So, is the glass half-full or half empty? Sales of electric cars for the first six months of the year were up 48% on the same time last year. But Irish people are loyal to brands, and many motorists are still very content with their petrol and/or diesel-engine cars.
No doubt there’s huge interest in EV cars right now. The recent government scrappage scheme generated unprecedented demand, with its €10 million budget fully subscribed in 75 minutes. You could compare it to tickets going on sale for a Taylor Swift concert. The scheme, which was limited to 2,000 vehicles, is now closed, with no waiting list created, but we might see another scrappage offer around budget time.
Last week I got many compliments from neighbours about the blue 1.5 litre mild-hybrid Mercedes CLA I was driving. Colour means so much when looking at a new car and the sheer metallic paint will cost you €967. It’s also available in fully electric mode but I reckon the people in Mercedes know by now that I’m more of a hybrid than electric person.
At the front, Mercedes have long ago dropped their famous pointed-star log on the bonnet as they were being broken off and it was expensive to replace the star. Now the Mercedes logo is embedded in the bonnet, and the grille has a huge logo which is surrounded by 142 small stars.
Inside, you will never forget that you are driving a Mercedes as the left hand side of the dash, above the glove compartment, is covered in small Mercedes logos. The Artico leather upholstery is dark, but the seats are very comfortable. However, the interior is brightened thanks to a huge sunroof.
If you are six foot tall, you will need to mind your head when getting into the car as the roof is very low. It really is a low-slung sporty motor, but without a soft roof.
The coupe-like profile means that rear passenger space is slightly limited. Leg room in the back seat is a bit tight and while you might be able to squeeze three adults into the back seat, it’s more comfortable with just two back-seat passengers. The boot is decent at 405-litres, but surprisingly there is no button to close the boot automatically. But you won’t get your hands dirty as there is a grip to close the boot.
When I picked up the car, the range with a full tank of petrol said 627km. I didn’t have to make many pit-stops during the week and Mercedes claim fuel consumption of 5.2 to 5.7 litres per 100km.
It was such a pleasure to drive and travel in. When I was a young lad down in Kerry, I never dreamed of driving a Mercedes. Now thanks to MDL, it has become a regular event. Also available in: Alpine Grey, Cosmos Black Metallic, High-Tech Silver Metallic, Patagonia Red, Solid Black and Polar White.
Prices start at €40,921, but the AMG version I drove will cost you €64,620. That’s a huge difference, but I reckon that motorists who are big fans of the Mercedes brand will opt for the AMG version, provided they can afford it. The CLA was voted European Car of the Year for 2026.
For the first time, Merecedes have identical designs in their petrol and electric version. The claimed WLTP range in the electric models vary from 529kms to 790kms depending on the battery size. The electric version starts at €53,425. There is no plug-in hybrid option.
