventory from independent UK dealers.
Mercedes-Benz CLA
No active listings.
Polestar 2
- £27,7662024Car360View
- £21,9992024Browns of RichmondView
Frequently asked questions
Which is cheaper to own over 5 years, the Mercedes-Benz CLA or the Polestar 2?
The Polestar 2 is £405 cheaper to buy. The Mercedes-Benz CLA is cheaper to charge, roughly £120 a year versus £160 for the Polestar 2, at 8,000 miles on an off-peak home tariff. Add 5 years of charging and the two land within £205 of each other - effectively the same to own. These figures cover list price and home charging only - insurance, servicing, tyres and depreciation will move the real total.
What are the Mercedes-Benz CLA and Polestar 2 like on a long motorway trip?
EVcarsguide estimates a real-world motorway range of about 403 miles for the Mercedes-Benz CLA and 231 miles for the Polestar 2 - both below their WLTP figures, because sustained high speed is the hardest case for an EV. The Mercedes-Benz CLA goes roughly 172 miles further between charging stops.
Which is easier to park and drive in town, the Mercedes-Benz CLA or the Polestar 2?
The two are within 4 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 541 mm of total clearance for the Polestar 2.
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 Mercedes-Benz CLA comparisons
More Polestar 2 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 Mercedes-Benz CLA and Polestar 2 rank among long-range EVsWhere the Mercedes-Benz CLA and Polestar 2 rank among the best motorway EVsWhere the Mercedes-Benz CLA and Polestar 2 rank among the best city EVsWhere the Mercedes-Benz CLA and Polestar 2 rank among the cheapest EVs to runWhere the Mercedes-Benz CLA and Polestar 2 rank among EVs with the biggest bootsWhere the Mercedes-Benz CLA and Polestar 2 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.
Data accuracy
Specs are sourced from manufacturer websites and manually reviewed. These figures were last verified .