Lithia Auto Stores

Compare the2023 Mercedes CLAVS 2023 Audi A3

2023 Mercedes CLA
2023 Audi A3

Safety

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The CLA offers an optional Surround View System to allow the driver to see objects all around the vehicle on a screen. The A3 only offers a rear monitor and front and rear parking sensors that beep or flash a light. That doesn’t help with obstacles to the sides.

The CLA has a standard blind spot warning system which uses sensors to alert the driver to objects in the vehicle’s blind spots where the side view mirrors don’t reveal them. A system to reveal vehicles in the A3’s blind spot costs extra.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the CLA has a standard rear cross-path warning system, which uses sensors in the rear bumper to alert the driver to vehicles approaching from the side, helping the driver avoid collisions. Rear cross-path warning costs extra on the A3.

The CLA’s driver alert monitor detects an inattentive driver then sounds a warning and suggests a break. According to the NHTSA, drivers who fall asleep cause about 100,000 crashes and 1500 deaths a year. The A3 doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the CLA and the A3 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver and front passenger 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, available all wheel drive and lane departure warning systems.

Warranty

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There are over 25 percent more Mercedes dealers than there are Audi dealers, which makes it easier should you ever need service under the CLA’s warranty.

Reliability

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J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Mercedes vehicles are better in initial quality than Audi vehicles. With 50 fewer problems per 100 vehicles, JD Power ranks Mercedes higher than Audi.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Mercedes vehicles are more reliable than Audi With 37 fewer problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, J.D. Power ranks Mercedes higher than Audi.

Engine

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The CLA’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder produces 20 more horsepower (221 vs. 201) and 37 lbs.-ft. more torque (258 vs. 221) than the A3’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid.

As tested in Car and Driver the Mercedes CLA is faster than the Audi A3:

CLA

A3

Zero to 60 MPH

5.6 sec

6 sec

Zero to 100 MPH

15 sec

16.1 sec

5 to 60 MPH Rolling Start

6.1 sec

6.8 sec

Quarter Mile

14.2 sec

14.6 sec

Speed in 1/4 Mile

97 MPH

95 MPH

Top Speed

130 MPH

127 MPH

Brakes and Stopping

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For better stopping power the CLA’s brake rotors are larger than those on the A3:

CLA

A3

Front Rotors

13 inches

12 inches

Rear Rotors

12.6 inches

10.7 inches

The CLA stops much shorter than the A3:

CLA

A3

70 to 0 MPH

166 feet

181 feet

Car and Driver

Tires and Wheels

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For better ride, handling and brake cooling the CLA has standard 18-inch wheels. Smaller 17-inch wheels are standard on the A3. The CLA’s optional 19-inch wheels are larger than the 18-inch wheels optional on the A3.

Changing a flat tire near traffic can be dangerous and inconvenient. The run-flat tires available on the CLA can be driven up to 50 miles without any air pressure, allowing you to drive to a service station for a repair. The A3 doesn’t offer run-flat tires.

Suspension and Handling

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The CLA’s drift compensation steering can automatically compensate for road conditions which would cause the vehicle to drift from side to side, helping the driver to keep the vehicle straight more easily. The A3 doesn’t offer drift compensation steering.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the CLA’s wheelbase is 3.9 inches longer than on the A3 (107.4 inches vs. 103.5 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the CLA is 2.8 inches wider in the front and 3.5 inches wider in the rear than on the A3.

Chassis

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The design of the Mercedes CLA amounts to more than styling. The CLA has an aerodynamic coefficient of drag of .27 Cd. That is lower than the A3 (.3) and many sports cars. A more efficient exterior helps keep the interior quieter and helps the CLA get better fuel mileage.

Passenger Space

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Because it has more passenger and cargo room, the EPA rates the CLA a Compact car, while the A3 is rated a Subcompact.

The CLA has 1.7 inches more front headroom, .6 inches more front legroom, .3 inches more front shoulder room and 1 inch more rear shoulder room than the A3.

Cargo Capacity

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The CLA has a larger trunk than the A3 (11.6 vs. 10.9 cubic feet).

Ergonomics

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The CLA has a standard remote vehicle starting system, so the vehicle can be started from inside the driver's house. This allows the driver to comfortably warm up the engine before going out to the vehicle. The climate system will also automatically heat or cool the interior. The A3 doesn’t offer a remote starting system.

Unlike the driver-only memory seat and mirrors optional at extra cost in the A3, the CLA has standard driver and passenger memory, so that when drivers switch, the memory setting adjusts the driver’s seat and outside mirror angle and the front passenger seat also adjusts to the new passenger’s preset preferences.

The CLA’s standard easy entry system glides the driver’s seat back, making it easier for the driver to get in and out. The A3 doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

The CLA offers an optional heads-up display that projects speed and navigation instruction readouts in front of the driver’s line of sight, allowing drivers to view information without diverting their eyes from the road. The A3 doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

Heated windshield washer nozzles are standard on the CLA to prevent washer fluid and nozzles from freezing and help continue to keep the windshield clear in sub-freezing temperatures. The A3 doesn’t offer heated windshield washer nozzles.

To help drivers avoid possible obstacles, the CLA offers optional cornering lights to illuminate around corners when the turn signals are activated. The A3 doesn’t offer cornering lights. The CLA also offers optional adaptive headlights to illuminate around corners automatically by reading vehicle speed and steering wheel angle.

The CLA’s sun-visors swivel front-to-side to block glare from the side windows. The A3’s visors are fixed into the windshield header.

Optional air-conditioned seats in the CLA keep the driver and front passenger comfortable and take the sting out of hot seats in Summer. The A3 doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats.

On extremely cold winter days, the CLA’s optional heated steering wheel provides comfort, allowing the driver to steer safely and comfortably before the car heater warms up. The A3 doesn’t offer a heated steering wheel.

The CLA’s optional Active Parking Assist can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. The A3’s automatic parking system requires operating the brakes and transmission to safely park.

Recommendations

© 1999 - 2024Advanta-STAR Automotive Research, all rights reserved. This vehicle comparison and all of the content in it are provided only by license from Advanta-STAR Automotive Research Corporation of America (“Advanta-STAR”). If you are not a legally licensed user of this vehicle comparison, it is against federal law to access it, copy it, forward it, or use it in any manner whatsoever. Any unauthorized use of this vehicle comparison is a violation of U.S. and international law and is punishable criminally and civilly. Removal of this watermark/notification without prior written license and approval received from Advanta-STAR is an agreement, understanding, and/or stipulation by the person(s), entities, agents, attorneys, and any other persons involved in the removal of this watermark/notification (including but not limited to Search Optics, LLC and any and all parent entities, sister entities, and subsidiary entities of Search Optics, LLC and/or any other entity, agent, attorney, and persons related in any manner to Search Optics, LLC) to: 1) an agreed upon amount of liquidated monetary damages of a minimum of $1,250,000.00 US Dollars in favor of Advanta-STAR; 2) the jurisdiction and enforcement of any legal claims associated with this matter asserted by Advanta-STAR in the United States Federal District Court in Portand, Oregon; and 3) service of process of any legal claims asserted by Advanta-STAR associated with this matter may be accomplished by First-Class Postage by the United States Postal Service or comparable service. XPYNN-M34HG 2a06:98c0:3600::103 2024/11/23

The Mercedes CLA outsold the Audi A3/S3/RS 3 by almost three to one during 2021.

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