The car that overtook Tesla and became the safest in the world in 2025

The new Mercedes-Benz CLA overtook the Tesla Model 3 and was voted the safest car in Europe by Euro NCAP in 2025. The German sedan obtained the maximum rating of five stars and surpassed its North American rival — the former benchmark in the category — especially in terms of pedestrian and cyclist protection, securing the titles of “best overall performance” and “best compact family car”.

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Performance and technical overcoming

In the crash tests, the CLA recorded 94% success in protecting adult occupants and 89% for children. The differential for the victory over Tesla, however, occurred in the category of vulnerable users (pedestrians and cyclists), where Mercedes reached 93%, against 87% of the Model 3. Driving assistance technologies added up to 85%.

To reach this level, the entry-level electric version brings a robust standard package. The highlight is the inclusion of the front center airbag, designed to prevent the collision between the driver’s and passenger’s heads in side impacts.

The equipment list includes eight airbags as standard, adaptive cruise control and evasive steering assistant, blind spot monitoring and MB system. Optional Drive Assist Pro for urban driving.

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Electrification and connectivity

The renewal of the CLA goes beyond passive safety. The electric variant, CLA 250+, uses an 800-volt architecture that allows it to recover 160 km of range in just five minutes of recharging, with a total range of up to 602 km (WLTP cycle).

There is also the hybrid option (CLA 220), which combines a 1.5 turbo engine with a 48V system. The set delivers 208 hp and 38,7 kgfm of torque, allowing purely electric running at low speeds and efficient energy regeneration.

Inside, the sedan debuts the MB operating system. OS, focused on remote updates and artificial intelligence. The dashboard can receive the optional MBUX Superscreen, which integrates three screens: instrument panel (10.25″), multimedia center (14″) and a screen dedicated to the front passenger (14″).