More space, more tech and up to 551km of EV range make Mercedes-Benz’s latest Shooting Brake a rather convincing argument for keeping the estate alive

Singapore – There is something about estate cars that gets automotive journalists disproportionately excited. Perhaps it is the idea that you can have your cake and eat it too: a car that looks good, drives properly, and still has enough room in the back for the sort of things you would normally need an SUV to carry.

Mercedes-Benz Singapore has introduced the new CLA 200 electric Shooting Brake, marking the first time the brand’s electric range has taken the Shooting Brake route.

And yes, it looks every bit as sleek as you would expect from a CLA, just with a little more practicality attached to the rear.

The new Shooting Brake is 4,723mm long, 1,855mm wide and 1,469mm tall, making it 35mm longer, 25mm wider and 27mm taller than its predecessor. Its wheelbase has also grown by 61mm to 2,790mm.

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The new CLA Shooting Brake gains 26mm more rear headroom compared with the CLA Saloon, while larger rear door openings make getting in and out easier. There is also a 455-litre boot (50-litres more than the CLA Saloon), which expands to 1,290 litres with the 40:20:40 rear seats folded. Up front, there is another 101-litre frunk.

Interestingly, outright boot capacity is actually slightly down on the previous model. But with the addition of the frunk and greater overall cabin space, the new car gains considerably more flexibility in how you use it.

An electric estate with some serious numbers

Underneath its sleek bodywork is Mercedes-Benz’s new 800-volt electric architecture, paired with a permanently excited synchronous motor and a two-speed gearbox on the rear axle.

The CLA 200 electric Shooting Brake produces 150hp and 335Nm, with a 58.4kWh LFP battery. Mercedes-Benz quotes a WLTP range of up to 551km, while DC charging at up to 200kW can take the battery from 10 to 80 per cent in around 20 minutes.

Mercedes-Benz says up to 200km of WLTP range can be added in just 10 minutes at a compatible DC fast charger.

The car also features a new one-box braking system designed to maximise energy recuperation, with almost all braking processes handled through regenerative braking.

It is all rather clever, and perhaps more importantly for Singaporeans, it is backed by an increasingly useful charging network.

MB.CHARGE Public now provides access to more than 12,000 charging points across Singapore and Malaysia through a single platform, including more than 9,000 charging points in Singapore. That means the CLA Shooting Brake is not only intended to be useful around town, but also for those occasional drives north.

Mercedes-Benz has gone rather clever inside

The interior is shared with the CLA Saloon, with Mercedes-Benz’s latest MBUX technology taking centre stage.

The optional MBUX Superscreen stretches across the dashboard with a 10.25-inch driver display and 14-inch central touchscreen, while a separate 14-inch passenger display is available.

Underneath it all is Mercedes-Benz Operating System, or MB.OS, which allows the car to receive over-the-air updates for various vehicle functions throughout its life.

The fourth-generation MBUX system also brings AI-powered functionality from Microsoft and Google, including a virtual assistant capable of multi-turn conversations and short-term memory.

So yes, you can now have a conversation with your Mercedes. Whether it will eventually understand why you keep insisting on taking the long way home remains to be seen.

Mercedes has also listened to something many drivers have been asking for: actual physical controls.

The new steering wheel brings back a roller for volume control and rocker switches for functions such as the limiter and DISTRONIC, alongside capacitive controls.

Practicality without the SUV bulk

The CLA Shooting Brake has always occupied an interesting space in Mercedes-Benz’s line-up. It offers much of the visual drama of a coupé, while retaining the usefulness of an estate.

There is an electric tailgate with HANDS-FREE ACCESS, roof rails, four tie-down anchors, a side net and a 12-volt socket in the boot. There are also 100W USB-C ports for both front and rear passengers.

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Safety and driver assistance equipment is similarly generous, with Distance Assist DISTRONIC fitted as standard. The optional MB.DRIVE ASSIST package adds Steering Assist and SAE Level 2 driver assistance capability.

For those who still cannot quite bring themselves to go fully electric, Mercedes-Benz is not shutting that door either. A 48-volt hybrid version of the CLA Shooting Brake is due in the coming months, using an electric motor integrated into an eight-speed dual-clutch transmission.

Marcel Luis Mustelier Perez, President & CEO of Mercedes-Benz Singapore

“The CLA Shooting Brake has always been for customers who don’t want to choose between a car that is exciting to drive and one that works for everyday life. With this new generation, and our first electric shooting brake, you get more space and versatility, together with the technology and efficiency of our latest electric models. It is a car that I think makes a lot of sense for Singapore,” said Marcel Luis Mustelier Perez, President & CEO of Mercedes-Benz Singapore.

Mercedes-Benz CLA und Weltpremiere des CLA Shooting Brake in Kopenhagen, 2025. Mercedes-Benz CLA and world premiere of the CLA Shooting Brake with EQ Technology in Copenhagen, 2025.

Priced from S$293,888 with an introductory package that includes a three-year service package and S$1,000 worth of MB.CHARGE Public credits, it is a rather interesting proposition for buyers who want the efficiency of an EV without joining the ever-growing queue of electric SUVs.

Photos: Mercedes-Benz