Compare the2023 Hyundai Elantra NVS 2023 Mercedes AMG CLA

For enhanced safety, the front seat shoulder belts of the Hyundai Elantra N are height-adjustable to accommodate a wide variety of driver and passenger heights. A better fit can prevent injuries and the increased comfort also encourages passengers to buckle up. The Mercedes AMG CLA doesn’t offer height-adjustable seat belts.

In the past twenty years hundreds of infants and young children have died after being left in vehicles, usually by accident. When turning the vehicle off, drivers of the Elantra N are reminded to check the back seat if they opened the rear door before starting out. The AMG CLA doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The Elantra N Auto has standard Reverse Parking Collision Avoidance Assist that uses rear sensors to monitor for objects to the rear and automatically applies the brakes to prevent a collision. The AMG CLA doesn’t offer automatic braking for stationary objects directly to the rear.

The Elantra N’s standard lane departure warning system alerts a temporarily inattentive driver when the vehicle begins to leave its lane and gently nudges the vehicle back towards its lane. A lane departure warning system costs extra on the AMG CLA.

Both the Elantra N and the AMG CLA have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front 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 and driver alert monitors.

For its top level performance in IIHS driver and passenger-side small overlap frontal, moderate overlap frontal, side impact, roof strength and head restraint tests, its standard vehicle-to-vehicle front crash prevention system, its standard vehicle-to-pedestrian front crash prevention system, and its standard headlight’s “Good” rating, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the Elantra N its highest rating: “Top Safety Pick Plus” for 2022, a rating granted to only 126 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The AMG CLA has not been tested, yet.

The Elantra N comes with a full 5-year/60,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire car and includes 24-hour roadside assistance. The AMG CLA’s 4-year/50,000-mile basic warranty expires 1 year or 10,000 miles sooner.

Hyundai’s powertrain warranty covers the Elantra N 6 years and 50,000 miles longer than Mercedes covers the AMG CLA. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 10 years or 100,000 miles. Coverage on the AMG CLA ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

The Elantra N’s corrosion warranty is 2 years longer than the AMG CLA’s (7 vs. 5 years).

Hyundai pays for scheduled maintenance on the Elantra N for 3 years and 36,000 miles. Hyundai will pay for oil changes, lubrication and any other required maintenance. Mercedes doesn’t pay scheduled maintenance for the AMG CLA.

There are over 2 times as many Hyundai dealers as there are Mercedes dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Elantra N’s warranty.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Hyundai vehicles are better in initial quality than Mercedes vehicles. With 4 fewer problems per 100 vehicles, JD Power ranks Hyundai higher than Mercedes.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the statistics that show that Hyundai vehicles are more reliable than Mercedes vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Hyundai third in reliability, above the industry average. With 47 more problems per 100 vehicles, Mercedes is ranked 18th.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2023 Auto Issue reports that Hyundai vehicles are more reliable than Mercedes vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Hyundai 11 places higher in reliability than Mercedes.

On the EPA test cycle the Elantra N gets better mileage than the AMG CLA:

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

For better traction, the Elantra N has larger tires than the AMG CLA (245/35R19 vs. 235/40R18).

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

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Elantra N has standard 19-inch wheels. Smaller 18-inch wheels are standard on the AMG CLA 35.

The Hyundai Elantra N may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 300 to 350 pounds less than the Mercedes AMG CLA.

To minimize engine movement during hard acceleration and transmission shifts, the Elantra N has solid engine mounts. The AMG CLA uses conventional rubber.

Because it has more passenger and cargo room, the EPA rates the Elantra N a Mid-size car, while the AMG CLA is rated a Compact.

The Elantra N has 10.4 cubic feet more passenger volume than the AMG CLA (99.4 vs. 89).

The Elantra N has 2.1 inches more front headroom, .5 inches more front legroom, 1.4 inches more front shoulder room, 1.6 inches more rear headroom, 4.1 inches more rear legroom and 1.6 inches more rear shoulder room than the AMG CLA.

The Elantra N has a much larger trunk than the AMG CLA (14.2 vs. 11.6 cubic feet).

To shield the driver and front passenger’s vision over a larger portion of the windshield and side windows, the Elantra N has standard extendable sun visors. The AMG CLA doesn’t offer extendable visors.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Hyundai Elantra N has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. Wireless charging costs extra on the AMG CLA.

Insurance will cost less for the Elantra N owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the Elantra N will cost $6915 to $10075 less than the AMG CLA over a five-year period.

The Elantra N will cost the buyer less in the long run because of its superior resale value. The IntelliChoice estimates that the Elantra N will retain 46.13% to 47.1% of its original price after five years, while the AMG CLA only retains 43.32% to 43.79%.

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the Hyundai Elantra N will be $31081 to $35103 less than for the Mercedes AMG CLA.

A group of representative automotive journalists from North America selected the Elantra as the 2021 North American Car of the Year. The AMG CLA has never been chosen.

The Hyundai Elantra outsold the Mercedes CLA by over 13 to one during 2022.