On the suspension front, the CLA has the stiffer set-up and is much more of a driver’s car than previous Mercs have been known to be. There is quite a bit of feedback from the steering, it holds its line at speed and goes round corners. Admittedly, the A3 has the softer set-up of the two. People with superficial knowledge would argue that this should make the CLA the better handling car, and it probably would be if the test were being conducted on a racetrack or on super smooth tarmac. Unfortunately for Mercedes, our less than perfectly surfaced Indian roads actually end up favouring the A3. Its slightly softer set-up allows the suspension just about enough give to keep the tyres in contact with the road at all times. The consequence? While the Merc feels perfect going over smooth tarmac, it tends to feel a little skittish as roads deteriorate.
The A3, on the other hand, will keep things confident irrespective. The A3’s electro-mechanical power steering is also the more communicative of the two, further aiding your desire to chuck the car into corners. Its softer suspension set-up naturally comes to the Audi’s aid when it comes to ride quality. Over bumps and ruts or through potholes and over patchy surfaces, the A3 feels more comfortable right from the get go. The CLA’s stiffer set-up doesn’t make things uncomfortable, but you can still feel the irregularities a bit more than you would in the Audi.
