Compare the2022 Kia K5VS 2021 Mercedes CLA

For enhanced safety, the front seat shoulder belts of the Kia K5 are height-adjustable to accommodate a wide variety of driver and passenger heights. A better fit can prevent injuries and the increased comfort also encourages passengers to buckle up. The Mercedes CLA doesn’t offer height-adjustable seat belts.

Both the K5 and CLA have child safety locks to prevent children from opening the rear doors. The K5 EX Premium/GT-1 has power child safety locks, allowing the driver to activate and deactivate them from the driver's seat and to know when they're engaged. The CLA’s child locks have to be individually engaged at each rear door with a manual switch. The driver can’t know the status of the locks without opening the doors and checking them.

In the past twenty years hundreds of infants and young children have died after being left in vehicles, usually by accident. When turning the vehicle off, drivers of the K5 are reminded to check the back seat if they opened the rear door before starting out. The CLA doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The K5 EX Premium/GT-1 has standard Parking Collision Assist that uses rear sensors to monitor and automatically apply the brakes to prevent a rear collision. The CLA doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

The K5’s standard lane departure warning system alerts a temporarily inattentive driver when the vehicle begins to leave its lane and gently nudges the vehicle back towards its lane. A lane departure warning system costs extra on the CLA.

Both the K5 and the CLA have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front and rear side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, front wheel drive, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, rearview cameras, driver alert monitors, available all wheel drive, blind spot warning systems, around view monitors and rear cross-path warning.

For its top level performance in IIHS driver and passenger-side small overlap frontal, moderate overlap frontal, side impact, roof strength and head restraint tests, its standard vehicle-to-vehicle front crash prevention system, its standard vehicle-to-pedestrian front crash prevention system, and its standard headlight’s “Good” rating, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the K5 its highest rating: “Top Pick Plus” for 2021, a rating granted to only 62 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The CLA has not been tested, yet.

The K5 comes with a full 5-year/60,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire car and includes 24-hour roadside assistance. The CLA’s 4-year/50,000-mile basic warranty expires 1 year or 10,000 miles sooner.

Kia’s powertrain warranty covers the K5 6 years and 50,000 miles longer than Mercedes covers the CLA. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 10 years or 100,000 miles. Coverage on the CLA ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

There are almost 2 times as many Kia dealers as there are Mercedes dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the K5’s warranty.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2020 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Kia vehicles are better in initial quality than Mercedes vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Kia first in initial quality, above the industry average. With 66 more problems per 100 vehicles, Mercedes is ranked 30th, below the industry average.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2021 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Kia vehicles are more reliable than Mercedes vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Kia third in reliability, above the industry average. With 25 more problems per 100 vehicles, Mercedes is ranked 15th.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2021 Auto Issue reports that Kia vehicles are more reliable than Mercedes vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Kia 5 places higher in reliability than Mercedes.

The K5 GT 2.5T’s standard 2.5 turbo 4-cylinder produces 69 more horsepower (290 vs. 221) and 53 lbs.-ft. more torque (311 vs. 258) than the CLA’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder.

As tested in Motor Trend the K5 GT 2.5T 2.5 turbo 4-cylinder is faster than the Mercedes CLA:

On the EPA test cycle the K5 gets better fuel mileage than the CLA:

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Kia K5 uses regular unleaded gasoline. The CLA requires premium, which can cost 20 to 55 cents more per gallon.

The K5 LX’s standard fuel tank has 1.3 gallons more fuel capacity than the CLA (14.8 vs. 13.5 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups. The K5 LXS/GT Line/EX/GT’s standard fuel tank has 2.3 gallons more fuel capacity than the CLA (15.8 vs. 13.5 gallons).

An eight-speed automatic (SMG) is standard on the Kia K5, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only a seven-speed automatic is available for the CLA.

For better stopping power the K5 GT’s front brake rotors are larger than those on the CLA:

The K5 stops shorter than the CLA:

For better traction, the K5 GT’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the CLA (245/40R19 vs. 235/35R19).

The K5 has a standard space-saver spare tire so you can replace a flat tire and drive to have the flat repaired or replaced. A spare tire isn’t available on the CLA; it requires you to depend on its run-flat tires, which limits mileage and speed before they are repaired. If a run-flat is damaged beyond repair by a road hazard your vehicle will have to be towed. Some tire options on the CLA don’t have a run-flat feature, either.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the K5’s wheelbase is 4.8 inches longer than on the CLA (112.2 inches vs. 107.4 inches).

The Kia K5 may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 250 pounds less than the Mercedes CLA.

Because it has more passenger and cargo room, the EPA rates the K5 a Large car, while the CLA is rated a Compact.

The K5 has 16.3 cubic feet more passenger volume than the CLA (105.3 vs. 89).

The K5 has 1.7 inches more front headroom, 4.3 inches more front legroom, 2.9 inches more front shoulder room, 2.1 inches more rear headroom, 1.3 inches more rear legroom and 2.1 inches more rear shoulder room than the CLA.

The K5 has a much larger trunk than the CLA (16 vs. 11.6 cubic feet).

Consumer Reports rated the K5’s headlight performance “Good,” a higher rating than the CLA’s headlights, which were rated “Poor.”

To shield the driver and front passenger’s vision over a larger portion of the windshield and side windows, the K5 has standard extendable sun visors. The CLA doesn’t offer extendable visors.

Consumer Reports® recommends the Kia K5, based on reliability, safety and performance. The Mercedes CLA isn't recommended.