Compare the2023 Audi S3VS 2023 Mercedes AMG CLA

For enhanced safety, the front seat shoulder belts of the Audi S3 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.

Both the S3 and AMG CLA have child safety locks to prevent children from opening the rear doors. The S3 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 AMG 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 S3 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 AMG 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.

The S3’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 S3 and the AMG CLA have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver and front passenger knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, four-wheel antilock brakes, all wheel drive, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, rearview cameras, available blind spot warning systems 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 standard headlight’s “Good” rating, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the S3 its highest rating: “Top Safety Pick Plus” for 2022, a rating granted to only 128 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The AMG CLA has not been tested, yet.

The S3’s corrosion warranty is 7 years longer than the AMG CLA’s (12 vs. 5 years).

The Audi S3’s engine uses a cast iron block for durability, while the AMG CLA’s engines use an aluminum block. Aluminum engine blocks are much more prone to warp and crack at high temperatures than cast iron.

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 S3’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder produces 4 more horsepower (306 vs. 302) than the AMG CLA 35’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder.

On the EPA test cycle the S3 gets better mileage than the AMG CLA:

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Audi S3 uses regular unleaded gasoline (premium recommended for maximum performance). The AMG CLA requires premium, which can cost on average about 82.8 cents more per gallon.

The S3 has a gallon more fuel capacity than the AMG CLA (14.5 vs. 13.5 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Audi S3 higher (5 out of 10) than the Mercedes AMG CLA (3 to 5). This means the S3 produces up to 16.5 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the AMG CLA every 15,000 miles.

For better stopping power the S3’s standard front brake rotors are larger than those on the AMG CLA:

The S3 is 7.5 inches shorter than the AMG CLA, making the S3 easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The S3 has .9 inches more rear headroom and 1.3 inches more rear legroom than the AMG CLA.

To make loading and unloading groceries and cargo easier, especially for short adults, the S3 has a standard power trunk, which opens and closes automatically by pressing a button, or optionally by just kicking your foot under the back bumper, completely leaving your hands free. The AMG CLA doesn’t offer a power trunk, so its trunk has to be closed manually.

The S3 has a 3500 lbs. towing capacity. The AMG CLA has no towing capacity.

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 S3 Prestige has standard headlight washers to keep headlight output high. The AMG CLA doesn’t offer headlight washers.

To shield the driver and front passenger’s vision over a larger portion of the windshield, the S3 has standard extendable sun visors. The AMG CLA doesn’t offer extendable visors.

Insurance will cost less for the S3 owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the S3 will cost $4250 to $8090 less than the AMG CLA over a five-year period.

The S3 will cost the buyer less in the long run because of its superior resale value. The IntelliChoice estimates that the S3 will retain 50.76% to 50.94% 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 Audi S3 will be $14465 to $17583 less than for the Mercedes AMG CLA.

The Audi A3/S3/RS 3 outsold the Mercedes CLA by 12% during 2022.