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Mercedes-AMG A35 Vs CLA35 Which One Should You Buy

Apr. 10, 2019 8:00 PM ET by Jared Rosenholtz Opinion / 16 Comments There's very little to separate the two models, but we've given it a go. Sedans may be a dying breed in the United States but it seems like no one informed Mercedes. In the past two weeks, the German automaker has unveiled not one but two all-new AMG-branded performance sedans based on the same platform. The A35 AMG is a traditional sedan meant to rival the Audi S3 while the CLA35 AMG is what Mercedes calls a four-door-coupe (basically a sedan with a sloping roof). Four-door-coupe models like the Volkswagen CC and the original Mercedes CLS are good looking cars but there is still plenty of demand for the traditional sedan. Which is doubtless why Mercedes has released the new A35 and CLA35. But which one looks better? We break the models down to see if there's a clear winner. CarBuzz Mercedes-Benz Mercedes-Benz

Front Fascia

Both cars wear a very similar grille but their headlights are quite different. The CLA35's lights are taller and more rounded while the A35's are skinnier and more aggressive to our eyes. We can only spot a few other differences including more details on the A35's lower grille and added bulges on the CLA35's hood. We prefer the skinnier headlights and cleaner look of the A35 compared to the muscular CLA35. Winner: The A35 Mercedes-Benz Mercedes-Benz Mercedes-Benz Mercedes-Benz

Side Profile

The biggest difference between the A35 and CLA35 is their side profiles. The A35 is taller in the rear, allowing for more headroom while the CLA35 slopes down more aggressively, compromising headroom. Even though the CLA35's coupe roofline is supposed to look sportier, we prefer the classic three-box styling of the A35 and wouldn't want to sacrifice rear-seat headroom in an already small vehicle. Winner: A35 Mercedes-Benz Mercedes-Benz

Rear Styling

It's time for the CLA35 to win back some points because its design really comes alive when you get to the rear end. The A35's taillights are more rounded and give off a friendly, unthreatening vibe. The CLA35's taillights are skinny and angular, making the car look far more aggressive. Winner: CLA35 Mercedes-Benz Mercedes-Benz Mercedes-Benz Mercedes-Benz

Interior

If there is any noticeable difference between the interiors of these two cars, we didn't spot it. This round ends in a tie. Winner: Tie Mercedes-Benz

Performance

In terms of performance, there's very little in it. Both the A35 and CLA35 are powered by a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder sending 302 horsepower and 295 lb-ft of torque to 4Matic AWD through a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission. Thanks to its streamlined bodywork, the CLA35 is a tenth quicker to 60 mph at 4.6 seconds so it gains the slight edge in acceleration. Winner: CLA35 Mercedes-Benz Mercedes-Benz

Price & Verdict

Mercedes has yet to announce pricing for both cars but we expect the CLA35 to be a bit more expensive than the A35. With two wins each and one tie between them, we'll use pricing as our final category and give the overall win to the A35. Winner: A35 Mercedes-Benz Mercedes-Benz

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Mercedes-Benz A-Class Sedan Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class Mercedes-AMG A35 Mercedes-AMG CLA 35 Jared Rosenholtz Editor-at-Large After graduating with an MBA, Jared pursued his love of cars by becoming an automotive journalist. An internship with CarBuzz grew into his current position as Editor At Large. Jared now spends most of his time evaluating new vehicles and chasing the latest news stories in the automotive industry. When he’s not attending Cars & Coffee events on the weekend, Jared loves to watch NFL football and cruise around with the top down in his German convertible. Contact Jared @Carsnbites @jar_rosenholtz LoginSign Up Home News Features Car Reviews Car Advice 2021 CarBuzz Awards New Cars Used Cars Future Cars Compare Cars Sell My Car Car Dealerships Buy Here Pay Here Used Car Reviews Popular Tags Cars # Video # TOP # Spy Shots # Reveal # Rumor # Auto Show # Supercar # Tuning # Car Culture # Industry News # Motorsport Acura Alfa Romeo Aston Martin Audi Bentley BMW Bollinger Bugatti Buick Cadillac Caterham Chevrolet Chrysler Dodge Ferrari Fiat Fisker Ford Genesis GMC Hennessey Honda Hyundai Infiniti Jaguar Jeep Karma Kia Koenigsegg Lamborghini Land Rover Lexus Lincoln Lordstown Lotus Lucid Motors Maserati Mazda McLaren Mercedes-Benz Mini Mitsubishi Nissan Pagani Polestar Porsche Ram Rimac Rivian Rolls-Royce Spyker Subaru Tesla Toyota Volkswagen Volvo By Make Acura Alfa Romeo Aston Martin Audi Bentley BMW Bollinger Bugatti Buick Cadillac Caterham Chevrolet Chrysler Dodge Ferrari Fiat Fisker Ford Genesis GMC Hennessey Honda Hyundai Infiniti Jaguar Jeep Karma Kia Koenigsegg Lamborghini Land Rover Lexus Lincoln Lordstown Lotus Lucid Motors Maserati Mazda McLaren Mercedes-Benz Mini Mitsubishi Nissan Pagani Polestar Porsche Ram Rimac Rivian Rolls-Royce Spyker Subaru Tesla Toyota Volkswagen Volvo By Car Type SUVs Crossovers Sedans Coupes Trucks Sports Cars Wagons Vans Hatchbacks Convertibles Small Cars Luxury Cars Electric Cars Hybrid Cars Future Cars By Price Up to $15K $15K - $25K $25K - $35K $35K - $45K $45K - $55K $55K - $75K $75K - $100K $100K - $200K $200K - $300K Above $300K Back To Top