Audi A5 Saloon vs Mercedes-Benz CLA
Better figure, where one is clearly better
| AudiA5 Saloon | Mercedes-BenzCLA | |
|---|---|---|
| Overview | ||
| Released | July 2024 | July 2025 |
| Performance | ||
| Powertrain | Petrol, Mild hybrid, Plug-in hybrid | Electric, Hybrid |
| Power | 148–630 bhp (better) | 154–268 bhp |
| 0–62 mph | 3.6–9.8 s (better) | 6.7–8.8 s |
| Top speed | 134–177 mph (better) | 130–147 mph |
| Engine or motors | 2.0-litre TFSI (150 or 204 PS), 2.0-litre TDI with 48V MHEV plus (204 PS), 2.0 TFSI e-hybrid plug-in hybrid (299 PS system output, 105 kW electric motor), 3.0-litre V6 TFSI with MHEV plus (367 PS, S5), 2.9-litre twin-turbo V6 TFSI (510 PS) with a 130 kW electric motor, plug-in hybrid (639 PS system output, RS 5); bhp converted from Audi's PS figures | Electric: rear motor, 165 kW (224 hp) CLA 200 or 200 kW (272 hp) CLA 250+. Hybrid: 1,499 cc four-cylinder petrol of 100, 120 or 140 kW plus a 22 kW electric motor and 1.3 kWh battery; combined system output 115, 135 or 155 kW (bhp converted from Mercedes' kW figures) |
| Torque | 280 Nm (TFSI 150), 340 Nm (TFSI 204), 400 Nm (TDI), 450 Nm system (e-hybrid), 550 Nm (S5), 825 Nm system (RS 5) | 335 Nm (electric); hybrid system torque 280 Nm (CLA 180), 330 Nm (CLA 200), 380 Nm (CLA 220 4MATIC) |
| Gearbox | 7-speed S tronic; 8-speed tiptronic on RS 5 | Single-speed (electric); 8G-eDCT 8-speed dual-clutch (hybrid) |
| Drive | Front-wheel drive (TFSI and TDI) or quattro four-wheel drive (TDI quattro, e-hybrid, S5, RS 5) | Rear-wheel drive (electric); front-wheel drive or 4MATIC all-wheel drive (hybrid) |
| Range and charging | ||
| Zero-emission range (WLTP) | 52–74 miles | 328–480 miles (better) |
| Battery | 20.7–22 kWh | 58–85 kWh (better) |
| Fastest charging | – | 200–320 kW |
| Economy (WLTP) | 36.7–162.9 mpg (better) | 53.3–56.5 mpg |
| Range detail | WLTP electric range: 68–74 miles combined, 71–80 miles city (e-hybrid); 50–52 miles combined, 52–54 miles city (RS 5); depends on trim | WLTP electric range 328 miles (CLA 200) or 480 miles (CLA 250+) |
| Charging | e-hybrid has a 20.7 kWh net (25.9 kWh gross) battery and charges on AC only, at up to 11 kW (150 minutes to full); RS 5 has a 22 kWh net (25.9 kWh gross) battery, 165 minutes to full on AC | Usable battery 58 kWh (CLA 200) or 85 kWh (CLA 250+); DC up to 200 kW (10–80% in 20 minutes) or 320 kW (22 minutes); 11 kW AC, 0–100% in 6.5 or 9 hours |
| Efficiency | WLTP combined: 40.3–41.7 mpg (TFSI 150), 37.4–41.7 mpg (TFSI 204), 56.0–58.9 mpg (TDI), 50.7–55.2 mpg (TDI quattro), 139.4–162.9 mpg weighted (e-hybrid), 36.1–36.7 mpg (S5), 68.6–74.0 mpg weighted (RS 5); depends on trim | 12.7 kWh/100 km (CLA 200), 12.6 kWh/100 km (CLA 250+); 56.5 mpg (CLA 180 and 200 hybrid), 53.3 mpg (CLA 220 4MATIC), WLTP combined |
| CO2 emissions | 154–172 g/km (TFSI), 126–146 g/km (TDI), 39–46 g/km (e-hybrid), 175–177 g/km (S5), 87–94 g/km (RS 5), WLTP combined | 0 g/km (electric); 114–121 g/km (hybrid) |
| Practicality | ||
| Body | Saloon | Saloon |
| Seats | 5 | 5 |
| Boot | 445 litres (better) | 405 litres |
| Length | 4,835 mm | 4,723 mm |
| Width | 1,860 mm | 1,855 mm |
| Weight | From 1,695 kg | From 1,703 kg |
| Boot | 445 litres, 1,299 litres with the rear seats folded; 417/1,271 litres (TDI and S5), 331/1,175 litres (e-hybrid), 331/1,170 litres (RS 5) | 405 litres |
| Towing | 1,500 kg braked (TFSI), 1,700 kg (TDI and e-hybrid), 1,800 kg (TDI quattro), 1,900 kg (S5 and RS 5) | 1,500 kg braked (electric); 1,600–2,000 kg (hybrid) |
| Size | 4,835 mm long, 1,860 mm wide, 1,461 mm high (RS 5 4,896 x 1,952 x 1,456 mm); weight is Audi UK's unladen figure, 1,695 kg (TFSI) to 2,430 kg (RS 5); RS 5 top speed is 155 mph, 177 mph on Performance Vorsprung | 4,723 mm long, 1,855 mm wide without mirrors (2,021 mm with), 1,468 mm high (electric) or 1,450 mm (hybrid); 11.2 m turning circle; kerb weight 2,062–2,072 kg (electric), 1,703–1,778 kg (hybrid) |
