Compare the2025 Toyota GR CorollaVS 2024 Mercedes AMG CLA

For enhanced safety, the front seat shoulder belts of the Toyota GR Corolla 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 GR Corolla 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 GR Corolla’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 GR Corolla 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, all wheel drive, 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 rear parking sensors.

Toyota’s powertrain warranty covers the GR Corolla 1 year and 10,000 miles longer than Mercedes covers the AMG CLA. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 5 years or 60,000 miles. Coverage on the AMG CLA ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

Toyota pays for scheduled maintenance on the GR Corolla for 2 years and 25000 miles. Toyota 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 3 times as many Toyota dealers as there are Mercedes dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the GR Corolla’s warranty.

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 GR Corolla’s reliability 16 points higher than the AMG CLA.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Toyota vehicles are better in initial quality than Mercedes vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Toyota above average in initial quality. With 14 more problems per 100 vehicles, Mercedes is rated below average.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the statistics that show that Toyota vehicles are more reliable than Mercedes vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Toyota second in reliability, above the industry average. With 71 more problems per 100 vehicles, Mercedes is ranked 21st.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2024 Auto Issue reports that Toyota vehicles are more reliable than Mercedes vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Toyota second in overall reliability. Mercedes is ranked 29th.

On the EPA test cycle the GR Corolla gets better fuel mileage than the AMG CLA 45 (21 city/28 hwy vs. 20 city/28 hwy).

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

For better maneuverability, the GR Corolla’s turning circle is .3 feet tighter than the AMG CLA 35’s (36.1 feet vs. 36.4 feet). The GR Corolla’s turning circle is 2 feet tighter than the AMG CLA 45 S’ (36.1 feet vs. 38.1 feet).

The Toyota GR Corolla may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 450 to 500 pounds less than the Mercedes AMG CLA.

The GR Corolla is 11.2 inches shorter than the AMG CLA, making the GR Corolla easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The GR Corolla has .2 inches more front legroom, 1.9 inches more rear headroom and .5 inches more rear shoulder room than the AMG CLA.

The GR Corolla’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.

To improve rear visibility by keeping the rear window clear, the GR Corolla has a standard rear wiper. The AMG CLA doesn’t offer a rear wiper.

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

The GR Corolla was chosen as a Car and Driver’s “Top Ten” for 2023. The AMG CLA has never been chosen by Car and Driver in their “10Best” issue.