The 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 Jetta doesn't offer pre-crash pretensioners.

The Mercedes CLA has standard driver and front passenger side knee airbags mounted low on the dashboard. These airbags help prevent the driver and front passenger from sliding under their seatbelts or the main frontal airbags; this keeps them better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. Knee airbags also help keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The Jetta doesn't offer knee airbags.

The CLA's standard pretensioning seatbelts also sense rear collisions and remove slack from the seatbelts to help protect the occupants from whiplash and other injuries. The Jetta doesn't offer a whiplash protection system.

The CLA offers all-wheel drive to maximize traction under poor conditions, especially in ice and snow. The Jetta doesn't offer all-wheel drive.

The CLA offers an optional Surround View System to allow the driver to see objects all around the vehicle on a screen. The Jetta only offers a rear monitor.

The 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 Jetta doesn't offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the CLA and the Jetta 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, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning and available lane departure warning systems.

The CLA's corrosion warranty is unlimited miles longer than the Jetta's (unlimited vs. 100,000 miles).

A hardened steel chain, with no maintenance needs, drives the camshafts in the CLA's engine. A rubber cam drive belt that needs periodic replacement drives the Jetta's camshafts. If the Jetta's belt breaks, the engine could be severely damaged when the pistons hit the opened valves.

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 CLA's reliability 21 points higher than the Jetta.

J.D. Power and Associates' 2025 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Mercedes vehicles are better in initial quality than Volkswagen vehicles. With 15 fewer problems per 100 vehicles, JD Power ranks Mercedes higher than Volkswagen.

J.D. Power and Associates' 2025 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Mercedes vehicles are more reliable than Volkswagen With 42 fewer problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, J.D. Power ranks Mercedes higher than Volkswagen.

The CLA's 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid produces 63 more horsepower (221 vs. 158) and 74 lbs.-ft. more torque (258 vs. 184) than the Jetta's 1.5 turbo 4-cylinder.

As tested in Motor Trend the Mercedes CLA is faster than the Volkswagen Jetta:

Regenerative brakes improve the CLA's fuel efficiency by converting inertia back into energy instead of wasting it. The Jetta doesn't offer a regenerative braking system.

The 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 Jetta doesn't offer an SMG or a conventional manual transmission.

For better stopping power the CLA's brake rotors are larger than those on the Jetta:

The CLA stops much shorter than the Jetta:

For better traction, the CLA has larger tires than the Jetta (225/45R18 vs. 205/60R16).

The CLA's standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 45 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Jetta S' standard 60 series tires. The CLA's optional tires have a lower 40 series profile than the Jetta SEL's 45 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the CLA has standard 18-inch wheels. Smaller 16-inch wheels are standard on the Jetta S. The CLA's optional 19-inch wheels are larger than the 18-inch wheels on the Jetta SEL.

Changing a flat tire near traffic can be dangerous and inconvenient. The run-flat tires available on the CLA can be driven up to 50 miles without any air pressure, allowing you to drive to a service station for a repair. The Jetta doesn't offer run-flat tires.

For superior ride and handling, the Mercedes CLA has fully independent front and rear suspensions. An independent suspension allows the wheels to follow the road at the best angle for gripping the pavement, without compromising ride comfort. The Volkswagen Jetta has a rear torsion beam axle, with a semi-independent rear suspension.

The CLA has standard front and rear stabilizer bars, which help keep the CLA flat and controlled during cornering. The Jetta's suspension doesn't offer a rear stabilizer bar.

The CLA offers an optional driver-adjustable suspension system. It allows the driver to choose between an extra-supple ride, reducing fatigue on long trips, or a sport setting, which allows maximum control for tricky roads. The Jetta's suspension doesn't offer adjustable shock absorbers.

The 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 Jetta doesn't offer drift compensation steering.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the CLA's wheelbase is 1.7 inches longer than on the Jetta (107.4 inches vs. 105.7 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the CLA is 2.8 inches wider in the front and 2.7 inches wider in the rear than on the Jetta.

The CLA 250 4MATIC handles at .87 G's, while the Jetta SEL pulls only .86 G's of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The CLA 250 4MATIC executes Motor Trend's “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the Jetta SEL (26.5 seconds @ .65 average G's vs. 27.4 seconds @ .65 average G's).

To allow full utilization of available cargo room, the CLA's trunk lid uses concealed beam hinges that don't intrude into the trunk. Its intrusive beam hinge reduces the Jetta's useful trunk space.

A standard locking glovebox (which can't be accessed with the valet key) keeps your small valuables safer in the CLA. The Jetta doesn't offer locking storage for small valuables.

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

The CLA uses gas struts to support the hood for easier service access. The Jetta uses a prop rod to support its heavy hood. It takes two hands to open the hood and set the prop rod, the prop rod gets in the way during maintenance and service, and the prop rod could be knocked out, causing the heavy hood to fall on the person maintaining or servicing the car.

Unlike the driver-only memory seat and mirrors in the Jetta SEL, the 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 CLA's standard easy entry and exit feature glides the driver's seat back, making it easier for the driver to get in and out. The Jetta doesn't offer an easy entry system.

The CLA offers an optional heads-up display that projects speed and navigation instruction readouts in front of the driver's line of sight, allowing drivers to view information without diverting their eyes from the road. The Jetta doesn't offer a heads-up display.

If the windows are left open on the CLA the driver can close all of them at the outside door handle or from a distance using the remote. On a hot day the driver can lower the windows from a distance using the keyless remote. The driver of the Jetta can't use the remote to operate the windows.

The CLA has standard Keyless-Start that allows you to start the engine without removing the key from the pocket or purse. Only the Jetta SE/SEL offers Keyless Access.

To help drivers avoid possible obstacles, the CLA offers optional cornering lights to illuminate around corners when the turn signals are activated. The Jetta doesn't offer cornering lights. The CLA also offers optional adaptive headlights to illuminate around corners automatically by reading vehicle speed and steering wheel angle.

When the CLA is put in reverse, the passenger rearview mirror tilts from its original position. This gives the driver a better view of the curb during parallel parking maneuvers. Shifting out of reverse puts the mirror into its original position. The Jetta's mirror doesn't automatically adjust for backing.

The CLA's standard rear and side view mirrors have an automatic dimming feature. These mirrors can be set to automatically darken quickly when headlights shine on them, keeping following vehicles from blinding or distracting the driver. The Jetta has an automatic rear view mirror, but its side mirrors don't dim.

Both the Mercedes CLA and Volkswagen Jetta offer exterior mirrors that can be folded to provide convenience. The 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 Jetta's foldable mirrors are manual, requiring the driver to get out and physically fold them once parked and unfold them before getting in.

Both the CLA and the Jetta offer rear vents. For greater rear passenger comfort, the CLA has standard rear air conditioning vents to keep rear occupants cool in summer or warm in winter. The Jetta doesn't offer rear air conditioning vents, only heat vents.

Compared to traditional radio, the Mercedes CLA's standard SiriusXM satellite radio provides an unmatched listening experience. Its extensive coverage guarantees consistent, crystal-clear reception across the continental U.S., and access to over 100 channels dedicated to a multitude of genres, including music, news, sports, talk shows, and comedy, many with only limited commercial breaks. Satellite radio is only offered on the Jetta SE/SEL.

The CLA's optional Active Parking Assist can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. The Jetta doesn't offer an automated parking system.