Compare the2023 Mercedes AMG CLAVS 2023 BMW 2 Series

For enhanced safety, the front and rear seat shoulder belts of the Mercedes AMG CLA have pretensioners to tighten the seatbelts and eliminate dangerous slack in the event of a collision and force limiters to limit the pressure the belts will exert on the passengers. The BMW 2 Series doesn’t offer pretensioners for its rear seat belts.

The AMG CLA’s optional pre-crash front seatbelts will tighten automatically in the event the vehicle detects an impending crash, improving protection against injury significantly. The 2 Series doesn’t offer pre-crash pretensioners.

The AMG CLA’s standard pretensioning seatbelts also sense rear collisions and remove slack from the seatbelts to help protect the occupants from whiplash and other injuries. The 2 Series doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

To provide maximum traction and stability on all roads, All-Wheel Drive is standard on the AMG CLA. But it costs extra on the 2 Series.

Both the AMG CLA and 2 Series have rear cross-traffic warning, but the AMG CLA has Active Brake Assist (automatically applies the brakes) to better prevent a collision when backing near traffic. The 2 Series’ Cross Traffic Warning doesn’t automatically brake.

Both the AMG CLA and the 2 Series have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver and front passenger knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning, driver alert monitors, available lane departure warning systems and around view monitors.

There are over 9 percent more Mercedes dealers than there are BMW dealers, which makes it easier should you ever need service under the AMG CLA’s warranty.

The AMG CLA 35’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder produces 47 more horsepower (302 vs. 255) and 1 lbs.-ft. more torque (295 vs. 294) than the 230i’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder.

The AMG CLA offers a standard sequential manual gearbox (SMG). With no clutch pedal to worry about and a fully automatic mode, an SMG is much more efficient than a conventional automatic but just as easy to drive. The 2 Series doesn’t offer an SMG or a conventional manual transmission.

For better stopping power the AMG CLA’s standard brake rotors are larger than those on the 2 Series:

For better traction, the AMG CLA has larger standard tires than the 2 Series (235/40R18 vs. 225/45R18). The AMG CLA 45’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the 2 Series (255/35R19 vs. 245/35R19).

The AMG CLA 35’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 40 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the 230i’s standard 45 series tires.

The AMG 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 2 Series doesn’t offer drift compensation steering.

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the AMG CLA is 1.2 inches wider in the front and .3 inches wider in the rear than the average track on the 2 Series.

Because it has more passenger and cargo room, the EPA rates the AMG CLA a Compact car, while the 2 Series is rated a Subcompact.

The AMG CLA has standard seating for 5 passengers; the 2 Series can only carry 4.

The AMG CLA has .4 inches more front headroom, 1 inch more rear headroom, 1.7 inches more rear legroom and 2.3 inches more rear shoulder room than the 2 Series.

To make loading groceries and cargo easier when your hands are full, the AMG CLA’s available trunk can be opened just by kicking your foot under the back bumper, leaving your hands completely free. The 2 Series doesn’t offer a hands-free gesture to open its trunk, forcing you to put cargo down if your hands are full.

Unlike the driver-only memory system in the 2 Series, the AMG 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 AMG CLA’s standard easy entry system glides the driver’s seat back, making it easier for the driver to get in and out. The 2 Series doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

The AMG CLA’s standard power windows have a locking feature to keep children in the rear seat from operating them, but the driver can still raise and lower all of them with the lock engaged. BMW does not offer a locking feature on the 2 Series’ standard power windows.

Heated windshield washer nozzles are standard on the AMG CLA to prevent washer fluid and nozzles from freezing and help continue to keep the windshield clear in sub-freezing temperatures. The 2 Series doesn’t offer heated windshield washer nozzles.

Optional air-conditioned seats in the AMG CLA keep the driver and front passenger comfortable and take the sting out of hot seats in Summer. The 2 Series doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats.

The AMG CLA offers optional massaging front seats in order to maximize comfort and eliminate fatigue on long trips. Massaging seats aren’t available in the 2 Series.