Compare the2023 Mercedes AMG CLAVS 2023 Volkswagen GTI

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 GTI doesn’t offer pre-crash pretensioners.

The Mercedes AMG CLA has standard driver and front passenger side knee airbags mounted low on the dashboard. These airbags helps prevent the driver and front passenger from sliding under their seatbelts or the main frontal airbags; this keeps them better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. Knee airbags also help keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The GTI doesn’t offer knee airbags.

The AMG CLA has all-wheel drive to maximize traction under poor conditions, especially in ice and snow. The GTI doesn’t offer all-wheel drive.

The AMG CLA offers an optional Surround View System to allow the driver to see objects all around the vehicle on a screen. The GTI 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 the GTI have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front and rear seatbelt pretensioners, 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.

The AMG CLA’s corrosion warranty is unlimited miles longer than the GTI’s (unlimited vs. 100,000 miles).

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 Volkswagen vehicles. With 41 fewer problems per 100 vehicles, JD Power ranks Mercedes higher than Volkswagen.

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 Volkswagen With 22 fewer problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, J.D. Power ranks Mercedes higher than Volkswagen.

The AMG CLA 35’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder produces 61 more horsepower (302 vs. 241) and 22 lbs.-ft. more torque (295 vs. 273) than the GTI’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder. The AMG CLA 45’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder produces 141 more horsepower (382 vs. 241) and 81 lbs.-ft. more torque (354 vs. 273) than the GTI’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder.

As tested in Motor Trend the AMG CLA 45 is faster than the Volkswagen GTI (automatics tested):

Regardless of its engine, the AMG CLA’s engine automatically turns off when the vehicle is stopped, saving fuel and reducing pollution. If the conditions warrant or the driver wishes, the system can be manually disabled at any time for the duration of a trip. Volkswagen only offers an automatic engine start/stop system on the GTI Automatic.

The AMG CLA has a tether attaching its gas cap to prevent its loss. The GTI’s gas cap isn’t tethered, so it can be left at a gas station if the driver forgets to screw the cap back in.

The Mercedes AMG CLA comes standard with an automatic transmission, for driver comfort, especially in the city. Automatic costs extra on the GTI.

An eight-speed automatic (SMG) is standard on the Mercedes AMG CLA 45, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only a seven-speed automatic is available for the GTI.

To facilitate fast shifting and allow the driver to focus on the road, the AMG CLA offers an optional up-shift light to indicate when the engine is approaching redline. The GTI doesn’t offer an up-shift light.

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

The AMG CLA stops much shorter than the GTI:

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

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

The AMG CLA has standard front and rear gas-charged shocks for better control over choppy roads. The GTI’s suspension doesn’t offer gas-charged shocks.

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 GTI doesn’t offer drift compensation steering.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the AMG CLA’s wheelbase is 3.8 inches longer than on the GTI (107.4 inches vs. 103.6 inches).

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the AMG CLA is 3.1 inches wider in the front and 3.5 inches wider in the rear than the track on the GTI.

The AMG CLA 45 handles at .99 G’s, while the GTI Autobahn pulls only .92 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The AMG CLA 45 executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.4 seconds quicker than the GTI Autobahn (24.1 seconds @ .8 average G’s vs. 25.5 seconds @ .72 average G’s).

The AMG CLA has .6 inches more front legroom and .1 inches more rear shoulder room than the GTI.

A standard locking glovebox (which can’t be accessed with the valet key) keeps your small valuables safer in the AMG CLA. The GTI doesn’t offer locking storage for small valuables.

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 GTI doesn’t offer a hands-free gesture to open its liftgate, forcing you to put cargo down if your hands are full.

The AMG CLA uses gas struts to support the hood for easier service access. The GTI uses a prop rod to support its heavy hood. It takes two hands to open the hood and set the prop rod, the prop rod gets in the way during maintenance and service, and the prop rod could be knocked out, causing the heavy hood to fall on the person maintaining or servicing the car.

The AMG 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 GTI doesn’t offer a remote starting system.

Unlike the driver-only memory seat and mirrors optional at extra cost in the GTI (except S), 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. An easy entry system costs extra on the GTI, and is not available on all models.

If the windows are left open on the AMG CLA the driver can close them all from a distance using the remote. On a hot day the driver can also lower the windows the same way. The driver of the GTI can only operate the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

The GTI’s cornering lamps activate a lamp on the front corner when the turn signal is activated. The AMG CLA’s optional adaptive cornering lights turn the actual headlight unit up to several degrees, depending on steering wheel angle and vehicle speed. This lights a significant distance into corners at any speed.

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 GTI.

The AMG CLA has a standard dual zone air conditioning allows the driver and front passenger to choose two completely different temperatures so people with different temperature preferences won’t have to compromise. This makes both the driver and front passenger as comfortable as possible. Dual zone air conditioning is only available on the GTI Autobahn.

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

The Mercedes CLA outsold the Volkswagen Golf/GTI by 341 units during 2022.