In the U.S., Mercedes-Benz sells six electric vehicles, nine SUVs, five cars, four coupes, and two convertibles. By all measures, it is a full-line luxury automaker. So when the model year calendar ticks over, there’s usually a lot to talk about, and the 2026 model year is no different.
The biggest news for Mercedes this coming model year is the launch of its new EV strategy that begins with the redesigned CLA with EQ Technology. Unlike past EVs from Mercedes, this electric CLA will share its new MMA architecture with gas-powered hybrid models. Mercedes-AMG also has a new E 53 Hybrid Wagon with over 600 horsepower and impressive efficiency.
Mercedes-AMG is also adding MANUFAKTUR editions across its entire lineup, which allows customers to choose their paint color and upholstery. Maybach, meanwhile, has introduced the new SL 680 Monogram Series, its first two-seat roadster, and the S 680 Edition Emerald Isle, inspired by the California Central Coast.
It’s no secret that Mercedes experienced a flop with its first generation of electric vehicles. The quartet of EQS and EQE sedans and SUVs has neither sold as well as the company hoped, nor retained its value in the used market. They’re each competitive in terms of range and refinement, but their lofty prices and polarizing styling turned off buyers.
The CLA with EQ Technology addresses both those problems. Although pricing has yet to be released, the CLA is the smallest car in the Mercedes lineup, and while the brand will command a premium for the electric version, its final price will be tens of thousands of dollars less than its current EVs.
It also eclipses those EVs with the latest technology, including an 800-volt architecture, a two-speed transmission, charging speeds up to 320 kW, a native Tesla-compatible NACS charging port, and an estimated range of over 350 miles. It’s available in two trims: the CLA250+ with rear-wheel drive and a single electric motor making 268 horsepower, or the 349-horsepower CLA 350 with all-wheel drive.
AMG And Maybach Deliver The Surprises
Mercedes-AMG, meanwhile, is introducing a new model for 2026 called the AMG E 53 Hybrid. This E-Class wagon uses the same turbocharged 3.0-liter inline six-cylinder and electric motor as the sedan version to produce up to 577 horsepower, or 604 horsepower with an optional RACE START feature. It also has all-wheel drive, rear-axle steering, and AMG RIDE CONTROL adaptive damping. To celebrate the car’s introduction, an exclusive “Edition 1” model is being sold with AMG graphics and special exterior accents.
The MANUFAKTUR option is also spreading across the Mercedes-AMG and Maybach lines for 2026. This allows Mercedes customers to customize their vehicle’s surfaces beyond what standard customers can do. They can choose from a new, exclusive, and expansive collection of paint colors, as well as select unique fabrics for their upholstery, headliner, and even floor mats.
Lastly, Maybach has introduced its first-ever roadster, the SL 680 Monogram Series. This stunning two-seater takes the SL-Class up several notches with Maybach-exclusive touches that include a two-tone paint scheme, new grille, insulated soft-top, and special 21-inch thin-spoke wheels. The new Maybach S 680 Edition Emerald Isle, meanwhile, is a special version of the flagship sedan that features finishes inspired by the California Central Coast, such as its eye-catching MANUFAKTUR Mid Ireland Green Metallic with MANUFAKTUR Moonlight White Metallic two-tone paint scheme.
What This Means For 2026 Buyers
Model year 2026 is a hard reset for Mercedes-Benz, at least when it comes to EVs. The company’s first generation of electric vehicles hasn’t worked out, and while they’re still on sale, production has been paused to help dealers sell down the inventory that had piled up. The EQ-badged EVs, though, are still exceptional cars and can be had for half their original price in some cases on the used market.
New Mercedes buyers, however, are in for a treat with the CLA with EQ Technology. The compact luxury EV is set to shake up the industry with its impressive range and charging speeds, and hopefully, its cost, which is yet to be announced, won’t price it out of too many garages.
Mercedes-AMG and Maybach, meanwhile, keep doing what they do, which is taking standard Mercedes models and cranking up their performance and luxury to eleven. The new Maybach SL roadster is a dream machine, while any parent would love schlepping their kids around in a 600-horsepower Mercedes-AMG E-Class wagon. The rest of the Mercedes-Benz lineup, the bread-and-butter models, move into 2026 with minor improvements, which will have to do for the time being.
Read the full article here