The Mercedes-Benz CLA 250+ has only just arrived in Malaysia, and most Malaysians probably haven’t even had the chance to see one on the road yet. But Mercedes-Benz Malaysia isn’t waiting around. The company is already teasing what’s coming next, with the CLA 200 and GLC 300 set to join the Malaysian line-up. And while both models have yet to officially reach our shores, our neighbours in Singapore have already got their hands on them.

So, rather than making us wait, Mercedes-Benz Malaysia decided to fly a bunch of us over to Singapore for a sneak peek. And yes, I got to drive them. Well… sort of. Because this was a preview rather than a proper media drive, the cars we drove weren’t exactly the Malaysian-spec versions. But they were close enough to give us a taste of what Mercedes-Benz has cooking for Malaysia.

The cars prepared for us included the CLA 180 MHEV, CLA 200 BEV, CLA 250+ BEV and GLC 400 BEV. And with Singapore’s roads being what they are, this wasn’t exactly going to be a Nürburgring session. But it was enough to get a first impression.

Before getting behind the wheel, we started our day at the Mercedes-Benz Center. As the only Mercedes-Benz dealer on the island, the facility is essentially a one-stop destination for Mercedes-Benz owners in Singapore. Of course, there’s the usual business of selling cars and servicing them. But Mercedes-Benz has gone a little further with the facility, adding a Tyre Atelier, MercedesCafé, MercedesBoutique and six dedicated vehicle handover rooms.

The idea is to make the entire ownership experience feel more like hospitality rather than simply walking into a dealership, signing some paperwork and driving away with a car. And after spending some time there, it certainly doesn’t feel like your typical car dealership.

Now, here’s where things get interesting. Our test route was short. Very short. We basically drove around the block. There were enough stretches of road for us to get a feel for acceleration and low-speed behaviour, but there wasn’t really anywhere to properly explore the cars’ handling. That’s understandable. We were driving around Singapore’s city streets, not an empty mountain road.

On top of that, another media personality was sharing the car with me, so I ended up with roughly 10 minutes in each vehicle. Ten minutes. That’s not exactly enough time to discover every little detail of a new Mercedes-Benz. But it’s enough to answer the most important question: What does it feel like?

CLA 180 MHEV: Lighter Than Expected

My first car was the CLA 180 MHEV. This is essentially the slightly detuned sibling of the CLA 200 MHEV that Malaysia is expected to receive. It still uses the same 1.5-litre engine paired with a mild-hybrid system, although there are some differences in specification between the two. I’ll save the detailed spec comparison for when the Malaysian car arrives.

For now, I wanted to know how it drives. And my first impression? It feels surprisingly lively. The 1.5-litre engine feels perfectly adequate for Singapore’s roads, and the car doesn’t feel like it’s struggling to get moving.

But the biggest surprise came when I went over the speed humps. The CLA 180 MHEV is at least 300kg lighter than the CLA 250+, and you can feel it. The suspension simply doesn’t seem to have as much mass to deal with. The car feels lighter and more agile when passing over those ubiquitous Singaporean humps. Despite having around 30hp less than the CLA 200 we are expected to get in Malaysia, the CLA 180 still felt sprightly enough. Which makes me wonder: if this already feels this lively, what will the extra 30hp in the CLA 200 do?

Another interesting thing I noticed was the mild-hybrid system. From my short drive, it seemed to behave almost like a full-hybrid system in certain situations, allowing the car to coast with the engine switched off. That should help improve fuel efficiency, particularly when you’re simply cruising along. And considering how much fuel costs these days, I’m sure nobody is going to complain about that.

CLA 200 BEV: Where’s the EV Punch?

Then came the CLA 200 BEV. On paper, this is where things start getting rather interesting. The car uses a single electric motor producing 224hp and 335Nm, with a 58kWh battery giving it a claimed WLTP range of up to 551km. Not bad at all. But the moment I went over the first speed hump, I noticed something. This thing is heavy.

Compared with the CLA 180 MHEV, the CLA 200 BEV felt noticeably heavier when dealing with bumps. Of course, that’s hardly surprising when you’re carrying a sizeable battery underneath the floor. But then I reached a clear stretch of road and decided to see what happens when I put my foot down. And… Well… I was expecting more.

Don’t get me wrong. The CLA 200 BEV is definitely fast enough. But I was expecting that familiar EV shove—the sort of acceleration that makes you question whether your headrest is actually doing its job. Instead, the CLA 200 BEV delivers its power in a much more controlled manner. It could simply be because I had a certain expectation of how an EV should feel. After all, electric cars have spoiled us with instant torque. Still, it left me slightly underwhelmed.

One thing I really wanted to experience was the dual-speed transmission. Unfortunately, our short route didn’t really give me enough opportunity to explore it properly. And that’s a shame because the transmission is one of the key reasons the CLA BEV can achieve such impressive range from a relatively small battery.

As for handling, there wasn’t enough road to properly test it. What I could tell, however, was that the CLA 200 BEV felt promising. Until I returned to the Mercedes-Benz Center and went over the same speed hump. There was that weight again.

GLC 400 BEV: Now We’re Talking

After the CLA 200, it was time for the big one. The GLC 400 BEV. This is the Singapore-market version, while Malaysia is expected to get the GLC 300.

Both use a dual-motor 4MATIC setup, but the GLC 400 produces 489hp, which is 68hp more than the Malaysian-spec GLC 300 is expected to have. That extra power also makes a difference on paper, with the GLC 400 capable of doing 0–100km/h in 4.3 seconds compared with 4.7 seconds for the GLC 300.  After getting out of the CLA 200 BEV and into the GLC 400, the acceleration immediately felt much more serious. But to be fair, that isn’t exactly a fair comparison. The GLC is a larger, more powerful SUV, after all.

Interestingly, the car I drove wasn’t even the highest-spec GLC 400 available for the media drive. This particular unit was actually closer in specification to the GLC 300 we are expected to get in Malaysia. It didn’t have AIRMATIC air suspension or rear-wheel steering. Even so, the overall impression was very Mercedes-Benz. It feels luxurious.

The cabin is packed with technology, and the large display gives you plenty of things to fiddle with. Interestingly, this version didn’t have the full MBUX Hyperscreen either. That’s something we are expected to get with the Malaysian-spec model. So, while I didn’t get to experience the exact Malaysian car, I did get a pretty good idea of what to expect.

Since I’m Here… One More CLA 250+ Drive

Before we left for the Mercedes-Benz Studio at Gardens by the Bay, I had some time to kill. And sitting there among the cars was the CLA 250+. Since this is the car that has already launched in Malaysia, I figured: Why not?

So I jumped in. The moment I opened the door, it was immediately familiar. The full-width display and sportier interior are exactly the sort of things that make the CLA 250+ stand out. The Singapore car also had a dual-tone interior, although I don’t think that particular combination will be offered in Malaysia.

The CLA 250+ is the more powerful BEV, with 272hp and an 85kWh battery. The numbers are impressive. 0–100km/h takes a claimed 6.7 seconds, while the WLTP range is rated at up to a staggering 792km. Seven hundred and ninety-two kilometres. That’s the sort of number that makes you start planning road trips before you’ve even plugged the car in.

But then I drove it. And once again, I was expecting more punch. It wasn’t slow. Not even remotely. But just like the CLA 200 BEV, the acceleration didn’t give me the kind of violent shove I was expecting from an EV. Perhaps Mercedes-Benz has deliberately tuned the power delivery this way to prioritise efficiency and refinement. Or perhaps I’m simply too used to EVs that treat the accelerator pedal like an on/off switch. Either way, I’ll need a proper Malaysian-spec test drive to find out.

From Showroom to Studio

After our short driving sessions, it was time to leave the cars behind and head over to the Mercedes-Benz Studio at Gardens by the Bay. And this is where Mercedes-Benz’s Singapore strategy gets rather interesting.

Opened in August 2026, the Mercedes-Benz Studio Singapore is the brand’s first Studio in Southeast Asia, with public access beginning on 2 September. Located within the Future of Us Pavilion, it isn’t really a traditional showroom. In fact, calling it a showroom doesn’t quite do it justice. The Studio combines Mercedes-Benz cars with art, design, dining, wellness and community activities. There are dedicated spaces such as Canvas, which focuses on creative collaborations; Commune, which is built around social and hospitality experiences; and Courtyard, which hosts events and workshops. In other words, you don’t necessarily have to be shopping for a car to have a reason to walk in. And that’s the interesting part.

The Mercedes-Benz Center is where you go when you want to buy, service or collect your Mercedes-Benz. The Studio is where Mercedes-Benz wants to become part of your lifestyle. Its location at Gardens by the Bay certainly helps. Rather than being tucked away in a conventional automotive retail area, the Studio sits somewhere that already attracts tourists, locals and people looking for entertainment and lifestyle experiences. It feels less like Mercedes-Benz is asking you to come and look at its cars, and more like it’s inviting you into its world.

Conclusion: Just a Taste of What’s Coming

This Singapore trip was never intended to be a proper road test. With roughly 10 minutes in each car and a relatively short city route, there was simply no way to fully explore what these cars could do. But that doesn’t mean the drive wasn’t useful. It gave me a first taste of Mercedes-Benz’s next generation of electrified models, and perhaps more importantly, an idea of what we can expect when the Malaysian-spec versions eventually arrive.

The CLA 180 MHEV surprised me with how light and lively it felt. The CLA 200 BEV showed off its impressive efficiency and range, although I was hoping for a little more EV punch. The GLC 400 BEV, meanwhile, provided a glimpse of what the upcoming GLC 300 could offer, with plenty of performance, technology and luxury packed into one SUV.

Ultimately, this trip was less about finding out everything these cars can do and more about getting that first taste. The specifications may change slightly when the Malaysian versions arrive. The roads will certainly be different. And I’ll finally have more than 10 minutes to figure out what makes these cars tick. So for now, consider this an appetiser. The main course is still to come.