Compare the2025 Hyundai Elantra NVS 2024 Mercedes AMG CLA

For enhanced safety, the front seat shoulder belts of the Hyundai Elantra N 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.

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 Elantra N are reminded to check the back seat if they opened the rear door before starting out. The AMG CLA doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

The Elantra N’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 Elantra N and the AMG CLA have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact 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, rear cross-path warning and driver alert monitors.

The Hyundai Elantra N achieved a “Top Safety Pick” rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) for the 2024 model year. This recognition was based on its impressive performance in the small overlap frontal crash test, updated side impact crash test, headlight evaluations, and pedestrian crash prevention testing. The AMG CLA has not yet been evaluated by the IIHS for 2024.

The Elantra N comes with a full 5-year/60,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire car and includes 24-hour roadside assistance. The AMG CLA’s 4-year/50,000-mile basic warranty expires 1 year or 10,000 miles sooner.

Hyundai’s powertrain warranty covers the Elantra N 6 years and 50,000 miles longer than Mercedes covers the AMG CLA. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 10 years or 100,000 miles. Coverage on the AMG CLA ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

The Elantra N’s corrosion warranty is 2 years longer than the AMG CLA’s (7 vs. 5 years).

Hyundai pays for scheduled maintenance on the Elantra N for 3 years and 36,000 miles. Hyundai will pay for oil changes, tire rotations, air filter replacements, cabin filter replacement, brake fluid replacement, inspections, and any other required maintenance. Mercedes doesn’t pay scheduled maintenance for the AMG CLA.

There are over 2 times as many Hyundai dealers as there are Mercedes dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Elantra N’s warranty.

To reliably power the ignition and other systems and to recharge the battery, the Elantra N has a standard 150-amp alternator. The AMG CLA’s 115-amp alternator isn’t as powerful.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Hyundai vehicles are better in initial quality than Mercedes vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Hyundai third in initial quality, above the industry average. With 44 more problems per 100 vehicles, Mercedes is ranked 21st, below the industry average.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Hyundai vehicles are more reliable than Mercedes With 20 fewer problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, J.D. Power ranks Hyundai higher than Mercedes.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2024 Auto Issue reports that Hyundai vehicles are more reliable than Mercedes vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Hyundai 18 places higher in reliability than Mercedes.

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

For better traction, the Elantra N has larger tires than the AMG CLA (245/35R19 vs. 235/40R18).

The Elantra N’s tires provide better handling because they have a lower 35 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the AMG CLA 35’s standard 40 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Elantra N has standard 19-inch wheels. Smaller 18-inch wheels are standard on the AMG CLA 35.

The Hyundai Elantra N may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 500 pounds less than the Mercedes AMG CLA.

To minimize engine movement during hard acceleration and transmission shifts, the Elantra N has solid engine mounts. The AMG CLA uses conventional rubber.

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

The Elantra N has 10.4 cubic feet more passenger volume than the AMG CLA (99.4 vs. 89).

The Elantra N has 2.1 inches more front headroom, .5 inches more front legroom, 1.4 inches more front shoulder room, 1.6 inches more rear headroom, 4.1 inches more rear legroom and 1.6 inches more rear shoulder room than the AMG CLA.

The Elantra N has a much larger trunk than the AMG CLA (14.2 vs. 11.6 cubic feet).

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

A group of representative automotive journalists from North America selected the Elantra as the 2021 North American Car of the Year. The AMG CLA has never been chosen.

The Hyundai Elantra outsold the Mercedes CLA by almost 14 to one during 2023.