2021 Mercedes-Benz CLA vs 2021 BMW 4 Series

The entry-level luxury car market has come a long way in the past decade. When upscale automakers first went downmarket, they tended to miss the mark and fail to reach the level of quality that buyers associate with their badges. But they have often come around and finally started producing compact cars with legitimate luxury credentials. One such comeback story is the 2021 Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class.

When the CLA was first introduced as a 2014 model, it did not live up to the Mercedez-Benz reputation for luxury. It was underpowered, had a harsh ride, and had a low-grade interior. That all changed with the arrival of its replacement for the 2020 model year. The coupe-like sedan was a significant improvement and it carries over to the 2021 model year. The current CLA has sharp styling, energetic performance, and a high-class interior that’s outfitted with an advanced user interface.

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.