2021 Mercedes-Benz CLA vs 2021 Chevrolet Corvette

The 2021 Mercedes-Benz CLA was often described as "coupe-like" due to its four-door design and rakish rear window. Despite not being a true coupe, its sharp design was more eye-catching than the A-Class sedan it shared its underpinnings with. Inside, the CLA shone with a modern, functional, and elegant cabin. The standard 7-inch digital instrument panel and 7-inch center touchscreen were combined in one continuous bezel, dominating two-thirds of the dash. The CLA 250 came with dual-zone automatic climate control, remote start, synthetic leather upholstery, five USB ports, power-adjustable sport seats, and HD radio. The available Premium Package upgraded the screens to 10.25 inches and added satellite radio. The AMG CLA 35 and AMG CLA 45 included all the equipment of the CLA 250 plus the Premium Package.

The 2021 Chevrolet Corvette Convertible, with its massive flying buttresses behind each seat, was a sight to behold. The power retractable hardtop dropped in 18 seconds and raised in 22 seconds, all without leaving the driver’s seat. The Corvette Convertible felt more open than it looked with the top down, amplifying the sounds of the revving engine and snapping exhaust. Choosing the convertible over the coupe meant avoiding the hassle of handling the targa panel. However, it did come with some drawbacks, such as limited rear visibility and the loss of the standard rear camera mirror's functionality. The Corvette Convertible started at $66,400 MSRP for the base 1LT trim, with the 2LT and 3LT trims priced higher. The test car, a Torch Red 2LT, garnered significant attention and had a base price of $73,200, with additional features bringing the total to $84,570.

The 2021 Mercedes-Benz CLA featured a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine across all versions. The CLA 250’s engine produced 221 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque, routed through a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission to either front-wheel drive or available 4Matic all-wheel drive. The AMG CLA 35 delivered 302 hp and 295 lb-ft of torque, with standard AWD. The top-tier AMG CLA 45 boasted 382 hp and 354 lb-ft of torque, paired with an eight-speed dual-clutch transmission and standard AWD, achieving a zero-to-sixty time of just four seconds. The CLA offered taut, playful handling with well-weighted steering and quick turn-in, though the ride could feel stiff at times. The available adaptive damping suspension helped somewhat, but the overall ride quality remained firm.

The 2021 Chevrolet Corvette, especially with the optional Z51 Performance Package, delivered 495 horsepower at 6,450 rpm and 470 pound-feet of torque at 5,150 rpm, thanks to its 6.2-liter V8 engine. The Corvette was known for its speed, pinning drivers to their seats as the surroundings blurred past. Despite its low-slung, cab-forward design, the Corvette was nearly as easy to drive daily as a typical family sedan or SUV, though reversing with the top down required special care. The Corvette’s eight-speed dual-clutch transmission added character, and multiple driving modes allowed for custom configurations. The Z51 Package included performance-tuned Magnetic Ride Control adaptive dampers, performance brakes, a performance rear-axle ratio, and an electronic limited-slip rear differential. The Corvette’s mid-engine layout contributed to its gratifying dynamic character, with outstanding forward visibility and rotational handling talents in corners and curves.

The 2021 Mercedes-Benz CLA, being a subcompact sedan, had its pros and cons. It was very maneuverable in tight spaces and had surprisingly spacious front seats. However, the rear seats were tight, and the trunk offered only 11.6 cubic feet of cargo space, which was small even for the subcompact segment. The coupe-like profile resulted in limited rear headroom and legroom, with usable rear-seat space only achievable by sliding the front seat forward. The CLA made solid use of its front-seat space, with ergonomic controls, decent-sized cupholders, and large in-door cubbies for water bottles.

The 2021 Chevrolet Corvette’s interior was full of character, with an impressive digital instrumentation panel and Chevrolet’s useful infotainment technology dominating the cockpit. The squarish steering wheel was a meaty tool for shuffle steering, and the climate controls ran in a long, dramatic strip atop the dividing wall’s ridge. The test car’s GT2 seats featured premium Nappa leather upholstery, heating, and ventilation. Storage space was more generous than expected, with good-sized cupholders and a wireless smartphone charger located between the seats. Cargo space totaled 12.6 cubic feet, accommodating three roll-aboard suitcases with some extra room. The rear liftover was quite high, so care was needed with heavy or unwieldy items.

The 2021 Mercedes-Benz CLA came with the standard MBUX (Mercedes-Benz User Experience) infotainment system, controllable via the center touchscreen, a dial in the center console, or voice recognition. The touchscreen and instrument cluster could also be controlled via small touch-sensitive toggles on the steering wheel. MBUX had a sensible layout and included standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Wireless device charging was optional, but wireless CarPlay and Android Auto were not available. The CLA exclusively used USB-C outlets, which might have been a drawback for those who hadn’t transitioned to USB-C.

The 2021 Chevrolet Corvette featured a configurable 12-inch digital instrumentation display that changed its appearance and data depending on the driving mode. The 2LT trim included a head-up display (HUD) that also adapted to the driving mode. The 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system was angled toward the driver and included wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, the ability to pair two smartphones simultaneously, and Chevrolet Connected Services with a 4G LTE WiFi hotspot. An upgraded infotainment system with navigation and enhanced voice recognition was available, along with a 14-speaker Bose Performance Series audio system. The Performance Data Recorder acted as an embedded GoPro, recording 1080p video with a performance data overlay and offering a valet mode to capture video when the car wasn’t in the owner’s possession.

The 2021 Mercedes-Benz CLA came with a solid list of standard driver assistance features, including automatic emergency braking, forward collision warning, blind-spot monitoring, and a driver attention monitor. It also featured crosswind assist to compensate for hard gusts during highway driving. Additional safety features required selecting one or more packages. The Driver Assistance package added adaptive cruise control, rear collision braking, lane departure warning, and rear cross-traffic alert. Adaptive headlights and a parallel park assist with a surround-view parking monitor were also available as options.

The 2021 Chevrolet Corvette included several safety features, though it lacked modern advanced driving assistance systems (ADAS). Teen Driver technology monitored young drivers and provided a report card detailing their driving behavior. Chevrolet Connected Services offered automatic collision notification and emergency calling. Visibility enhancements, including a front-facing camera, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert, were available on the 2LT and 3LT trim levels. The Corvette did not offer adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-keeping assistance, or Super Cruise hands-free cruise control.