Compare the2026 Mercedes AMG CLAVS 2026 Cadillac CT4-V

For enhanced safety, the front and rear seat shoulder belts of the Mercedes AMG CLA have pretensioners to tighten the seatbelts and eliminate dangerous slack in the event of a collision and force limiters to limit the pressure the belts will exert on the passengers. The Cadillac CT4-V doesn’t offer pretensioners for its rear seat belts.

The AMG CLA’s optional pre-crash front seatbelts will tighten automatically in the event the vehicle detects an impending crash, improving protection against injury significantly. The CT4-V doesn’t offer pre-crash pretensioners.

The AMG CLA offers an optional Post Collision Brake, which automatically applies the brakes in the event of a crash to help prevent secondary collisions and prevent further injuries. The CT4-V doesn’t offer a post collision braking system: in the event of a collision that triggers the airbags, more collisions are possible without the protection of airbags that may have already deployed.

To provide maximum traction and stability on all roads, All-Wheel Drive is standard on the AMG CLA. But it costs extra on the CT4-V.

Both the AMG CLA and CT4-V have rear cross-traffic warning, but the AMG CLA has Active Brake Assist (automatically applies the brakes) to better prevent a collision when backing near traffic. The CT4-V’s Rear Cross Traffic Alert doesn’t automatically brake.

The AMG CLA’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 CT4-V doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the AMG CLA and the CT4-V have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver and front passenger knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, 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, available lane departure warning systems and around view monitors.

The AMG CLA 45 S’ standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid produces 91 more horsepower (416 vs. 325) than the CT4-V’s standard 2.7 turbo 4-cylinder.

On the EPA test cycle the AMG CLA gets better mileage than the CT4-V:

Regenerative brakes improve the AMG CLA’s fuel efficiency by converting inertia back into energy instead of wasting it. The CT4-V doesn’t offer a regenerative braking system.

Regardless of its engine, the AMG CLA’s engine automatically turns off when the vehicle is stopped, saving fuel and reducing pollution. If the conditions warrant or the driver wishes, the system can be manually disabled at any time for the duration of a trip. The CT4-V Blackwing doesn’t offer an automatic engine start/stop system.

The AMG CLA has a standard locking fuel door, which locks and unlocks with the power locks. The fuel filler door is not lockable on the CT4-V. A locking fuel door helps prevent fuel theft and vandalism, such as sugar in the tank.

The AMG CLA 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 CT4-V doesn’t offer an SMG.

For better stopping power the AMG CLA’s standard brake rotors are larger than those on the CT4-V:

The AMG CLA’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 CT4-V doesn’t offer drift compensation steering.

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the AMG CLA is 3.1 inches wider in the front and 2 inches wider in the rear than the average track on the CT4-V.

The AMG CLA 45 S handles at .99 G’s, while the CT4-V AWD pulls only .87 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The AMG CLA 45 S executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.3 seconds quicker than the CT4-V (24.1 seconds @ .8 average G’s vs. 25.4 seconds @ .73 average G’s).

The AMG CLA has .2 inches more front headroom, .5 inches more rear legroom and .1 inches more rear shoulder room than the CT4-V.

The AMG CLA has a larger trunk than the CT4-V (11.6 vs. 10.7 cubic feet).

To make loading groceries and cargo easier when your hands are full, the AMG CLA’s trunk can be opened just by kicking your foot under the back bumper, leaving your hands completely free. The CT4-V doesn’t offer a hands-free gesture to open its trunk, forcing you to put cargo down if your hands are full.

Unlike the driver-only memory system in the CT4-V, the AMG CLA has standard driver and passenger memory, so that when drivers switch, the memory setting adjusts the driver’s seat and outside mirror angle and the front passenger seat also adjusts to the new passenger’s preset preferences.

The AMG CLA’s front and rear power windows all open or close with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside of the car. The CT4-V’s rear power window switches have to be held the entire time to close them fully.

If the windows are left open on the AMG CLA the driver can close all of them from a distance using the remote. On a hot day the driver can also lower the windows the same way. The driver of the CT4-V can only close the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

Heated windshield washer nozzles are optional on the AMG CLA to prevent washer fluid and nozzles from freezing and help continue to keep the windshield clear in sub-freezing temperatures. The CT4-V doesn’t offer heated windshield washer nozzles.

The CT4-V’s optional cornering lamps activate a lamp on the front corner when the turn signal is activated. The AMG CLA’s optional adaptive cornering lights turn the actual headlight unit up to several degrees, depending on steering wheel angle and vehicle speed. This lights a significant distance into corners at any speed.

Both the Mercedes AMG CLA and Cadillac CT4-V offer exterior mirrors that can be folded to provide convenience. The AMG CLA features standard power folding mirrors, which allow for easy, one-touch folding or unfolding at the driver’s discretion. This provides added convenience when maneuvering or parking, as well as when walking past the parked vehicle. In comparison, the CT4-V’s foldable mirrors are manual, requiring the driver to get out and physically fold them once parked and unfold them before getting in.

The AMG CLA’s Active Parking Assist can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. The CT4-V doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

Motor Trend performed a comparison test in its January 2021 issue and they ranked the Mercedes AMG CLA 45 S higher than the Cadillac CT4-V.

The Mercedes CLA outsold the Cadillac CT4 by 87% during 2024.