Rarely do new cars deliver on everything they promise. It’s even rarer that these vehicles actually draw a line in the sand for a brand’s future. It’s no exaggeration to say that the Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class sedan is well on its way to both of these things.

Everything about it is new, even the two-spoke steering wheel, which looks familiar but features a number of reworked tactile areas that will hopefully address the erratic touch issues the current steering wheel has.

Deftly driving the battery-electric version of the CLA through the drifting, blown snow on the icy roads of the Timmelsjoch mountain pass, he answered some of my questions while giving me plenty of time to inspect and feel the car.

When I got in, I immediately noticed the two-tone seats covered in leather or a synthetic leather-like material. The main charcoal upholstery was accented with lime green inserts along the edge and contrast stitching. This stitching and material continued on the door, which was well fitted and padded at the top by the window and down at the edge of the shallow door closest to my foot. Even the headliner looked and felt classy.

The seat adjustment hardware is new and sleek, offering a smooth, curved representation of features that have been a staple of Mercedes cars for a decade. Tiny bits of piano black plastic surround the window controls to create depth and add character.

These are all minor tweaks that can easily be removed from the list in favor of cheaper, less finger-friendly materials and parts bin bits to eliminate cost. Mercedes doesn’t and is very welcome. The look is richer than the C-Class by a “metric mile,” as my grandmother would say.

Granted, it wasn’t a production model, but the CLA also didn’t creak and groan like the C-Class I was in that day.

The dashboard was mostly covered by a cloth cover. Underneath this disguise is a flat touchscreen infotainment, which is new to the company’s offer. This setup is a departure from what other automakers do, including Nio, Polestar and BYD, which have tablet-like screens mounted on the dashboard.

Mercedes installed a fresh version of the company’s operating software (MB.OS) on the screen. It has evolved to take on a new Apple-like look, full of rich colors, eye-pleasing screens, nested buttons and layered visuals.

This screen controls the company’s audio component for the EV, offering three types of sound, less cartoony spaceship-like than what other automakers offer, that the car can emit when it’s in motion. It also serves as a touch point for the in-car camera, single-zone climate control and device connectivity.

In front of the passenger is an entertainment screen straight out of the E-Class textbook.

A new driver information screen with crisp graphics seamlessly transitions into the next two.

Buttons are kept to a minimum in the CLA. If you’re a student of current-generation Mercedes models, you have an idea of ​​what to expect here.

Unlike other reviewers who got to drive the CLA the week before in less treacherous weather conditions, I didn’t get a chance to be whisked up a mountain pass or test the car in the wet.

Instead, Heix drove the car through blackout conditions that never caused a loss of confidence in the car or the driver. The car almost beached itself on more than one occasion in deep snow, but using the torque of its rear and front engines and a bit of know-how, it kept moving when the others, including the GLEs in the lead, got stuck.

Seating in the front and rear of the CLA was easy for someone of average size, and although it was tight in the second row for people closer to 6’5″ than 6’0″, it could be done with the glass roof. performed in a car. There wasn’t much legroom in the back, but it was manageable even with taller adults in the front. That said, it was a pretty comfortable place to spend an hour.

Stylish and refined, the CLA takes full advantage of the lack of a transmission tunnel to introduce storage options in the console area, thankfully leaving the circular air vents mostly a thing of the past.

The CLA will debut in a few months and will come with a choice of powertrains – hybrid and battery. When it arrives, the battle lines will be drawn with its rivals from premium and luxury automakers taking notes. Mercedes didn’t just show up to play. They showed that they dominate.