Compare the2025 Kia K4VS 2025 Mercedes CLA

For enhanced safety, the front seat shoulder belts of the Kia K4 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 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 K4 are reminded to check the back seat if they opened the rear door before starting out. The CLA doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

In a Vehicle-to-Vehicle Frontal Crash Prevention 2.0 test conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), the Kia K4 achieved a “Acceptable” rating - the second highest possible - for its performance in forward collision warning and automatic braking systems, demonstrating its excellent capabilities in preventing collisions. The Mercedes CLA has not been tested.

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The K4 GT-Line Turbo offers optional Reverse Parking Collision-Avoidance Assist that uses rear sensors to monitor for objects to the rear and automatically applies the brakes to prevent a collision. The CLA doesn’t offer automatic braking for stationary objects directly to the rear.

Both the K4 and the CLA have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front and rear seatbelt pretensioners, front wheel drive, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, rearview cameras, driver alert monitors, available blind spot warning systems, around view monitors and rear cross-path warning.

The Kia K4 (Built after January 2025) has achieved the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s (IIHS) highest rating of “Top Safety Pick Plus” for the 2025 model year. This distinction is based on its exceptional performance in IIHS’ rigorous battery of safety tests. Specifically, it earned a “Good” rating in the latest, more stringent moderate overlap front crash test, a “Good” result in the updated side impact test, and a “Good” score in the revised pedestrian crash prevention test. The CLA has not yet been evaluated by the IIHS for 2025.

The K4 comes with a full 5-year/60,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire car and includes 24-hour roadside assistance. The CLA’s 4-year/50,000-mile basic warranty expires 1 year or 10,000 miles sooner.

Kia’s powertrain warranty covers the K4 6 years and 50,000 miles longer than Mercedes covers the 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 CLA ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

There are over 2 times as many Kia dealers as there are Mercedes dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the K4’s warranty.

To reliably power the ignition and other systems and to recharge the battery, the K4 has a standard 150-amp alternator (160-amp - K4 GT-Line Turbo). The 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 Kia vehicles are better in initial quality than Mercedes vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Kia fourth in initial quality, above the industry average. With 43 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 Kia vehicles are more reliable than Mercedes vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Kia above average in long-term dependability. With 3 more problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, Mercedes is rated below average.

On the EPA test cycle the K4 gets better mileage than the CLA:

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Kia K4 uses regular unleaded gasoline. The CLA requires premium, which can cost on average about 84.9 cents more per gallon.

The K4 has a standard continuously variable transmission (CVT). With no “steps” between gears, it can keep the engine at the most efficient speed for fuel economy, or keep it at its peak horsepower indefinitely for maximum acceleration. The CLA doesn’t offer a CVT.

The K4 stops shorter than the CLA:

For better traction, the K4 GT-Line’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the CLA (235/40R18 vs. 225/45R18).

The K4 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 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 CLA don’t have a run-flat feature, either.

For better maneuverability, the K4’s turning circle is .9 feet tighter than the CLA’s (35.2 feet vs. 36.1 feet).

The Kia K4 may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 350 to 550 pounds less than the Mercedes CLA.

Because it has more passenger and cargo room, the EPA rates the K4 a Mid-size car, while the CLA is rated a Compact.

The K4 has 9.7 cubic feet more passenger volume than the CLA (98.7 vs. 89).

The K4 has .5 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 .7 inches more rear shoulder room than the CLA.

The K4 has a much larger trunk than the CLA (14.6 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 K4 EX/GT-Line has standard extendable sun visors. The CLA doesn’t offer extendable visors.

Optional air-conditioned seats in the K4 GT-Line keep the driver and front passenger comfortable and take the sting out of hot seats in Summer. The CLA doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats.

The Kia K4 outsold the Mercedes CLA by over two to one during 2024.