Compare the2024 Maserati GhibliVS 2024 Mercedes AMG CLA

For enhanced safety, the front seat shoulder belts of the Maserati Ghibli 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.

The Ghibli’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 Ghibli and the AMG CLA have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee 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 and rear cross-path warning.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2023 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Maserati vehicles are better in initial quality than Mercedes vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Maserati above average in initial quality. With 19 more problems per 100 vehicles, Mercedes is rated below average.

The Ghibli has more powerful engines than the AMG CLA:

The Ghibli has 7.6 gallons more fuel capacity than the AMG CLA (21.1 vs. 13.5 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

The Ghibli has a standard cap-less fueling system. The fuel filler is automatically opened when the fuel nozzle is inserted and automatically closed when it’s removed. This eliminates the need to unscrew and replace the cap and it reduces fuel evaporation, which causes pollution. The AMG CLA doesn’t offer a cap-less fueling system.

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

For better traction, the Ghibli has larger standard tires than the AMG CLA (F:245/45R19 & R:275/40R19 vs. 235/40R18).

The Ghibli’s optional 285/30R21 rear tires provide better handling because they have a lower 30 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the AMG CLA’s optional 35 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Ghibli has standard 19-inch wheels. Smaller 18-inch wheels are standard on the AMG CLA 35. The Ghibli’s optional 21-inch wheels are larger than the 19-inch wheels optional on the AMG CLA.

The Ghibli 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 AMG 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 AMG CLA don’t have a run-flat feature, either.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Ghibli’s wheelbase is 10.6 inches longer than on the AMG CLA (118 inches vs. 107.4 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the Ghibli is .9 inches wider in the front and 2 inches wider in the rear than the average track on the AMG CLA.

Because it has more passenger and cargo room, the EPA rates the Ghibli a Large car, while the AMG CLA is rated a Compact.

The Ghibli has 19 cubic feet more passenger volume than the AMG CLA (108 vs. 89).

The Ghibli has .3 inches more front headroom, 2.7 inches more front shoulder room, 3.1 inches more rear headroom and 2.5 inches more rear shoulder room than the AMG CLA.

The Ghibli has a much larger trunk than the AMG CLA (17.7 vs. 11.6 cubic feet).

To make loading and unloading groceries and cargo easier, especially for short adults, the Ghibli 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 AMG CLA doesn’t offer a power trunk, so its trunk has to be closed manually.

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

The Ghibli’s instruments include an oil pressure gauge and a temperature gauge - which could save your engine! Often ‘idiot lights’ don’t warn you until damage has been done. The AMG CLA does not have an oil pressure gauge.

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

A power rear sunshade is optional in the Ghibli to help block heat and glare for the rear passengers. The AMG CLA doesn’t offer a rear sunshade.

Both the Ghibli and the AMG CLA have standard heated front seats. The Ghibli also offers optional heated rear seats to keep those passengers extremely comfortable in the winter. Heated rear seats aren’t available in the AMG CLA.

The Ghibli has a standard heated steering wheel to take the chill out of steering on extremely cold winter days before the car heater warms up. A heated steering wheel costs extra on the AMG CLA.

The Ghibli is available in both rear-wheel drive and all-wheel drive configurations. The AMG CLA doesn’t offer a two-wheel drive configuration.