Things really start to get interesting once both sets of wheels are set in motion. In our test the Merc outpaced the Audi, posting a 0-100 km/h dash in 9.69 seconds against the A3’s 10 seconds. In the top speed department, however, the Audi got to 195.5 km/h while the Merc got up to 189.6 km/h. On the fuel efficiency front, too, it is the A3 that slips ahead of the CLA. While the A3 returned an overall fuel economy of 15.75 km/l, the CLA returned 14.5 km/l. So, where figures are concerned, the A3 beats the CLA two to one with a better fuel economy and with a higher top speed. The CLA, on the other hand, fights back with better acceleration.
Beyond the mathematics of figures, however, the A3 continues to maintain its lead. Audi’s 2.0 TDI engine with 143 PS and 320 Nm feels more refined and is certainly quieter than the Merc’s 2.2-litre unit, which puts out 136 PS and 300 Nm. From the onset, the A3 engine also feels more responsive and feels the quicker of the two. This is probably due to the differences in the transmissions that the two cars use. While both use dual-clutch transmissions — the Audi uses the tried and tested six-speed DSG and the Merc uses the 7G-Tronic — the A3’s gearbox seems to be the quicker of the two. It’s not that the CLA has a slow-to-respond gearbox, it’s just that the Audi’s is a quicker unit.
