I own a cla45 for 2 month, and sold it and brought a M235i, I definitely agree with what the reviewer said. If you love driving the cla45 is not for you. On paper the cla45 is a better car but when you drive it the bmw is a more enjoyable and feel faster. The dct on the cla is horrible and slow . If both car line up at the traffic light, if both don't car not using the launch control the bmw definitely will win.
Its real simple: Reviewed all together or by parts, the A45 AMG isn't and will never be a better car than the M235i, in any way other than its looks (which is subjective, of course). You just cant argue with that.
Tor Guy Im a BMW fan, but i dont dislike Mercedes. I was being completely objective, as were the guys in the review. Would you like to share your knowledge with us about the CLA45, and prove me wrong?
CarsFan69 Well I already mentioned above that I think their both ugly ass cars imo...But if I had to pick between the two, I would go with Mercedes as far as design is concerned
in the real world, which is pretty much the only place these cars will ever be, not on a track, the amg wins in almost every category. Faster, more stable and usable because of 4 wheel drive, more space, miles better fuel consumption, cheaper insurance and a mercedes interior which are always better than bmw's and with the turbo, alot easier to tune. either way i would never get either of these, anyone who spends that much money on a small car like these has money to blow
langeegey Couldn't agree more, and I also forgot to mention that the BMW interior is the most boring bland interior like you mentioned. Also, im personally tired of BMW's, they all look exactly the same, boring looking cars.
Friend just traded his Cla45 after few months of ownership... Didn't lost that much since it's still in high demand( don't know why...?) but he said he is done with that car. He loves the look department and thought that's all he need to justify the price tag. But there is definitely room for improvement on the transmission, and the dynamics of the car is just ok. He regretted not getting M235 at the first place
Their comment about the lag ( DCT ) from take-off is not quite the whole story. You have to remember that internally, there is still a clutch in play with the transmission from a stand still, so you aren't going to rocket off from a stop light like say, a tuned ZF Hydraulic transmission. Also, as for the cars, when you factor in the more refined ( when optioned correctly ) material quality of the Benz, far more exclusivity and exotic nature of the AMG model and much better steering feel than the artificial-feeling electronic rack in the BMW, this is a no brainer for me. The Benz wins, hands down. Or to put it more simply, a "Baby AMG" is far more special than a mass-produced warmed over 2-Series that you see 6 of every day in California on the way home from the grocery store.
The cla45 is faster, it handles better and brakes faster from 60-0 which contradicts what he says and is a true AMG it also gets better gas as well, so amg is the obvious choice period.
wow.. so glad you two cool dudes concluded that these weren't posers. (yep, you are right if you sensed all that sarcasm).. This was a very good review by the both of you nonetheless
Great review much better than the Motor Trend one. The CLA looks better on the exterior but I hate the infotainment screen. I did not the AWD was basically nonexistent in this car
Thanks for the great review. First m235i manual I've seen reviewed. I test drove an auto and was impressed but I am reluctant to give up the "connection" you get with a manual.... So I think that's what I'm going to get. Do you guys prefer the manual?
The M235i is better. With the benchmark limited slip of course and good sense of driving dynamic. So a M235i is more reliable than a proper AMG car, the M2 will murder it.
Not even going to go down the road BMW vs Mercedes! But out of these two cars, the M235i is the better car, hands down. CLA45 is a very good car, the engine is great and the car looks great but the ride is poor, the gearbox is poor, interior is questionable (each to their own) but I don't like the ipad screen. As for the BMW, to me its the better car, the engine is better (might not be as fast 0-100) but its much more usable. The 8 speed auto is just so much better than the 7 speed from AMG, its smooth and very well geared. I think the BMW edges it's counterpart on nearly every department. Mind you. The CLA45 AMG is the top of the range car from AMG. While the M235i is NOT a M car... So CLA45AMG should be up against the up and coming M2.
den525 the CLA45 has just been upgraded to deliver more power & they've also "fixed" the transmission. First deliveries of the tweaked CLA45 are due in September so should be interesting to see if people redo these comparisons to see how the CLA fairs out
You do get alot more in the CLA45 than the M235i thats why its more as a base model, but when you spec up the BMW to the same as the Merc including nice and larger alloys its more than it
It's very simple: BMWs are better (and will always be better) because they don't fight against physics. The put the engine in the correct place, and send the power to the correct wheels--it's as simple as that. While almost all other car manufacturers design their cars based on saving on manufacturing costs then try to fight against physics.
Whenever I read or watch a comparison between a bmw and any other car. I always hear or this one is better at this but the BMW feels better or sounds better ect. It always seems like they have to stack the deck anyway they can for the bmw. I liked his thoughts on the styling long low and mean. Long its a 2 series for crying out loud.
I am not sure why the reviews in the USA always saying Merc is not a good car while in the rest of the world always saying it is a better choice. i can't argue about your work that's the input and thx for that! but i always try both and i only tried the CLA so what i think about is that it is revolution and not sure about the negative stuff you said about that i could not find but always it is just a different experience! for me............. Caddi will be my 7th choice while BMW will be always the 9th and Audi 10th choice after Merc and choices made up on experience and i guess what i like the most. i can't express more of my experience in driving those cars but i will always believe that Merc is the choice tho it is not the best but the optimum choice for me. i find reviews about german cars, Merc, Audi and BMW is obsolete cus most likely they are the same except for the looks but i can't stop watching LOL @ the confusion! cheers
"Affordable"??? at over 50k (as tested in this video) i would hardly call them "Affordable." I know that the prices of cars have been going up, but I would rather have the '15 WRX and save myself 20k
AMG is awd. but i cant take a fwd mercedes seriously. nd now bmw is comming out with a z2 thats gonna be off the mini cooper nd be fwd. Thats right a Z is gonna be fwd. nd there also comming out iwth alot of other shitty fwd models.
Mario dablife i know its awd but it based on fwd car that suckes the mercedes look&design it looks horible unlike exellent classic mercedes looks that we see on rwd mb.s & it drives with front wheels almost of the time for efficiency :/ both brands r my favourite but i hate every fwd based car they make it becuz i love them only with the classic rwd look & feel
Alexander Kalinov the CLA has 40 more hp dualclutch trans & AWD!!! With all this CLA should be realy faster but it doesn't! they finished nearly at same time 1:26 with all this cla shits difrents r realy small less than 0.2sec and BMW still classic sport german rwd coupe unlike this ugly fwd cla & Bmw costes! less u name this lost?!! Realy!? the m235 clearly wins
FWD, shudder shudder. But it's a less expensive drivetrain to produce so it's one of the reasons why the undercutting price is one of the selling points with the CLA. And honestly I think it's absolutely stupid to have an AMG or M version of every single model you have. Still waiting on the AMG version of the Sprinter van though.
Stick shift vs automatic.....no one ....I mean no one is going to get a daily driver stick car in a big city. I suppose if I had enough money to only use it as a weekend warrior there might be a real discussion
I'd take the CLA45 AMG, without hesitation. Looks much better and has a more mature driving experience. The BMW looks frumpy and, frankly, looks "economy".
You could tell who won from the beginning the difference of how they liked the color that they were bmw fan boys .... I've owned both bmw and mercedes I like both but I think mercedes is a better fit for me ... its all about what you looking for in a car oh yea not these 2 cars but a 750 bmw a E55amg mercedes no more BMW still got the mercedes
BMW would never make a 4-door version as that would cannibalize sales of the 3 Series, especially the 320i and 328i. Which is why BMW was smart just to make the 2-door version, much like Mercedes' strategy with the CLA. Mercedes made the CLA a "niche" car as not to encroach on C-Class sales. Audi, on the other hand, may have compromised sales overlap between the A3 and A4 by making the A3 so "uncompromised" as their ads state. Interior dimensions for the A3/A4 are near identical.
ah man i dunno about the M235i i like it but i find it boring in terms of styling but i like the fact it has a V6... CLA45 i like the styling but i don't want my fourth front wheel drive car that has a small engine and now I'm gonna have to wait to see what the new TTRS gonna look like =\ what to do? what to get?
Oh God ... why such types should ever desirable cars ... Everyone in Europe is laughing his ass off about everything America has ever managed in the automotive industry ... And then also shown a "TESTER" the visibly of Roanald Mc Donald is supported .... guys ... really ...
BMW M235i...because RWD, boosted straight 6 and Manual transmission. Clearly, the more driver focused car, and its not even an ///M2 yet.
M235i definitely wins this comparison, but I'd get a used C63 AMG or E92 M3 over either one of these.
I own a cla45 for 2 month, and sold it and brought a M235i, I definitely agree with what the reviewer said. If you love driving the cla45 is not for you. On paper the cla45 is a better car but when you drive it the bmw is a more enjoyable and feel faster. The dct on the cla is horrible and slow . If both car line up at the traffic light, if both don't car not using the launch control the bmw definitely will win.
How is the leg room on the drivers side, is it not too cramped?
Its real simple: Reviewed all together or by parts, the A45 AMG isn't and will never be a better car than the M235i, in any way other than its looks (which is subjective, of course).
You just cant argue with that.
Says the guy with an M badge as is his display pic
Tor Guy
Im a BMW fan, but i dont dislike Mercedes.
I was being completely objective, as were the guys in the review.
Would you like to share your knowledge with us about the CLA45, and prove me wrong?
CarsFan69 Well I already mentioned above that I think their both ugly ass cars imo...But if I had to pick between the two, I would go with Mercedes as far as design is concerned
in the real world, which is pretty much the only place these cars will ever be, not on a track, the amg wins in almost every category. Faster, more stable and usable because of 4 wheel drive, more space, miles better fuel consumption, cheaper insurance and a mercedes interior which are always better than bmw's and with the turbo, alot easier to tune. either way i would never get either of these, anyone who spends that much money on a small car like these has money to blow
langeegey Couldn't agree more, and I also forgot to mention that the BMW interior is the most boring bland interior like you mentioned.
Also, im personally tired of BMW's, they all look exactly the same, boring looking cars.
Friend just traded his Cla45 after few months of ownership... Didn't lost that much since it's still in high demand( don't know why...?) but he said he is done with that car. He loves the look department and thought that's all he need to justify the price tag. But there is definitely room for improvement on the transmission, and the dynamics of the car is just ok. He regretted not getting M235 at the first place
Their comment about the lag ( DCT ) from take-off is not quite the whole story. You have to remember that internally, there is still a clutch in play with the transmission from a stand still, so you aren't going to rocket off from a stop light like say, a tuned ZF Hydraulic transmission. Also, as for the cars, when you factor in the more refined ( when optioned correctly ) material quality of the Benz, far more exclusivity and exotic nature of the AMG model and much better steering feel than the artificial-feeling electronic rack in the BMW, this is a no brainer for me. The Benz wins, hands down. Or to put it more simply, a "Baby AMG" is far more special than a mass-produced warmed over 2-Series that you see 6 of every day in California on the way home from the grocery store.
The cla45 is faster, it handles better and brakes faster from 60-0 which contradicts what he says and is a true AMG it also gets better gas as well, so amg is the obvious choice period.
Crappy 4 cylinder front wheel drive a real AMG? It's not, regardless of what the marketing claims. And no, it doesn't handle better than the Bimmer. 😂
@@dereksbooksit definitely does not 😂
2 door vs 4 door....it's a huge decision maker as you get older
This is in Toronto, I can see the new Bridge Point Health hospital in the background.
auto guide definitely stepping up their reviews and production quality, good job guys.
wow.. so glad you two cool dudes concluded that these weren't posers. (yep, you are right if you sensed all that sarcasm).. This was a very good review by the both of you nonetheless
And I am Mercedes fan and I will choose the F22 next to my W140 best car in the world.
I think this would be a more fair comparison when the M2 comes, since the CLA45 AMG is the preformance CLA, and the M235i isn't actually an M car
Great review. I'm definitely subscribing to this channel.
Great review much better than the Motor Trend one. The CLA looks better on the exterior but I hate the infotainment screen. I did not the AWD was basically nonexistent in this car
Thanks for the great review. First m235i manual I've seen reviewed. I test drove an auto and was impressed but I am reluctant to give up the "connection" you get with a manual.... So I think that's what I'm going to get. Do you guys prefer the manual?
Why is the pickup guy reviewing a sports car?
(nah, sorry, just joking, well done ;) )
that delay is called turbo lag...dork
The M235i is better. With the benchmark limited slip of course and good sense of driving dynamic. So a M235i is more reliable than a proper AMG car, the M2 will murder it.
Not even going to go down the road BMW vs Mercedes! But out of these two cars, the M235i is the better car, hands down. CLA45 is a very good car, the engine is great and the car looks great but the ride is poor, the gearbox is poor, interior is questionable (each to their own) but I don't like the ipad screen. As for the BMW, to me its the better car, the engine is better (might not be as fast 0-100) but its much more usable. The 8 speed auto is just so much better than the 7 speed from AMG, its smooth and very well geared. I think the BMW edges it's counterpart on nearly every department.
Mind you. The CLA45 AMG is the top of the range car from AMG. While the M235i is NOT a M car... So CLA45AMG should be up against the up and coming M2.
den525 the CLA45 has just been upgraded to deliver more power & they've also "fixed" the transmission. First deliveries of the tweaked CLA45 are due in September so should be interesting to see if people redo these comparisons to see how the CLA fairs out
I'd have the A45 amg over the Cla amg, both the same really but one is a Hatchback the other saloon
BMW M235i every day for me please.
I sold my M235i and bought a Audi S3 turbo, this car is 100% faster then the cla and the m235i, also you can drive very enjoyable with it.
Good review/discussion boys.
You do get alot more in the CLA45 than the M235i thats why its more as a base model, but when you spec up the BMW to the same as the Merc including nice and larger alloys its more than it
Mine has every option lsd, Harmon kardon, red guts, keyless entry and more and I only payed 20k in a used market
that merc motor will blow up sooner or later. first merc 4 zylinder engine with that much hp. only a matter of time
Small, yet strong. Nice video.
I think the delay is from the huge turbo...not the transmission.
AMG will never be better than ///M. Ever. Enough said
Guys you gotta start saying the truth ;) is clearly that the CLA 45 is the boss ;)
Is that the leaside towers behind you guys do u guys film in thorncliffe????? The valley??
+Leon Chan sick
It's very simple: BMWs are better (and will always be better) because they don't fight against physics. The put the engine in the correct place, and send the power to the correct wheels--it's as simple as that. While almost all other car manufacturers design their cars based on saving on manufacturing costs then try to fight against physics.
the fat guy is epic reviewer, one of best reviewers i have seen in a while :)
The AMG DCT is not that poor in terms of shift. As told in this video its just a bit slow. Chris harris and steve suitclife were kind of fine with it.
No they were not "fine with it" as it didn't down shift when they wanted it to..
Del Johnson they'll get the 9g tronic. They didn't critize it as much as this guy.
M4 coupe, the best
Test drove a M235i the other day and was not that impressed. They need to take the M badges off of it.
That bmw test car was a little dirty. Despite that, I thought this was entertaining.
The Mercedes already looks dated
Whenever I read or watch a comparison between a bmw and any other car. I always hear or this one is better at this but the BMW feels better or sounds better ect. It always seems like they have to stack the deck anyway they can for the bmw. I liked his thoughts on the styling long low and mean. Long its a 2 series for crying out loud.
There are no fog lights ?
Does anyone buy that car for racing? Cla's exterior is far better than that of Bmw's. Also as I experienced those 2 cars, Cla is as fun as 235i.
Well slap me around and call me Sally, because I didn't know $50,000+ was affordable for the average Joe.
BMW is sexy.Mercedes is boring.
very good review
BMW FTW
I am not sure why the reviews in the USA always saying Merc is not a good car while in the rest of the world always saying it is a better choice. i can't argue about your work that's the input and thx for that! but i always try both and i only tried the CLA so what i think about is that it is revolution and not sure about the negative stuff you said about that i could not find but always it is just a different experience! for me............. Caddi will be my 7th choice while BMW will be always the 9th and Audi 10th choice after Merc and choices made up on experience and i guess what i like the most. i can't express more of my experience in driving those cars but i will always believe that Merc is the choice tho it is not the best but the optimum choice for me. i find reviews about german cars, Merc, Audi and BMW is obsolete cus most likely they are the same except for the looks but i can't stop watching LOL @ the confusion! cheers
AUDI's are great, if you are friends with a Tow Truck driver in town... LOL
If the //M badge is there, then so is the M bodykit, i doubt they are going to make another //M, the true //M.
"Affordable"??? at over 50k (as tested in this video) i would hardly call them "Affordable." I know that the prices of cars have been going up, but I would rather have the '15 WRX and save myself 20k
I'd take the Mercedes over the BMW
Geoffrey L
Autoguide has no money. Both dudes wearing same sized shirt. LOL
Motor trend review of these car was 10000 % way better
is that Patrick Renna?
Stephen needs a looser fitting shirt, this one makes him look like the Michelin man.
A merc you buy because its a merc. A beamer you buy because its a better car.
I think that these black rims spoil the image of the CLA
No track comparison?
Merc. No contest!
the big guy at 5:06 lol
he isn't big ,he is giant :D
too much of McD's inside him.
BMW 2 series much better than this FWD ugly CLA
AMG is awd. but i cant take a fwd mercedes seriously. nd now bmw is comming out with a z2 thats gonna be off the mini cooper nd be fwd. Thats right a Z is gonna be fwd. nd there also comming out iwth alot of other shitty fwd models.
much better in what? On race track in Head2Head M235i lost to CLA 45 Amg.
Mario dablife i know its awd but it based on fwd car that suckes the mercedes look&design it looks horible unlike exellent classic mercedes looks that we see on rwd mb.s & it drives with front wheels almost of the time for efficiency :/ both brands r my favourite but i hate every fwd based car they make it becuz i love them only with the classic rwd look & feel
Karo Sarkawt I agree %100. I don't think they shud be awd even unless its a option they shud all be rwd. Nd fwd is just fucking up
Alexander Kalinov the CLA has 40 more hp dualclutch trans & AWD!!! With all this CLA should be realy faster but it doesn't! they finished nearly at same time 1:26 with all this cla shits difrents r realy small less than 0.2sec and BMW still classic sport german rwd coupe unlike this ugly fwd cla & Bmw costes! less u name this lost?!! Realy!? the m235 clearly wins
u should of had the 8 speed auto for the bimmer because u cant compare manual vs the mercedes
FWD, shudder shudder. But it's a less expensive drivetrain to produce so it's one of the reasons why the undercutting price is one of the selling points with the CLA. And honestly I think it's absolutely stupid to have an AMG or M version of every single model you have. Still waiting on the AMG version of the Sprinter van though.
?
AMG > STANDARD
really can't figure out what's the point to but the standard CLA
just for a more sporty and aggressive looking Mercedes-Benz ?
to bmw is really special so i go for bmw
Affordable LOL!!!
You say M235i is not sitting as low as it should be... Hmm, not gonna get it then
Clean the cars before doing a video that was the first time I have ever seen stuff in the seats and break dust all over good video other wise
why america does not have a45 amg?
wow 44k for a non M bmw 2 series?! A bit much IMO...Great little car, but that price is too high.
xD
CLA45 looks better but M235i drives better.
Stick shift vs automatic.....no one ....I mean no one is going to get a daily driver stick car in a big city. I suppose if I had enough money to only use it as a weekend warrior there might be a real discussion
Booooo ...dish the extra 10k and upgrade the AMG ...These testers should have known better ...The CLA 250 AMG wins hands down...
With a few extras that AMG is allmost 100k in Sweden. :(
Vettel a car reviewer now....
THE MUSIC IS TOO LOUD
A hood prop on an AMG Mercedes....come on
car with skinnier driver will be faster. power to weight wins out every time.
Waaaa Mercedes base is in dollars 17,000 more base in uk. Even the hatchback is 8,000 more then the BMW
I'd take the CLA45 AMG, without hesitation. Looks much better and has a more mature driving experience. The BMW looks frumpy and, frankly, looks "economy".
You could tell who won from the beginning the difference of how they liked the color that they were bmw fan boys .... I've owned both bmw and mercedes I like both but I think mercedes is a better fit for me ... its all about what you looking for in a car oh yea not these 2 cars but a 750 bmw a E55amg mercedes no more BMW still got the mercedes
good looking people will end up buying mercedes
which state ?
This is Toronto, Ontario.
dsontacchi Is it really ? lol
Tor Guy Don Valley Parking-lot Represent ;P
i'm trying to think of a reason i should get the 2014 impala over one of thease i realy love the impala but the mercedes is the same price
Lol, these are not luxury cars. They are bottom of the line for both car companies.
if m235i has a four-door version then im getting one tmr, i bet may ppl say the same
BMW would never make a 4-door version as that would cannibalize sales of the 3 Series, especially the 320i and 328i. Which is why BMW was smart just to make the 2-door version, much like Mercedes' strategy with the CLA. Mercedes made the CLA a "niche" car as not to encroach on C-Class sales. Audi, on the other hand, may have compromised sales overlap between the A3 and A4 by making the A3 so "uncompromised" as their ads state. Interior dimensions for the A3/A4 are near identical.
the 2 series and 4 series are the new two door versions of the 1 and 3 series respectively. so go buy a 1 series then...
Clark Kent 1-series...
ah man i dunno about the M235i i like it but i find it boring in terms of styling but i like the fact it has a V6... CLA45 i like the styling but i don't want my fourth front wheel drive car that has a small engine and now I'm gonna have to wait to see what the new TTRS gonna look like =\ what to do? what to get?
AMG lion heart
4:34 how can a four-door car can be a coupe?
youngprankster94 you cant even afford a bmw, go home and drive your datsun...
Toronto bad roads bouncing you guys around.
BMW for life!
The CLA needs a manual trans!!!
m235i is fucking sick
epic battle? Yes.. Epic.. Epic to see which one will end up in the repair shop first and longest !!
I wish you guys put the sti 2015 here
Since when is $51,000 "affordable"?
***** Throw away money yes it is.
I smoke that bmw in my cla45 lol
Cla would smoke that bmw so bad 🤦🏻♂️😭
Oh God ... why such types should ever desirable cars ... Everyone in Europe is laughing his ass off about everything America has ever managed in the automotive industry ... And then also shown a "TESTER" the visibly of Roanald Mc Donald is supported .... guys ... really ...
BAD BOY AMG
BMW