A decade ago Japan made the best AWD performance sedans with small turbocharged engines. But now, the Germans are duking it, and we can't say we don't like what they've done with the segment. Not only are the S3 sedan and CLA 45 AMG fast, but they are also comfortable and have upmarket interiors.
There's a little problem with comparing the S3 sedan to the CLA 45, isn't there? The S3 may be more affordable, but it's 60 horsepower down and lacks some of the more exotic styling details.
But what if we turn the comparison upside down and ask Mercedes what they can offer for S3 money? The Audi starts at €41,200 in Germany, but we'll be generous and call it €44,000 because everybody wants the S tronic and LED headlights from the options list.
In Mercedes land, the most dominant non-AMG version of the CLA is called 250 Sport, and it comes with a hefty price tag of €45,065. Ouch!
For that, you still get the 4Matic all-wheel drive and 7-speed gearbox of the AMG, but the 2-liter turbo found under the bonnet only produces 218 PS. With 0 to 100 km/h taking 6.4 seconds, this is more like a rival for the Golf GTI than anything else.
For years, we've been saying that Mercedes needs a model between the CLA 250 and the 45 AMG. They already have a 2-liter turbo with 250 horsepower they use for the C-Class, so why not rotate it 90 degrees and drop it in there.
This next review is a year old and was done in Australia. There, European imports are taxed, and both cars come standard with even more equipment to justify their price. The S3 has a huge performance advantage, being 1.4 seconds faster off the line and being equipped with a limited slip differential. However, the CLA has the most desirable badge and a design that appeals to many. But if the looks are all you want, why not get a basic CLA 180?
Mihnea's favorite cars have already been built, the so-called modern classics from the '80s and '90s. He also loves local car culture from all over the world, so don't be surprised to see him getting excited about weird Japanese imports, low-rider VWs out of Germany, replicas from Russia or LS swaps down in Florida. Full profile
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