Compare the2024 Lexus ESVS 2023 Mercedes CLA

For enhanced safety, the front seat shoulder belts of the Lexus ES 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.

The ES has a standard Secondary Collision Brake, 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.

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The ES offers optional Intuitive Parking Assist with Auto Braking that uses rear sensors to monitor for objects to the rear and automatically applies the brakes to prevent a collision. The CLA doesn’t offer automatic braking for stationary objects directly to the rear.

The ES’ 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 CLA.

Both the ES 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, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning, driver alert monitors and available around view monitors.

For its performance in IIHS driver-side and passenger-side small overlap frontal, moderate overlap frontal, updated side impact, headlight, and daytime pedestrian crash prevention testing, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the ES the rating of “Top Safety Pick” for 2023, a rating granted to only 54 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The CLA has not been tested, yet.

Lexus’ powertrain warranty covers the ES 2 years and 20,000 miles longer than Mercedes covers the CLA. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 6 years or 70,000 miles. Coverage on the CLA ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

The ES’ corrosion warranty is 1 year longer than the CLA’s (6 vs. 5 years).

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 Lexus ES Hybrid’s reliability 32 points higher than the CLA and the Lexus ES is rated 37 points higher than the CLA.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2023 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Lexus vehicles are better in initial quality than Mercedes vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Lexus above average in initial quality. With 30 more problems per 100 vehicles, Mercedes is rated below average.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Lexus vehicles are more reliable than Mercedes vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Lexus above average in long-term dependability. With 33 more problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, Mercedes is rated below average.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2023 Auto Issue reports that Lexus vehicles are more reliable than Mercedes vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Lexus second in overall reliability. Mercedes is ranked 24th.

The ES 350’s standard 3.5 DOHC V6 produces 81 more horsepower (302 vs. 221) and 9 lbs.-ft. more torque (267 vs. 258) than the CLA’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder.

On the EPA test cycle the ES gets better mileage than the CLA:

The ES can travel with zero emissions on a full charge for 1.6 miles. The CLA can’t move without running its internal combustion engine.

Regenerative brakes improve the ES Hybrid’s fuel efficiency by converting inertia back into energy instead of wasting it. The CLA doesn’t offer a regenerative braking system.

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Lexus ES uses regular unleaded gasoline. The CLA requires premium, which can cost on average about 82.8 cents more per gallon.

The ES’ standard fuel tank has 2.4 gallons more fuel capacity than the CLA (15.9 vs. 13.5 gallons).

An eight-speed automatic is standard on the Lexus ES, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only a seven-speed automatic is available for the CLA.

The ES 300h has a standard continuously variable transmission (CVT). With no “steps” between gears, it can keep the engine at the most efficient speed for fuel economy, or keep it at its peak horsepower indefinitely for maximum acceleration. The CLA doesn’t offer a CVT.

The ES stops shorter than the CLA:

For better traction, the ES’ optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the CLA (235/45R18 vs. 225/45R18).

The ES 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 ES’ wheelbase is 5.6 inches longer than on the CLA (113 inches vs. 107.4 inches).

The ES F Sport uses computer-generated active noise cancellation to help remove annoying noise and vibration from the passenger compartment, especially at low frequencies. The CLA doesn’t offer active noise cancellation.

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

The ES has 10.9 cubic feet more passenger volume than the CLA (99.9 vs. 89).

The ES has .6 inches more front legroom, .8 inches more front shoulder room, 2.1 inches more rear headroom, 5.3 inches more rear legroom and .3 inches more rear shoulder room than the CLA.

The ES has a much larger trunk than the CLA (13.9 vs. 11.6 cubic feet).

A low lift-over trunk design makes loading and unloading the ES easier. The ES’ trunk lift-over height is 27.4 inches, while the CLA’s liftover is 30.1 inches.

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

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

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that Lexus service is better than Mercedes. J.D. Power ranks Lexus first in service department satisfaction. With a 48% lower rating, Mercedes is ranked 18th.

Consumer Reports rated the ES’ headlight performance “Fair,” a higher rating than the CLA’s headlights, which were rated “Poor.”

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

A power rear sunshade is optional in the ES and manual rear side window sunshades are standard in the ES Ultra Luxury to help block heat and glare for the rear passengers. The CLA doesn’t offer a rear or rear side window sunshades.

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

The Lexus ES outsold the Mercedes CLA by almost five to one during 2022.