India-Bound Mercedes-Benz CLA Gets 5-Star Euro NCAP Rating

Quick Highlights:

2025 Mercedes-Benz CLA Electric scores a 5-star Euro NCAP crash safety rating
Records 94 percent adult and 89 percent child occupant protection scores
Equipped with Level 2 ADAS, multiple airbags including knee and cente airbags
Expected India launch as a CBU import priced between ₹55–60 lakh

The Mercedes-Benz CLA nameplate is set to make a comeback in the Indian market, but this time with a significant shift in direction. Instead of returning as an internal combustion-powered entry-level luxury coupe, the new CLA will arrive exclusively as an all-electric model. Ahead of its official India debut, the 2025 Mercedes-Benz CLA Electric has achieved an impressive milestone by securing a 5-star safety rating in the latest Euro NCAP crash tests, reaffirming Mercedes-Benz’s strong focus on occupant and road-user safety in its next-generation electric vehicles.

The new CLA Electric was globally unveiled earlier in 2024 and is expected to enter India soon as a Completely Built Unit. It will initially be offered in the CLA 250+ configuration, with the possibility of a more powerful CLA 350 4MATIC variant joining the lineup later. For prospective Indian buyers, safety is a key consideration, and the Euro NCAP results position the CLA Electric as one of the safest electric sedans in its segment.

5-Star Euro NCAP Rating Explained

The tested model was the Mercedes-Benz CLA 250+ AMG Line, a four-door electric saloon with a kerb weight of 2,056 kg. The vehicle underwent Euro NCAP testing in 2025 and delivered strong results across all four major evaluation categories: Adult Occupant Protection, Child Occupant Protection, Vulnerable Road User Protection and Safety Assist.

Mercedes-Benz CLA EV Euro NCAP Crash Test

Adult Occupant Protection: 94 Percent

The CLA Electric scored an impressive 37.7 points out of a possible 40, translating to a 94 percent rating for adult occupant protection. In the frontal offset crash test, the passenger compartment remained stable, indicating excellent structural integrity. Protection for all critical body areas of both the driver and front passenger was rated as good.

Mercedes-Benz demonstrated that the CLA offers consistent knee and femur protection for occupants of varying sizes and seating positions, which is a crucial aspect of modern crash safety design. In the full-width rigid barrier test, protection levels were good for the driver and at least adequate for rear-seat occupants, highlighting the car’s balanced safety performance for all passengers.

Side impact protection was another strong point for the CLA Electric. In the side barrier test, the vehicle scored maximum points by providing good protection to all critical body regions. During the more severe side pole impact, chest protection was rated as marginal due to rib compression readings, but all other critical body areas continued to receive good protection.

The CLA Electric is also well equipped to prevent secondary injuries after a collision. It features an advanced eCall system that automatically alerts emergency services in the event of a crash, as well as a post-collision braking system designed to prevent secondary impacts. Mercedes-Benz also confirmed that the doors remain openable after a crash, even in scenarios involving vehicle submergence, aiding occupant escape and rescue operations.

Child Occupant Protection: 89 Percent

In the child occupant protection category, the CLA Electric scored 43.7 points out of 49, resulting in an 89 percent rating. In the frontal offset test, protection for both the 6-year-old and 10-year-old child dummies was rated as good across all critical body areas.

Side impact performance was equally reassuring. In the side barrier test, the 6-year-old dummy received good protection in all regions, while the 10-year-old dummy recorded good to adequate protection. These results underline the CLA Electric’s ability to safeguard younger occupants in a variety of collision scenarios.

The vehicle is equipped with a system that detects when a child restraint system is installed on the front passenger seat and automatically disables the front airbag. This feature works reliably across different child seat designs and occupant sizes. Additionally, the CLA Electric includes an indirect child presence detection system that issues warnings if a child or infant may have been left inside the vehicle, although indirect systems are no longer rewarded by Euro NCAP under current protocols.

All child restraint systems for which the CLA Electric is designed could be properly installed and accommodated, earning full marks in the CRS installation check.

Vulnerable Road User Protection: 93 Percent

One of the standout aspects of the CLA Electric’s safety performance is its 93 percent score for vulnerable road user protection, with 58.6 points out of 63. The vehicle features an active bonnet system that automatically lifts the bonnet upon detecting a pedestrian impact, creating additional clearance between the bonnet and hard engine components.

Euro NCAP testing confirmed that this system worked reliably across a wide range of speeds and for pedestrians of different heights. As a result, pedestrian and cyclist head protection was predominantly rated as good, with weaker performance limited to the windscreen pillars and the base of the windscreen.

Protection of the pelvis, femur, knee and tibia was consistently good or adequate across all tested locations. The CLA Electric also excelled in impact mitigation, thanks to its advanced autonomous emergency braking system. The AEB system demonstrated strong performance in detecting and reacting to pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists, including complex scenarios such as cyclist dooring incidents and rear-approaching road users.

Safety Assist Systems: 85 Percent

The CLA Electric scored 15.5 points out of 18 in the Safety Assist category, equating to an 85 percent rating. The vehicle comes standard with a comprehensive suite of Level 2 ADAS features designed to support the driver and prevent accidents.

The autonomous emergency braking system performed well in car-to-car collision scenarios, while the lane support system actively intervenes to keep the vehicle within its lane during unintended departures. Speed assistance technology identifies local speed limits and allows the driver to automatically set the speed limiter accordingly.

Occupant monitoring systems include seatbelt reminders for all seats and a direct driver monitoring system that detects fatigue and various forms of driver distraction. These features contribute significantly to reducing the risk of accidents caused by human error.

Advanced Airbag and Safety Hardware

The new CLA Electric is equipped with a high-performance airbag system that includes front airbags, side airbags, curtain airbags, a knee airbag and a center airbag. The center airbag is particularly important in preventing occupant-to-occupant injuries during side impacts, a feature increasingly seen in premium vehicles.

Combined with a rigid passenger cell, energy-absorbing crumple zones and advanced restraint systems, the CLA Electric delivers a well-rounded safety package that aligns with Mercedes-Benz’s global safety standards.

Electric Powertrain and Range

Beyond safety, the CLA 250+ AMG Line features an 85 kWh battery pack that delivers a claimed WLTP range of up to 792 km on a single charge. This positions the CLA Electric as one of the longest-range electric sedans in its class, making it particularly appealing for markets like India where charging infrastructure is still evolving.

The CLA 250+ focuses on efficiency and range, while the potential CLA 350 4MATIC variant is expected to offer higher performance with a dual-motor setup producing up to 260 kW of power.

India Launch Expectations

For Indian customers, the Euro NCAP rating is especially relevant as the CLA Electric will be offered in the same safety configuration tested in Europe, including right-hand drive versions. Mercedes-Benz India is expected to bring the CLA Electric as a CBU import, with pricing likely to fall between ₹50 lakh and ₹60 lakh, ex-showroom.

When launched, the CLA Electric will serve as Mercedes-Benz’s entry point into the luxury electric sedan segment in India, appealing to buyers seeking a blend of cutting-edge EV technology, strong driving range, premium design and top-tier safety credentials.

With its 5-star Euro NCAP rating, advanced ADAS features and robust crash protection performance, the 2025 Mercedes-Benz CLA Electric sets a new benchmark for safety in the entry-level luxury EV segment and strengthens its case as a compelling option for Indian buyers awaiting its arrival.