Compare the2023 Mercedes AMG CLAVS 2023 BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe

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 Gran Coupe 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 Gran Coupe 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 Gran Coupe 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 Gran Coupe.

The AMG CLA offers an optional Surround View System to allow the driver to see objects all around the vehicle on a screen. The 2 Series Gran Coupe 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.

Both the AMG CLA and 2 Series Gran Coupe 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 Gran Coupe’s Cross Traffic Warning doesn’t automatically brake.

Both the AMG CLA and the 2 Series Gran Coupe 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 and available lane departure warning systems.

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 74 more horsepower (302 vs. 228) and 37 lbs.-ft. more torque (295 vs. 258) than the 228i Gran Coupe’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder. The AMG CLA 35’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder produces 1 more horsepower (302 vs. 301) than the M235i xDrive Gran Coupe’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder. The AMG CLA 45’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder produces 81 more horsepower (382 vs. 301) and 23 lbs.-ft. more torque (354 vs. 331) than the M235i xDrive Gran Coupe’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder.

As tested in Motor Trend the AMG CLA 45 is faster than the M235i xDrive Gran Coupe:

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 Gran Coupe doesn’t offer an SMG or a conventional manual transmission.

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

For better traction, the AMG CLA has larger standard tires than the 2 Series Gran Coupe (235/40R18 vs. 225/45R17). The AMG CLA 45’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the 2 Series Gran Coupe (255/35R19 vs. 235/35R19).

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 2 Series Gran Coupe’s standard 45 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the AMG CLA 35 has standard 18-inch wheels. Smaller 17-inch wheels are standard on the 2 Series Gran Coupe.

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 Gran Coupe doesn’t offer drift compensation steering.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the AMG CLA’s wheelbase is 2.3 inches longer than on the 2 Series Gran Coupe (107.4 inches vs. 105.1 inches).

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the AMG CLA is 2 inches wider in the front and 1.6 inches wider in the rear than the average track on the 2 Series Gran Coupe.

The AMG CLA 45 handles at .99 G’s, while the M235i xDrive Gran Coupe pulls only .91 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The AMG CLA 45 executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.7 seconds quicker than the M235i xDrive Gran Coupe (24.1 seconds @ .8 average G’s vs. 25.8 seconds @ .71 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the AMG CLA 35’s turning circle is 1 foot tighter than the 2 Series Gran Coupe’s (36.4 feet vs. 37.4 feet).

The AMG CLA has .4 inches more front legroom and .9 inches more rear shoulder room than the 2 Series Gran Coupe.

Unlike the driver-only memory system in the 2 Series Gran Coupe, 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 Gran Coupe doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

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 Gran Coupe 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 Gran Coupe 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 Gran Coupe.

Motor Trend performed a comparison test in its January 2021 issue and they ranked the Mercedes AMG CLA 45 higher than the BMW M235i xDrive Gran Coupe.