The 2017 Mercedes-Benz CLA and the 2017 BMW 2-Series open the door to a new kind of car in the automotive industry. In fact, they could be thought of as crossover vehicles because they mix the utility and comfort of a sedan with the sport of a coupe. They are a little smaller than your typical sedan or coupe, pinning them between compact and midsize. They are both great additions to their respective brands, but which German company does it better?
The first thing that calls your attention is the fact that the CLA 250 Coupe actually has four doors. This style was made popular by Mercedes-Benz with the introduction of the CLA and the CLS. Basically, it is a coupe design, with the backseats pushed farther into the back end of the car. This actually is a big deciding factor between the two because unless you love the look of the two-door coupe, you will appreciate the functionality and comfort of having two doors without sacrificing performance.
When it comes down to win or lose, we have to look at numbers that don't affect the way the car drives all that much. For example, we like the CLA because it has more torque, but the amount is miniscule. Still, when your top speed is electronically limited anyway, you are better off with torque than horsepower. Second, despite the extra doors, the CLA is lighter. How much lighter? Only about 100 pounds, but every little bit counts when you are picking apart direct competition.
When forced to make a decision, we have to pick the CLA every time. Aside from have more torque and weighing less, the CLA is also a few inches longer, giving the CLA more stability at higher speeds. Of course, we can't argue with BMW loyalty, but if you are stuck in between two very comfortable rocks, we strongly urge you to at least try the Mercedes-Benz first. Let us know when you're ready!
