Compare the2023 Mercedes AMG CLAVS 2023 BMW 3 Series Sedan

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 3 Series Sedan doesn’t offer pretensioners for its rear seat belts.

To provide maximum traction and stability on all roads, All-Wheel Drive is standard on the AMG CLA. But it costs extra on the 3 Series Sedan.

The AMG CLA has a standard blind spot warning system that 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 3 Series Sedan’s blind spot costs extra.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the AMG CLA has standard Rear Cross-Traffic Alert and Active Brake Assist automatically engages the brakes to help avoid a collision. BMW charges extra for Cross Traffic Warning on the 3 Series Sedan and the 3 Series Sedan’s Cross Traffic Warning does not include automatic braking.

Both the AMG CLA and the 3 Series Sedan 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, rearview cameras, 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 330i’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder.

As tested in Motor Trend the AMG CLA 45 is faster than the M340i 3.0 turbo 6-cylinder hybrid:

In a Car and Driver race course test, the Mercedes AMG CLA 45 was clocked 5 seconds faster than the BMW M340i (178.2 sec. vs. 183.2 sec.).

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 3 Series Sedan 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 3 Series Sedan:

The AMG CLA stops shorter than the 3 Series Sedan:

For better traction, the AMG CLA has larger standard tires than the 3 Series Sedan (235/40R18 vs. 225/45R18). The AMG CLA 45’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the 3 Series Sedan (255/35R19 vs. 225/40R19).

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 330i’s standard 45 series tires. The AMG CLA’s optional tires have a lower 35 series profile than the 3 Series Sedan’s optional 40 series front 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 3 Series Sedan 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 .8 inches wider in the rear than the average track on the 3 Series Sedan.

The AMG CLA 45 handles at .99 G’s, while the 330i xDrive 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 2.5 seconds quicker than the 330i xDrive (24.1 seconds @ .8 average G’s vs. 26.6 seconds @ .66 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the AMG CLA 35’s turning circle is 3 feet tighter than the 3 Series Sedan’s (36.4 feet vs. 39.4 feet). The AMG CLA 45’s turning circle is 1.3 feet tighter than the 3 Series Sedan’s (38.1 feet vs. 39.4 feet).

Unlike the driver-only memory system in the 3 Series Sedan, 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 3 Series Sedan 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 3 Series Sedan 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 3 Series Sedan 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 3 Series Sedan.