Green NCAP has awarded the Mercedes-Benz CLA EQ 250+ a five-star sustainability rating in its latest four-vehicle round, scoring 91% overall to lead a field that also includes the Toyota C-HR hybrid, MINI Cooper C and MG HS. The result challenges the assumption that high electric efficiency is limited to compact, lightweight vehicles.

The CLA EQ 250+ carries a 90 kW/h battery and weighs nearly two tonnes, yet delivers official WLTP consumption of 12.2 kW/h per 100 km and lifecycle emissions of around 119 g CO₂-eq. per km. The five-star Green NCAP sustainability rating follows a five-star Euro NCAP safety score and Best in Class 2025 award.

Green NCAP’s testing highlights a range of 651 km in warm urban conditions, dropping to 456 km at -7°C on the motorway. Ultra-fast charging peaks at 342 kW, taking the battery from 10% to 80% capacity in 22.6 minutes.

The Toyota C-HR hybrid scored three-and-a-half stars (66%) with warm-weather mixed-road fuel consumption of 4.4 litres per 100 km and lifecycle emissions of 196 g CO₂-eq. per km, though cold-start emissions in -7°C tests held it back. The MINI Cooper C, a petrol-only model, received three stars (52%) with lifecycle emissions of around 230 g CO₂-eq. per km.

The MG HS, a petrol-powered SUV from SAIC Motor, scored one-and-a-half stars (26%) with highway fuel consumption of 9.9 litres per 100 km. Its lifecycle emissions of 303.7 g CO₂-eq. per km exceeded Green NCAP’s maximum threshold, and it scored zero for propulsion energy efficiency.

Source: Green NCAP