Compare the2025 Audi S5VS 2025 Mercedes AMG CLA

For enhanced safety, the front seat shoulder belts of the Audi S5 are height-adjustable to accommodate a wide variety of driver and passenger heights. A better fit can prevent injuries and the increased comfort also encourages passengers to buckle up. The Mercedes AMG CLA doesn’t offer height-adjustable seat belts.

Both the S5 and AMG CLA have child safety locks to prevent children from opening the rear doors. The S5 has power child safety locks, allowing the driver to activate and deactivate them from the driver's seat and to know when they're engaged. The AMG CLA’s child locks have to be individually engaged at each rear door with a manual switch. The driver can’t know the status of the locks without opening the doors and checking them.

In the past twenty years hundreds of infants and young children have died after being left in vehicles, usually by accident. When turning the vehicle off, drivers of the S5 are reminded to check the back seat if they opened the rear door before starting out. The AMG CLA doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The S5 has standard Maneuver Assist that uses rear sensors to monitor for objects to the rear and automatically applies the brakes to prevent a collision. The AMG CLA doesn’t offer automatic braking for stationary objects directly to the rear.

Earlier warning of stopped traffic, traffic signals, dangerous road conditions, weather, or accidents, can keep driver's safer and prevent crashes. The S5 has Car-to-X Services, a system that seamlessly communicates important warnings to the driver about impending danger, if they're available. The AMG CLA doesn’t offer a system that can receive automated systems from infrastructure.

The S5’s standard lane departure warning system alerts a temporarily inattentive driver when the vehicle begins to leave its lane and gently nudges the vehicle back towards its lane. A lane departure warning system costs extra on the AMG CLA.

Both the S5 and the AMG CLA 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, all wheel drive, 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 and available around view monitors.

The Audi S5 weighs 497 to 585 pounds more than the Mercedes AMG CLA. The NHTSA advises that heavier cars are much safer in collisions than their significantly lighter counterparts.

The S5’s corrosion warranty is 7 years longer than the AMG CLA’s (12 vs. 5 years).

To reliably power the ignition and other systems and to recharge the battery, the S5 has a standard 150-amp alternator. The AMG CLA’s 115-amp alternator isn’t as powerful.

The S5’s 3.0 turbo V6 produces 60 more horsepower (362 vs. 302) and 111 lbs.-ft. more torque (406 vs. 295) than the AMG CLA 35’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid. The S5’s 3.0 turbo V6 produces 37 lbs.-ft. more torque (406 vs. 369) than the AMG CLA 45 S’ standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid.

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Audi S5 uses regular unleaded gasoline (premium recommended for maximum performance). The AMG CLA requires premium, which can cost on average about 84.9 cents more per gallon.

The S5 has 1.3 gallons more fuel capacity than the AMG CLA (14.8 vs. 13.5 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

For better stopping power the S5’s brake rotors are larger than those on the AMG CLA:

For better traction, the S5 has larger tires than the AMG CLA (245/40R19 vs. 235/40R18).

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the S5 has standard 19-inch wheels. Smaller 18-inch wheels are standard on the AMG CLA. The S5’s optional 20-inch wheels are larger than the 19-inch wheels optional on the AMG CLA.

The S5 has a standard automatic front and rear load leveling suspension to keep ride height level with a heavy load or when towing. The S5’s height leveling suspension allows the driver to raise ride height for better off-road clearance and then lower it again for easier entering and exiting and better on-road handling. The AMG CLA doesn’t offer a load leveling suspension.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the S5’s wheelbase is 6.6 inches longer than on the AMG CLA (114 inches vs. 107.4 inches).

The S5 has 1.5 inches more front headroom, 2.2 inches more front shoulder room, 1.5 inches more rear headroom, 2.2 inches more rear legroom and 1.1 inches more rear shoulder room than the AMG CLA.

To make loading and unloading groceries and cargo easier, especially for short adults, the S5 has a standard power liftgate, which opens and closes automatically by pressing a button or just by kicking your foot under the back bumper, completely leaving your hands free. The AMG CLA doesn’t offer a power trunk, so its trunk has to be closed manually.

The engine in the S5 is mounted longitudinally (North-South), instead of sideways, as in the AMG CLA. This makes it easier to service and maintain, because the accessory belts are in front.

In poor weather, headlights can lose their effectiveness as grime builds up on their lenses. This can reduce visibility without the driver realizing. The S5 Premium Plus/Prestige has standard headlight washers to keep headlight output high. The AMG CLA doesn’t offer headlight washers.

To shield the driver’s vision over a larger portion of the windshield and side window, the S5 has a standard extendable sun visor. The AMG CLA doesn’t offer extendable visors.

Manual rear side window sunshades are available in the S5 to help block heat and glare for the rear passengers. The AMG CLA doesn’t offer rear side window sunshades.

Both the S5 and the AMG CLA have standard heated front seats. The S5 Prestige also has standard heated rear seats to keep those passengers extremely comfortable in the winter. Heated rear seats aren’t available in the AMG CLA.

The Audi A5/S5/RS 5 outsold the Mercedes CLA by 87% during 2024.