Battery degradation has long been one of the reasons new car buyers have held out on purchasing an EV. However, data from a new study reveal that the top-performing EVs lose less than 5 percent of their range after 93,205 miles (150,000 km) of driving, meaning battery packs will easily last the average life of most new cars.

The study, published by Aviloo, has been labeled the largest independent study of used EV batteries ever conducted. More than 500,000 battery tests have been published, and the results show how 20 of the industry’s most popular EVs perform.

Read: A Seven-Year-Old Tesla Model 3 Survived 380,000 Miles, Its Range Did Not

The Hyundai Ioniq 5 performed best after 31,068 miles (50,000 km) of testing, retaining 97.1 percent of its original usable capacity. Other strong performers after 31,068 miles included the Mercedes-Benz CLA at 96.6 percent, the Hyundai Kona EV at 96.3 percent, the Audi Q8 e-tron with 95.7 percent, the BMW i4 with 95.6 percent, and both the Volvo XC40 Recharge and VW ID.4 at 95.2 percent battery retention.

After 93,205 miles of driving, the Mercedes-Benz CLA came out on top with a battery health of 94 percent. This placed it ahead of the Hyundai Ioniq 5 (93.6 percent), Hyundai Kona EV (93 percent), Volvo XC40 Recharge (92.8 percent), Ford Mustang Mach-E (92.5 percent), and the Polestar 2, also at 92.5 percent.

Teslas Disappoint

Several popular EVs did not perform as well as the competition. Most notable was the Tesla Model Y, which retained just 90.3 percent of its battery capacity after 93,205 miles, and the Tesla Model 3, which retained 88.9 percent of its battery capacity. Other poor performers included the Renault Zoe (87.3 percent), Mini Cooper SE (87.1 percent), and Nissan Leaf (86.7 percent), all of which have relatively small batteries.

Importantly, the results of this study don’t mean every Mercedes-Benz CLA will have 94 percent battery health after 93,205 miles, or every Peugeot e-208 will have 90.7 percent battery health. The study examined the median across all vehicles and found that good and bad examples of the same car can have battery health ratings that vary by as much as 13.5 percent. Nevertheless, the study demonstrates just how good current EV batteries are.

Earlier this month, Mercedes-AMG set a class lap record for the new electric CLA 45 at the Nürburgring, lapping the circuit in an impressive 7:32.070. With three electric motors and a combined 671 hp and 1,297 lb-ft (1,759 Nm), it’s quite a different proposition than the old one. Mercedes insists it’s still fun, despite the electric shift.

Much like we saw with the all-electric AMG GT 4-Door earlier this year, Mercedes-AMG has tried to capture the essence of its combustion cars in the electric CLA 45. It’s done this by simulating gear shifts and using a soundtrack to simulate the old 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder. As recently revealed by Mercedes boss Ola Kallenius, the system can also replicate the sound of a V8.

“When I first drove the CLA 45 with that system, I was like a born-again Christian,” Ola Kallenius told Autocar during a recent interview. “It was the best V8 I’d ever driven: it had all the feeling of a V8 but with more power and torque.”

Read: 2027 Mercedes-AMG CLA 45 EV Debuts With 3 Motors, 671 HP And A Vibrator

Mercedes-AMG made no mention of the CLA 45 reproducing V8 sounds when it unveiled the new car, only noting that it replicated a boosted four-cylinder. Of all the EVs we’ve driven that aim to replicate the sound of a fire-breathing combustion engine, the Hyundai Ioniq 6 N has done the best job, so it’ll be interesting to see how good Mercedes-AMG’s system is.

The Seats Vibrate, Too

One particularly interesting feature launched with the CLA 45 is the new AMGForce shakers. These have been incorporated into the front seats and are designed to deliver vibrations that mimic those of a combustion car. We’re a little doubtful, however, that, no matter how well Mercedes-AMG may have worked on these systems, it cannot possibly have been “the best V8” Kallenius has ever driven.

In the performance stakes, the new electric CLA 45 has all the makings to be thrilling to drive. The automaker says it’ll hit 62 mph (100 km/h) in 3.0 seconds and won’t stop accelerating until 168 mph (270 km/h) with the AMG Dynamic Plus Package. Thanks to the 94 kWh battery, it also has an impressive WLTP driving range of 416 miles (670 km).

Sources: Autocar

German car brands have become accustomed to selling stretched versions of their models in China for those demanding extra interior space. Mercedes-Benz ran that playbook last year with the new-generation CLA, building the Electric CLA L specifically for buyers in the People’s Republic.

Read: 2027 Mercedes-AMG CLA 45 EV Debuts With 3 Motors, 671 HP And A Vibrator

While the ultra-efficient sedan has plenty going for it, local buyers don’t appear all that interested. In fact, according to a new report from Germany, Mercedes has paused production of the model through its joint venture with BAIC Motor.

According to MBPassion, a possible explanation is the disappointing sales, as just 627 examples of the Electric CLA L have been delivered in China through the first half of this year. Sales were particularly poor in January with just 35 units finding new homes, while a measly 21 were sold in February. Numbers rose considerably in March to 358, but then fell to 52 vehicles in April and 161 in May. As for June, MBPassion says not a single car was sold, a figure we have yet to confirm.

Mercedes-Benz has not commented. It’s also unclear for how long production may be halted and if there’s a chance Mercedes will back away from the model entirely, perhaps sensing that it may have misjudged the Chinese market.

What Does The CLA L Offer?

Like the electric CLA sold in other markets, China’s model uses a sizeable 89 kWh battery pack and has a claimed CLTC driving range of up to 538 miles (866 km). While this doesn’t give it the longest driving range among EVs in China, it’s certainly among the most efficient. In addition, it supports DC charging speeds of up to 325 kW, meaning the battery can be topped up with 230 miles (370 km) of range in just ten minutes.

Also: BYD Says Five-Minute Charging Adds 310 Miles, BMW Says Read The Fine Print

By Western standards, DC charging like this is superb. In China, though, brands like BYD have taken EV charging speeds to new levels, launching the 1,500 kW Flash Charging network, which can charge an EV from 10-97 percent in just nine minutes.

The Goodwood Festival of Speed is officially underway and Mercedes-AMG used the event to unveil the new CLA 45 4MATIC+ lineup. It consists of a high-performance sedan and shooting brake with a tri-motor powertrain.

Starting with the latter, the cars have one axial flux motor up front and two out back. This gives the CLA all-wheel drive as well as a combined output of up to 671 hp (500 kW / 680 PS) and 1,297 lb-ft (1,759 Nm) of torque.

More: Starry But Soulless 2026 Mercedes CLA Leans On AI And Electric Power

Those are impressive numbers and then enable the model to accelerate from 0-62 mph (0-100 km/h) in 2.7 seconds with a 1-foot rollout. However, with a traditional start, you’ll hit 62 mph (100 km/h) in three seconds flat. If you keep the accelerator planted, you’ll eventually top out at 155 mph (250 km/h) or 168 mph (270 km/h) with the AMG Dynamic Plus Package.

The motors are fed by a 94 kWh battery pack, which gives the sedan a WLTP range in excess of 416 miles (670 km). That drops to more than 398 miles (640 km) for the shooting brake, but buyers will find an additional 2.1 cubic feet (60 liters) of space in the trunk.

When the battery is low, a 330 kW DC fast charger can take the CLA 45 from 10-80% in as little as 22 minutes. If that’s too long, a ten minute charge can deliver over 168 miles (270 km) of range.

Getting back to the motors, they enable the model to have variable torque distribution between the front and rear wheels as well as torque vectoring between the rear wheels. Mercedes says this adjustability delivers impressive agility, situation-based responses, and seamless transitions between rear- and all-wheel drive.

Buyers will also find an AMG Ride Control sports suspension with steel springs and adaptive three-way damping in the form of Comfort, Sport, and AMGForce S+ modes. There are also six AMG Dynamic Select Driving modes that adjust the response of the chassis, steering, accelerator, electronic stability control, and recuperation.

Speaking of AMGForce S+, it turns the CLA into a weird performance car simulator complete with “active seat shakers” and “authentic traction shift interruptions.” The mode also delivers an “original combustion engine sound” as the noise from the old turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder is digitally reproduced. This makes plenty of sense as AMG owners are used to butt stuff and their partners faking it.

When it comes time to stop, the car relies on a beefy braking system that features six-piston calipers and 15.4-inch (390 mm) discs up front as well as single piston calipers and 13.8-inch (350 mm) discs in the rear. The model also has a regenerative braking system with five levels of energy recovery.

A Plastic Grin

While AMGs are known to be aggressive, the CLA 45 looks rather cheap as there’s a faux lower intake filled with plastic. It’s a bit of an eyesore, but it’s joined by a fully enclosed Panamericana grille that looks nice enough.

Buyers will also find star-infused headlights and a short light strip between them. If that isn’t bright enough, customers can upgrade to a continuous light strip and an illuminated grille.

Further below, there’s a unique front bumper and splitter as well as an active intake. The latter can remain closed at speeds approaching 155 mph (250 km/h) and this helps to increase range and improve acceleration.

Further back, there are sporty side skirts, flush-mounted door handles, and 19- or 20-inch wheels. The model also has a unique rear bumper that replaces traditional exhaust tips with diffuser fins.

More interestingly, the CLA is the first car in its class to embrace active aerodynamics. The sedan has a power-deployable spoiler, while the shooting brake adopts a roof-edge spoiler. They can be controlled automatically or manually.

Last but not least, customers can order Night and Dynamic Plus packages. The former adds high-gloss black accents, while the latter includes red brake calipers with black AMG lettering.

A Sportier Interior

The four-seat interior is instantly recognizable, but a tad less practical as the rear middle spot has been replaced by a shallow tray. That’s an odd decision, but the CLA features faux-leather and microfiber front sport seats with red contrast stitching. Customers can also opt for real leather, two-tone designs, and red seat belts.

Elsewhere, the model has unique aluminum trim, stainless-steel pedals, and AMG floor mats. They’re joined by a Nappa leather AMG Performance steering wheel, although microfiber and leather/ microfiber variants are also available.

We can also see an assortment of familiar screens. They include a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster, a 14-inch infotainment system, and a 14-inch front passenger display.

Mercedes-AMG has teased a high-performance sedan, ahead of its debut at the Goodwood Festival of Speed tomorrow. The company isn’t saying much at this point, but promised the mystery model was designed for thrill seekers.

While the darkened teaser image doesn’t reveal many details, a little fiddling with the brightness confirms we’re looking at the CLA. Details are hard to make out, but we can see lightweight wheels and red brake calipers. Elsewhere, there’s front fender badging and what appears to be sportier side skirts.

More: The Baby AMG EV Just Got Real With Three Motors And A Secret Weapon

The automaker is staying tight-lipped, but spy photographers have snapped the high-performance sedan on multiple occasions. Besides the aforementioned tweaks, the car has a more aggressive front bumper and an active rear spoiler. We can also expect a sportier rear end to help distinguish the AMG variant from the regular model.

Interior changes will likely be minor, but should include sport seats and an AMG steering wheel. We can also expect special trim and upholstery. They should be joined by a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster, a 14-inch infotainment system, and a 14-inch front passenger display.

SHProshots

We’ll learn full details tomorrow, but previous reports have suggested the car could have up to three axial flux motors from Mercedes’ Yasa subsidiary. If the rumor mill pans out, they could deliver a combined output in excess of 500 hp (373 kW / 507 PS).

That would be a notable improvement over the CLA 350 4MATIC with EQ Technology. It has an 85 kWh battery pack, which feeds a dual-motor all-wheel drive system developing 349 hp (260 kW / 354 PS) and 380 lb-ft (515 Nm) of torque. This enables the model to accelerate from 0-60 mph (0-96 km/h) in around 4.8 seconds, hit a top speed of 130 mph (209 km/h), and have an EPA range of 312 miles (502 km).