Both the CLA and the A5 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver and front passenger knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, 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, driver alert monitors, available all wheel drive, lane departure warning systems and around view monitors.

There are over 25 percent more Mercedes dealers than there are Audi dealers, which makes it easier should you ever need service under the CLA's warranty.

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 Audi vehicles. With 59 fewer problems per 100 vehicles, JD Power ranks Mercedes higher than Audi.

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 Audi With 30 fewer problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, J.D. Power ranks Mercedes higher than Audi.

On the EPA test cycle the CLA gets better mileage than the A5:

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Mercedes CLA higher (7 out of 10) than the Audi A5 (4). This means the CLA produces up to 13.2 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the A5 every 15,000 miles.

An eight-speed automatic (SMG) is standard on the Mercedes CLA, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only a seven-speed automatic is available for the A5.

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 A5'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 A5 doesn't offer drift compensation steering.

The CLA 250 4MATIC handles at .87 G's, while the A5 pulls only .84 G's of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

For better maneuverability, the CLA's turning circle is 3.3 feet tighter than the A5's (36.4 feet vs. 39.7 feet).

The Mercedes CLA may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 450 to 600 pounds less than the Audi A5.

The CLA is 5.5 inches shorter than the A5, making the CLA easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The design of the Mercedes CLA amounts to more than styling. The CLA has an aerodynamic coefficient of drag of .27 Cd. That is lower than the A5 (.3) and many sports cars. A more efficient exterior helps keep the interior quieter and helps the CLA get better fuel mileage.

Unlike the driver-only memory seat and mirrors in the A5, 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.

Heated windshield washer nozzles are optional on the CLA to prevent washer fluid and nozzles from freezing and help continue to keep the windshield clear in sub-freezing temperatures. The A5 doesn't offer heated windshield washer nozzles.

To help drivers avoid possible obstacles, the CLA offers optional cornering lights to illuminate around corners when the turn signals are activated. The A5 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.

The CLA is available in both front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive configurations. The A5 doesn't offer a two-wheel drive configuration.