Compare the2024 Audi A5VS 2024 Mercedes CLE

The A5’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 CLE.

Both the A5 and the CLE have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, 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 and rear cross-path warning.

The A5’s corrosion warranty is 7 years longer than the CLE’s (12 vs. 5 years).

The Audi A5’s engine uses a cast iron block for durability, while the CLE’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 2024 Auto Issue reports that Audi vehicles are more reliable than Mercedes vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Audi 10 places higher in reliability than Mercedes.

The A5’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid produces 6 more horsepower (261 vs. 255) than the CLE 300’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid.

On the EPA test cycle the A5 Coupe gets better fuel mileage than the CLE 450 3.0 turbo 6-cylinder Hybrid (24 city/32 hwy vs. 23 city/32 hwy).

On the EPA test cycle the A5 Cabriolet gets better mileage than the CLE Cabriolet:

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Audi A5 uses regular unleaded gasoline (premium recommended for maximum performance). The CLE requires premium, which can cost on average about 82.8 cents more per gallon.

The A5 offers a standard sequential manual gearbox (SMG). With no clutch pedal to worry about and a fully automatic mode, an SMG is much more efficient than a conventional automatic but just as easy to drive. The CLE doesn’t offer an SMG or a conventional manual transmission.

The A5’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 CLE doesn’t offer launch control.

The Audi A5 may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 550 to 700 pounds less than the Mercedes CLE.

The A5 is 6.1 inches shorter than the CLE, making the A5 easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

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.

Laser headlights, standard on the A5 Prestige, produce their light by firing blue lasers through phosphorus, a process that uses one-half the power of the CLE’s LED headlights. Laser headlights can have double the range of LEDs with a much smaller surface area.

The Audi A5 comes in coupe, convertible and four door hatchback bodystyles; the Mercedes CLE isn’t available as a four door.