Compare the2023 Audi A4VS 2023 Mercedes CLA

For enhanced safety, the front seat shoulder belts of the Audi A4 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 CLA doesn’t offer height-adjustable seat belts.

Both the A4 and CLA have child safety locks to prevent children from opening the rear doors. The A4 has power child safety locks, allowing the driver to activate and deactivate them from the driver's seat and to know when they're engaged. The CLA’s child locks have to be individually engaged at each rear door with a manual switch. The driver can’t know the status of the locks without opening the doors and checking them.

The A4 has a standard Secondary Collision Brake Assist, which automatically applies the brakes in the event of a crash to help prevent secondary collisions and prevent further injuries. The CLA doesn’t offer a post collision braking system: in the event of a collision that triggers the airbags, more collisions are possible without the protection of airbags that may have already deployed.

To provide maximum traction and stability on all roads, All-Wheel Drive is standard on the A4. But it costs extra on the CLA.

When descending a steep, off-road slope, the A4’s standard Hill Descent Control allows you to creep down safely. The CLA doesn’t offer Hill Descent Control.

The A4’s standard lane departure warning system alerts a temporarily inattentive driver when the vehicle begins to leave its lane. A lane departure warning system costs extra on the CLA.

Both the A4 and the CLA have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver and front passenger knee 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, rearview cameras, available blind spot warning systems, around view monitors and rear cross-path warning.

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 available headlight’s “Good” rating, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the A4 the rating of “Top Safety Pick” for 2022, a rating granted to only 176 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The CLA has not been tested, yet.

The A4’s corrosion warranty is 7 years longer than the CLA’s (12 vs. 5 years).

The Audi A4’s engines use a cast iron block for durability, while the CLA’s engine uses an aluminum block. Aluminum engine blocks are much more prone to warp and crack at high temperatures than cast iron.

To reliably power the ignition and other systems and to recharge the battery, the A4 has a standard 150-amp alternator. The CLA’s 115-amp alternator isn’t as powerful.

A reliable vehicle saves its owner time, money and trouble. Nobody wants to be stranded or have to be without a vehicle while it’s being repaired. Consumer Reports rates the A4’s reliability 23 points higher than the CLA.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2023 Auto Issue reports that Audi vehicles are more reliable than Mercedes vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Audi 18 places higher in reliability than Mercedes.

The A4 45 TFSI’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid produces 40 more horsepower (261 vs. 221) and 15 lbs.-ft. more torque (273 vs. 258) than the CLA’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder.

As tested in Car and Driver the A4 45 TFSI is faster than the Mercedes CLA:

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Audi A4 uses regular unleaded gasoline (premium recommended for maximum performance). The CLA requires premium, which can cost on average about 82.8 cents more per gallon.

The A4 has 1.8 gallons more fuel capacity than the CLA (15.3 vs. 13.5 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

The A4’s launch control uses engine electronics to hold engine RPM’s precisely in order to provide the most stable and rapid acceleration possible, using all of the available traction. The CLA doesn’t offer launch control.

For better stopping power the A4 45 TFSI’s front brake rotors are larger than those on the CLA:

The A4’s standard front and rear disc brakes are vented to help dissipate heat for shorter stops with less fading. The rear discs on the CLA are solid, not vented.

The A4 stops much shorter than the CLA:

For better traction, the A4’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the CLA (245/40R18 vs. 225/45R18).

The A4’s optional tires provide better handling because they have a lower 35 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the CLA’s optional 40 series tires.

The A4 has a standard space-saver spare tire so you can replace a flat tire and drive to have the flat repaired or replaced. A spare tire isn’t available on the CLA; it requires you to depend on its run-flat tires, which limits mileage and speed before they are repaired. If a run-flat is damaged beyond repair by a road hazard your vehicle will have to be towed. Some tire options on the CLA don’t have a run-flat feature, either.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the A4’s wheelbase is 3.6 inches longer than on the CLA (111 inches vs. 107.4 inches).

The A4’s front to rear weight distribution is more even (56% to 44%) than the CLA’s (60% to 40%). This gives the A4 more stable handling and braking.

The A4 Premium Plus handles at .92 G’s, while the CLA 250 4MATIC pulls only .86 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The A4 Premium Plus executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.2 seconds quicker than the CLA 250 4MATIC (25.3 seconds @ .74 average G’s vs. 26.5 seconds @ .67 average G’s).

The A4 has 3 cubic feet more passenger volume than the CLA (92 vs. 89).

The A4 has .8 inches more front shoulder room, 1.7 inches more rear headroom, 1.8 inches more rear legroom and .5 inches more rear shoulder room than the CLA.

The A4 has a larger trunk than the CLA (12 vs. 11.6 cubic feet).

A low lift-over trunk design makes loading and unloading the A4 easier. The A4’s trunk lift-over height is 26.9 inches, while the CLA’s liftover is 30.1 inches.

With its sedan body style, valet key, locking rear seatbacks and remote trunk release lockout, the A4 offers cargo security. The CLA’s non-lockable remote release defeats cargo security.

The A4 has a 3968 lbs. towing capacity. The CLA has no towing capacity.

The engine in the A4 is mounted longitudinally (North-South), instead of sideways, as in the CLA. This makes it easier to service and maintain, because the accessory belts are in front.

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that Audi service is better than Mercedes. J.D. Power ranks Audi 8th in service department satisfaction (above the industry average). With a 16% lower rating, Mercedes is ranked 18th.

In poor weather, headlights can lose their effectiveness as grime builds up on their lenses. This can reduce visibility without the driver realizing. The A4 Prestige has standard headlight washers to keep headlight output high. The CLA doesn’t offer headlight washers.

To shield the driver and front passenger’s vision over a larger portion of the windshield and side windows, the A4 has standard extendable sun visors. The CLA doesn’t offer extendable visors.

Manual rear side window sunshades are available in the A4 to help block heat and glare for the rear passengers. The CLA doesn’t offer rear side window sunshades.

The A4 has standard heated front seats. Heated front seats cost extra on the CLA. The A4 Prestige also has standard heated rear seats to keep those passengers extremely comfortable in the winter. Heated rear seats aren’t available in the CLA.

The A4 will cost the buyer less in the long run because of its superior resale value. The IntelliChoice estimates that the A4 will retain 43.4% to 44.48% of its original price after five years, while the CLA only retains 41.76% to 41.79%.

Consumer Reports® recommends the Audi A4, based on reliability, safety and performance. The Mercedes CLA isn't recommended.

The Audi A4/S4 outsold the Mercedes CLA by 74% during 2022.