2020 Mercedes-Benz CLA vs 2021 BMW 4 Series
Overview | |
MSRP$36,650 | MSRP$45,600 |
Average price$28,941 | Average price$39,543 |
Listings200 | Listings617 |
Ratings & Reviews | |
User Reviews | User Reviews |
Expert reviews7.7 out of 10 | Expert reviews6.8 out of 10 |
Pros
| Pros
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2020 Mercedes-Benz CLA Reviews SummaryIn recent years, first-time luxury shoppers have had plenty of choices, but those choices haven't always been great. In the past decade, BMW, Mercedes-Benz, and Audi have offered “fun-size” subcompact luxury cars and crossovers. But “subcompact” is typically synonymous with “budget,” and the German Big Three have had a hard time rectifying “small” with “upscale.” Look no further than the woeful Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class or the underwhelming BMW X1. These cars might have luxury badges on their hoods, but they hardly live up to them. As subcompact luxury cars go, a “4-door coupe” like the 2020 Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class makes a lot more sense than I initially expected. For commuters and first-time luxury buyers who simply want a comfortable place to sit on their way to work, and who occasionally need a backseat for guests or kids, the CLA makes more sense than paying a premium for a crossover or larger sedan. It has the lines of a coupe but is more sensible than one. The CLA has been redesigned for 2020, and as Mercedes has unveiled a more affordable A-Class sedan, the CLA is no longer the most affordable vehicle in the German luxury brand’s US lineup. This allows the CLA to grow in new and interesting ways, becoming a more dramatic performance luxury car. Read on to learn if the CLA-Class is the right choice for your first luxury car as well as which specific trim CarGurus recommends. | |
2021 BMW 4 Series Reviews SummaryThe 2021 BMW 4 Series represents how, for better or worse, BMW has changed. The 4 Series name has been around since the 2014 model year when it was introduced for the former 3 Series coupe and convertible. Earlier two-door 3 Series models built BMW’s reputation, with excellent handling, smooth yet powerful engines, and understated styling. The redesigned second-generation 4 Series departs dramatically from that template. It’s bigger and more luxurious, with garish styling and a greater reliance on technology for performance. The car’s rivals haven’t changed though. It still competes against the Audi A5, Mercedes-Benz C-Class, Lexus RC, and Infiniti Q60 for buyers willing to sacrifice a bit of practicality to make a fashion statement. As before, the 4 Series is available in coupe and convertible body styles—the latter with a soft-top instead of the previous retractable hardtop. Both body styles are offered in four-cylinder 430i and six-cylinder M440i configurations, with high-performance M4 variants on the way. Rear-wheel drive is standard, with xDrive all-wheel drive optional (and mandatory on the M440i coupe). Our test car was a 430i xDrive coupe. | |
No video found | |
Popular Features & Specs | |
Engine | Engine2.0L 255 hp I4 |
Drive Train | Drive TrainRWD |
Seating Capacity5 | Seating Capacity4 |
Horsepower | Horsepower255 hp @ 5000 rpm |
MPG City | MPG City26 |
MPG Highway | MPG Highway34 |
Engine | |
Engine Name2.0L 221 hp I4 | Engine Name2.0L 255 hp I4 |
Torque258 lb-ft @ 1800 rpm | Torque295 lb-ft @ 1450 rpm |
Horsepower221 hp @ 5500 rpm | Horsepower255 hp @ 5000 rpm |
DrivetrainFWD | DrivetrainRWD |
Fuel Economy | |
MPG City | MPG City26 |
MPG Highway | MPG Highway34 |
Interior | |
Seating Capacity5 | Seating Capacity4 |
Key Features | |
Navigation System | Navigation SystemStandard |
Sunroof/MoonroofStandard | Sunroof/MoonroofStandard |
Dimensions & Capacity | |
Cargo Space11.6 cu ft | Cargo Space15.5 cu ft |
Curb Weight3362 lbs | Curb Weight3578 lbs |
Height56.7 in | Height54.6 in |
Length184.6 in | Length187.9 in |
Width78.7 in | Width81.9 in |
Wheelbase107.4 in | Wheelbase112.2 in |
Maximum Payload1102 lbs | Maximum Payload714 lbs |
Number of doors4 | Number of doors2 |
Overview | ||
MSRP | $36,650 | $45,600 |
Average price | $28,941 | $39,543 |
Listings | ||
Ratings & Reviews | ||
User reviews | 4.8 | 4.4 |
Expert reviews | 7.7 out of 10Read full review | 6.8 out of 10Read full review |
Pros & cons | Pros
| Pros
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Summary | In recent years, first-time luxury shoppers have had plenty of choices, but those choices haven't always been great. In the past decade, BMW, Mercedes-Benz, and Audi have offered “fun-size” subcompact luxury cars and crossovers. But “subcompact” is typically synonymous with “budget,” and the German Big Three have had a hard time rectifying “small” with “upscale.” Look no further than the woeful Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class or the underwhelming BMW X1. These cars might have luxury badges on their hoods, but they hardly live up to them. As subcompact luxury cars go, a “4-door coupe” like the 2020 Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class makes a lot more sense than I initially expected. For commuters and first-time luxury buyers who simply want a comfortable place to sit on their way to work, and who occasionally need a backseat for guests or kids, the CLA makes more sense than paying a premium for a crossover or larger sedan. It has the lines of a coupe but is more sensible than one. The CLA has been redesigned for 2020, and as Mercedes has unveiled a more affordable A-Class sedan, the CLA is no longer the most affordable vehicle in the German luxury brand’s US lineup. This allows the CLA to grow in new and interesting ways, becoming a more dramatic performance luxury car. Read on to learn if the CLA-Class is the right choice for your first luxury car as well as which specific trim CarGurus recommends. | The 2021 BMW 4 Series represents how, for better or worse, BMW has changed. The 4 Series name has been around since the 2014 model year when it was introduced for the former 3 Series coupe and convertible. Earlier two-door 3 Series models built BMW’s reputation, with excellent handling, smooth yet powerful engines, and understated styling. The redesigned second-generation 4 Series departs dramatically from that template. It’s bigger and more luxurious, with garish styling and a greater reliance on technology for performance. The car’s rivals haven’t changed though. It still competes against the Audi A5, Mercedes-Benz C-Class, Lexus RC, and Infiniti Q60 for buyers willing to sacrifice a bit of practicality to make a fashion statement. As before, the 4 Series is available in coupe and convertible body styles—the latter with a soft-top instead of the previous retractable hardtop. Both body styles are offered in four-cylinder 430i and six-cylinder M440i configurations, with high-performance M4 variants on the way. Rear-wheel drive is standard, with xDrive all-wheel drive optional (and mandatory on the M440i coupe). Our test car was a 430i xDrive coupe. |
Video | No video found | |
Popular Features & Specs | ||
Engine | 2.0L 255 hp I4 | |
Drive Train | RWD | |
Seating Capacity | 5 | 4 |
Horsepower | 255 hp @ 5000 rpm | |
MPG City | 26 | |
MPG Highway | 34 | |
Engine | ||
Engine Name | 2.0L 221 hp I4 | 2.0L 255 hp I4 |
Torque | 258 lb-ft @ 1800 rpm | 295 lb-ft @ 1450 rpm |
Horsepower | 221 hp @ 5500 rpm | 255 hp @ 5000 rpm |
Drivetrain | FWD | RWD |
Fuel Economy | ||
MPG City | 26 | |
MPG Highway | 34 | |
Interior | ||
Seating Capacity | 5 | 4 |
Key Features | ||
Navigation System | Standard | |
Sunroof/Moonroof | Standard | Standard |
Dimensions & Capacity | ||
Cargo Space | 11.6 cu ft | 15.5 cu ft |
Curb Weight | 3362 lbs | 3578 lbs |
Height | 56.7 in | 54.6 in |
Length | 184.6 in | 187.9 in |
Width | 78.7 in | 81.9 in |
Wheelbase | 107.4 in | 112.2 in |
Maximum Payload | 1102 lbs | 714 lbs |
Number of doors | 4 | 2 |
By: CarGurus + AI
This car comparison has been created with using generative AI. It is based entirely on CarGurus expert review content, ratings and data, and leverages our extensive library of hands-on product tests to create thousands of unique comparisons to help shoppers choose the right car.