Compare the2024 Mercedes CLEVS 2024 Audi A5

In the past twenty years hundreds of infants and young children have died after being left in vehicles, usually by accident. When turning the vehicle off, drivers of the CLE are reminded to check the back seat. The A5 doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

The CLE has a standard front seat center airbag, which deploys between the driver and front passenger, protecting them from injuries caused by striking each other in serious side impacts. The A5 doesn’t offer front seat center airbags.

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The CLE has standard Maneuvering Assistance that uses rear sensors to monitor for objects to the rear and automatically applies the brakes to prevent a collision. The A5 doesn’t offer automatic braking for stationary objects directly to the rear.

The CLE has a standard blind spot warning system that uses sensors to alert the driver to objects in the vehicle’s blind spots where the side view mirrors don’t reveal them. A system to reveal vehicles in the A5’s blind spot costs extra.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the CLE has standard Rear Cross-Traffic Alert and Active Brake Assist automatically engages the brakes to help avoid a collision. Audi charges extra for Rear Cross-Traffic Assist on the A5.

The CLE’s driver alert monitor detects an inattentive driver then sounds a warning and suggests a break. According to the NHTSA, drivers who fall asleep cause about 100,000 crashes and 1500 deaths a year. The A5 doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the CLE and the A5 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, post-collision automatic braking systems, daytime running lights, rearview cameras, available four-wheel drive, lane departure warning systems and around view monitors.

There are over 25 percent more Mercedes dealers than there are Audi dealers, which makes it easier should you ever need service under the CLE’s warranty.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Mercedes vehicles are better in initial quality than Audi vehicles. With 36 fewer problems per 100 vehicles, JD Power ranks Mercedes higher than Audi.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Mercedes vehicles are more reliable than Audi With 57 fewer problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, J.D. Power ranks Mercedes higher than Audi.

The CLE 300’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid produces 22 lbs.-ft. more torque (295 vs. 273) than the A5’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid. The CLE 450’s standard 3.0 turbo 6-cylinder hybrid produces 114 more horsepower (375 vs. 261) and 96 lbs.-ft. more torque (369 vs. 273) than the A5’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid.

On the EPA test cycle the CLE 300 Coupe with its standard engine gets better fuel mileage than the A5 Coupe (24 city/34 hwy vs. 24 city/32 hwy).

The CLE has 2.1 gallons more fuel capacity than the A5 (17.4 vs. 15.3 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Mercedes CLE higher (7 to 8 out of 10) than the Audi A5 (5). This means the CLE produces up to 13.5 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the A5 every 15,000 miles.

A nine-speed automatic is standard on the Mercedes CLE, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only a seven-speed automatic is available for the A5.

For better stopping power the CLE’s brake rotors are larger than those on the A5:

The CLE’s standard front and rear disc brakes are vented to help dissipate heat for shorter stops with less fading. The rear discs on the A5 are solid, not vented.

The CLE stops shorter than the A5:

The CLE’s optional 275/30R20 rear tires provide better handling because they have a lower 30 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the A5 Premium Plus/Prestige’s optional 35 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the CLE offers optional 20-inch wheels. The A5’s largest wheels are only 19-inches.

Changing a flat tire near traffic can be dangerous and inconvenient. The run-flat tires available on the CLE can be driven up to 50 miles without any air pressure, allowing you to drive to a service station for a repair. The A5 doesn’t offer run-flat tires.

The CLE has a standard driver-adjustable suspension system. It allows the driver to choose between an extra-supple ride, reducing fatigue on long trips, or a sport setting, which allows maximum control for tricky roads. The A5’s suspension doesn’t offer adjustable shock absorbers.

The CLE’s drift compensation steering can automatically compensate for road conditions which would cause the vehicle to drift from side to side, helping the driver to keep the vehicle straight more easily. The A5 doesn’t offer drift compensation steering.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the CLE’s wheelbase is 4 inches longer than on the A5 (112.8 inches vs. 108.8 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the CLE is .7 inches wider in the front and 1.9 inches wider in the rear than on the A5.

The CLE 450 Coupe handles at .91 G’s, while the A5 Prestige Coupe pulls only .85 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The CLE Coupe has 4 cubic feet more passenger volume than the A5 Coupe (88 vs. 84). The CLE Cabriolet has 5 cubic feet more passenger volume than the A5 Cabriolet (88 vs. 83).

The CLE Coupe has 2.9 inches more front headroom, .8 inches more front legroom, .4 inches more front shoulder room, 1.5 inches more rear legroom and 1.7 inches more rear shoulder room than the A5 Coupe.

The CLE Convertible has 1.9 inches more front headroom, .8 inches more front legroom, .4 inches more front shoulder room, 1.1 inches more rear legroom and 1.2 inches more rear shoulder room than the A5 Cabriolet.

The CLE Coupe has a larger trunk than the A5 Coupe (11.2 vs. 10.9 cubic feet).

The CLE Cabriolet has a much larger trunk with its top down than the A5 Cabriolet with its top down (9.6 vs. 7.2 cubic feet). The CLE Cabriolet has a larger trunk than the A5 Cabriolet with its top up (9.6 vs. 9.3 cubic feet).

To make loading and unloading groceries and cargo easier, especially for short adults, the CLE has a standard 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 A5 doesn’t offer a power trunk, so its trunk has to be closed manually.

Unlike the driver-only memory seat and mirrors optional at extra cost in the A5, the CLE has standard driver and passenger memory, so that when drivers switch, the memory setting adjusts the driver’s seat, steering wheel position, outside mirror angle, climate settings and radio stations and the front passenger seat also adjusts to the new passenger’s preset preferences.

The CLE’s standard easy entry system raises the steering wheel and glides the driver’s seat back, making it easier for the driver to get in and out. The A5 doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

If the windows are left open on the CLE the driver can close them all at the outside door handle or from a distance using the remote. On a hot day the driver can lower the windows from a distance using the keyless remote. The driver of the A5 can’t use the remote to operate the windows.

In case of a sudden change of weather, the CLE has a standard remote convertible top that can be raised from a distance to protect the interior of the vehicle from damage. On a hot day the CLE has a standard remote opening feature, to lower the top from outside. The A5 doesn’t offer a remote top, so the driver will have to run to the car, get in, turn the ignition on and raise the top to prevent the interior from being damaged.

The CLE’s standard Keyless-Go allow you to unlock the doors from either outside door handle, open the trunk, and start the engine, all without removing the key from the pocket or purse. Keyless Engine Start/Stop standard on the A5 only offers hands-free access for the ignition, none to unlock the car.

The CLE offers optional massaging front seats in order to maximize comfort and eliminate fatigue on long trips. Massaging seats aren’t available in the A5.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Mercedes CLE has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. Only the A5 Premium Plus/Prestige offers wireless charging.

The CLE’s Active Parking Assist can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. The A5 Prestige’s automatic parking system requires operating the brakes and transmission to safely park.