Compare the2024 Mercedes CLAVS 2024 Hyundai Elantra Hybrid

For enhanced safety, the front and rear seat shoulder belts of the Mercedes CLA have pretensioners to tighten the seatbelts and eliminate dangerous slack in the event of a collision and force limiters to limit the pressure the belts will exert on the passengers. The Hyundai Elantra Hybrid doesn’t offer pretensioners for its rear seat belts.

The CLA’s optional pre-crash front seatbelts will tighten automatically in the event the vehicle detects an impending crash, improving protection against injury significantly. The Elantra Hybrid doesn’t offer pre-crash pretensioners.

The Mercedes CLA has standard driver and front passenger side knee airbags mounted low on the dashboard. These airbags helps prevent the driver and front passenger from sliding under their seatbelts or the main frontal airbags; this keeps them better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. Knee airbags also help keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The Elantra Hybrid doesn’t offer knee airbags.

The CLA’s standard pretensioning seatbelts also sense rear collisions and remove slack from the seatbelts to help protect the occupants from whiplash and other injuries. The Elantra Hybrid doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

The CLA offers all-wheel drive to maximize traction under poor conditions, especially in ice and snow. The Elantra Hybrid doesn’t offer all-wheel drive.

The CLA offers an optional Surround View System to allow the driver to see objects all around the vehicle on a screen. The Elantra Hybrid only offers a rear monitor and rear parking sensors that beep or flash a light. That doesn’t help with obstacles to the front or sides.

Both the CLA and the Elantra Hybrid have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front wheel drive, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning, driver alert monitors and available lane departure warning systems.

The Mercedes CLA weighs 425 to 651 pounds more than the Hyundai Elantra Hybrid. The NHTSA advises that heavier cars are much safer in collisions than their significantly lighter counterparts. Crosswinds also affect lighter cars more.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the CLA second among small premium cars in their 2023 Initial Quality Study. The Elantra Hybrid isn’t in the top three in its category.

The CLA’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid produces 82 more horsepower (221 vs. 139) and 63 lbs.-ft. more torque (258 vs. 195) than the Elantra Hybrid’s 1.6 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid.

As tested in Motor Trend the Mercedes CLA is faster than the Hyundai Elantra Hybrid:

	CLA	Elantra Hybrid
Zero to 30 MPH	2.1 sec	2.9 sec
Zero to 60 MPH	6 sec	8.7 sec
Zero to 80 MPH	10.1 sec	15.1 sec
Passing 45 to 65 MPH	3.1 sec	4.5 sec
Quarter Mile	14.5 sec	16.6 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	95.8 MPH	83.8 MPH

The CLA has 2.5 gallons more fuel capacity than the Elantra Hybrid (13.5 vs. 11 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

An eight-speed automatic (SMG) is standard on the Mercedes CLA, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only a six-speed automatic is available for the Elantra Hybrid.

For better stopping power the CLA’s brake rotors are larger than those on the Elantra Hybrid:

	CLA	Elantra Hybrid
Front Rotors	13 inches	11 inches
Rear Rotors	12.6 inches	10.3 inches

For better traction, the CLA has larger tires than the Elantra Hybrid (225/45R18 vs. 205/55R16).

The CLA’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 45 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Elantra Hybrid Blue Sedan’s standard 55 series tires. The CLA’s optional tires have a lower 40 series profile than the Elantra Hybrid Limited Sedan’s 45 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the CLA has standard 18-inch wheels. Smaller 16-inch wheels are standard on the Elantra Hybrid Blue Sedan. The CLA’s optional 19-inch wheels are larger than the 17-inch wheels on the Elantra Hybrid Limited Sedan.

Changing a flat tire near traffic can be dangerous and inconvenient. The run-flat tires available on the CLA can be driven up to 50 miles without any air pressure, allowing you to drive to a service station for a repair. The Elantra Hybrid doesn’t offer run-flat tires.

The CLA has standard front and rear gas-charged shocks for better control over choppy roads. The Elantra Hybrid’s suspension doesn’t offer front gas-charged shocks.

The CLA offers an optional driver-adjustable suspension system. It allows the driver to choose between an extra-supple ride, reducing fatigue on long trips, or a sport setting, which allows maximum control for tricky roads. The Elantra Hybrid’s suspension doesn’t offer adjustable shock absorbers.

The CLA’s drift compensation steering can automatically compensate for road conditions which would cause the vehicle to drift from side to side, helping the driver to keep the vehicle straight more easily. The Elantra Hybrid doesn’t offer drift compensation steering.

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the CLA is 1.2 inches wider in the front and .3 inches wider in the rear than the average track on the Elantra Hybrid.

The CLA 250 4MATIC handles at .86 G’s, while the Elantra Hybrid Limited Sedan pulls only .85 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The CLA 250 4MATIC executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1 seconds quicker than the Elantra Hybrid Limited Sedan (26.5 seconds @ .67 average G’s vs. 27.5 seconds @ .62 average G’s).

To allow full utilization of available cargo room, the CLA’s trunk lid uses concealed beam hinges that don’t intrude into the trunk. Its intrusive beam hinge reduces the Elantra Hybrid’s useful trunk space.

The CLA’s standard folding rear seats are split to accommodate bulky cargo. The Elantra Hybrid’s standard single piece folding rear seat is not as flexible; long cargo and a passenger can’t share the rear seat.

A standard locking glovebox keeps your small valuables safer in the CLA. The Elantra Hybrid doesn’t offer locking storage for small valuables.

The CLA uses gas struts to support the hood for easier service access. The Elantra Hybrid uses a prop rod to support its heavy hood. It takes two hands to open the hood and set the prop rod, the prop rod gets in the way during maintenance and service, and the prop rod could be knocked out, causing the heavy hood to fall on the person maintaining or servicing the car.

Unlike the driver-only memory seat and mirrors in the Elantra Hybrid Limited, the CLA has standard driver and passenger memory, so that when drivers switch, the memory setting adjusts the driver’s seat and outside mirror angle and the front passenger seat also adjusts to the new passenger’s preset preferences.

The CLA offers an optional heads-up display that projects speed and navigation instruction readouts in front of the driver’s line of sight, allowing drivers to view information without diverting their eyes from the road. The Elantra Hybrid doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

The CLA’s front and rear power windows all open or close fully with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside the car. The Elantra Hybrid’s passenger windows don’t open or close automatically.

If the windows are left open on the CLA the driver can close them all at the outside door handle or from a distance using the remote. On a hot day the driver can lower the windows from a distance using the keyless remote. The driver of the Elantra Hybrid can only operate the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

The CLA’s rain-sensitive wipers adjust their speed and turn on and off automatically based on the amount of rainfall on the windshield. This allows the driver to concentrate on driving without constantly adjusting the wipers. The Elantra Hybrid’s manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

Heated windshield washer nozzles are optional on the CLA to prevent washer fluid and nozzles from freezing and help continue to keep the windshield clear in sub-freezing temperatures. The Elantra Hybrid doesn’t offer heated windshield washer nozzles.

To help drivers avoid possible obstacles, the CLA offers optional cornering lights to illuminate around corners when the turn signals are activated. The Elantra Hybrid doesn’t offer cornering lights. The CLA also offers optional adaptive headlights to illuminate around corners automatically by reading vehicle speed and steering wheel angle.

When the CLA is put in reverse, the passenger rearview mirror tilts from its original position. This gives the driver a better view of the curb during parallel parking maneuvers. Shifting out of reverse puts the mirror into its original position. The Elantra Hybrid’s mirror doesn’t automatically adjust for backing.

The CLA’s standard rear and side view mirrors have an automatic dimming feature. These mirrors can be set to automatically darken quickly when headlights shine on them, keeping following vehicles from blinding or distracting the driver. The Elantra Hybrid offers an automatic rear view mirror, but its side mirrors don’t dim.

On extremely cold winter days, the CLA’s optional heated steering wheel provides comfort, allowing the driver to steer safely and comfortably before the car heater warms up. The Elantra Hybrid doesn’t offer a heated steering wheel.

Both the CLA and the Elantra Hybrid offer rear vents. For greater rear passenger comfort, the CLA has standard rear air conditioning vents to keep rear occupants cool in summer or warm in winter. The Elantra Hybrid doesn’t offer rear air conditioning vents, only heat vents.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Mercedes CLA has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. Only the Elantra Hybrid Limited offers wireless charging.

The CLA’s Active Parking Assist can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. The Elantra Hybrid doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the CLA first among small premium cars in owner reported satisfaction. This includes how well the vehicle performs and satisfies its owner’s expectations. The Elantra Hybrid isn’t in the top three.