2015 Audi A3 vs 2015 Buick Verano vs 2015 Mercedes-Benz CLA Class

2015 Audi A3

2015 Buick Verano

2015 Mercedes-Benz CLA Class

Select style

2-Door Convertible FWD 1.8T Premium

Style	MPG City	MPG Hwy	Invoice	MSRP
A3 2-Door Convertible FWD 1.8T Premium	24	35	$33,108	$35,600
A3 2-Door Convertible FWD 1.8T Premium Plus	24	35	$33,108	$35,600
A3 2-Door Convertible FWD 1.8T Prestige	24	35	$33,108	$35,600
A3 2-Door Convertible quattro 2.0T Premium	23	32	$35,898	$38,600
A3 2-Door Convertible quattro 2.0T Premium Plus	23	32	$35,898	$38,600
A3 2-Door Convertible quattro 2.0T Prestige	23	32	$35,898	$38,600
A3 4-Door Sedan FWD 1.8T Premium	23	33	$27,808	$29,900
A3 4-Door Sedan FWD 1.8T Premium Plus	23	33	$27,808	$29,900
A3 4-Door Sedan FWD 1.8T Prestige	23	33	$27,808	$29,900
A3 4-Door Sedan FWD 2.0 TDI Premium	31	43	$30,318	$32,600
A3 4-Door Sedan FWD 2.0 TDI Premium Plus	31	43	$30,318	$32,600
A3 4-Door Sedan FWD 2.0 TDI Prestige	31	43	$30,318	$32,600
A3 4-Door Sedan quattro 2.0T Premium	24	33	$30,876	$33,200
A3 4-Door Sedan quattro 2.0T Premium Plus	24	33	$30,876	$33,200
A3 4-Door Sedan quattro 2.0T Prestige	24	33	$30,876	$33,200
S3 4-Door Sedan quattro 2.0T Premium Plus	23	31	$38,224	$41,100
S3 4-Door Sedan quattro 2.0T Prestige	23	31	$38,224	$41,100

Select style

4-Door Sedan Convenience Group

Style	MPG City	MPG Hwy	Invoice	MSRP
Verano 4-Door Sedan Convenience Group	21	32	$24,019	$25,020
Verano 4-Door Sedan Leather Group	21	32	$25,968	$27,050
Verano 4-Door Sedan Premium Turbo Group	21	30	$28,046	$29,215
Verano 4-Door Sedan w/1SD	21	32	$22,444	$23,380
Verano 4-Door Sedan w/1SV	21	32	$20,959	$21,065

Select style

4-Door Sedan CLA 250 4MATIC

Style	MPG City	MPG Hwy	Invoice	MSRP
CLA-Class 4-Door Sedan CLA 250 4MATIC	24	33	$31,155	$33,500
CLA-Class 4-Door Sedan CLA 250 FWD	26	38	$29,295	$31,500
CLA-Class 4-Door Sedan CLA 45 AMG 4MATIC	23	31	$45,105	$48,500

Show Only Differences

Pricing

Invoice Price

$33,108

$24,019

$31,155

Manufacturer Suggested Retail Price

$35,600

$25,020

$33,500

Monthly Payment Estimate

$593 / month

$417 / month

$558 / month

The Car Connection's Take

TCC Rating

8.0

Read Our Full Review

8.0

Read Our Full Review

8.2

Read Our Full Review

TCC’s Bottom Line

The 2015 Audi A3 and S3 put more pressure on "premium" small sedans, with real prestige in their badges and real potential in their spec sheets.

The 2015 Buick Verano may not be much of a sports sedan, but it certainly delivers in the category of comfort.

The 2015 CLA is a small Mercedes done right, with enough of the brand's style and refinement mixed with a dash of youthfulness.

TCC Likes

Quick, nicely weighted steering
The best in-dash interface (MMI)
Super-flexible, efficient engines

Luxurious interior
Composed and quiet beyond its class
Connectivity and safety are up to speed

Mini-CLS silhouette
Eager turbo four engines
Grippy front seats to go with handling

TCC Dislikes

Tiny back seat
Road noise
Not quite a luxury car

Fuel economy's relatively low
Ventiports....no. Just, no.
Base Verano isn't quick

Are we ready for a Civic-sized Benz again?
Rear-seat headroom is tight
LCD screen's tacked-on look

Fuel Economy

City

24 mpg

21 mpg

24 mpg

Highway

35 mpg

32 mpg

33 mpg

Vehicle

EPA Classification

Subcompact Cars

Compact

Subcompact Cars

Number of Passenger Doors

Interior Dimensions

Front Shoulder Room (in)

54.8

55.1

Second Leg Room (in)

31.9

34.7

27.1

Front Leg Room (in)

41.2

42.0

40.2

Passenger Capacity

Second Head Room (in)

36.3

37.8

35.4

Second Shoulder Room (in)

45.7

52.9

53.2

Front Head Room (in)

37.4

38.3

38.2

Passenger Volume (ft³)

95.0

Front Hip Room (in)

53.7

Second Hip Room (in)

51.9

Exterior Dimensions

Length, Overall (in)

175

183.9

182.3

Track Width, Front (in)

61.2

60.3

60.9

Wheelbase (in)

102.2

105.7

106.3

Height, Overall (in)

55.5

58.1

56.6

Track Width, Rear (in)

60.1

60.7

60.8

Liftover Height (in)

- TBD -

Width, Max w/o mirrors (in)

71.4

Min Ground Clearance (in)

- TBD -

Cargo Area Dimensions

Trunk Volume (ft³)

9.9

14.3

13.1

Brakes

Drum - Rear (Yes or )

Brake ABS System

4-Wheel

Disc - Rear (Yes or )

Yes

Rear Brake Rotor Diam x Thickness (in)

10.7

11.5 x - TBD -

11.6

Brake Type

4-Wheel Disc

Pwr

4-Wheel Disc

Rear Drum Diam x Width (in)

Disc - Front (Yes or )

Yes

Front Brake Rotor Diam x Thickness (in)

12.3

11.8 x - TBD -

12.6

Fuel Tank

Fuel Tank Capacity, Approx (gal)

13.2

15.6

14.8

Steering

Steering Type

Rack-Pinion

Pwr Rack & Pinion

Rack-Pinion

Turning Diameter - Curb to Curb (ft)

36.0

Lock to Lock Turns (Steering)

2.8

Turning Diameter - Wall to Wall (ft)

N/A

Steering Ratio (:1), Overall

15.5

Tires

Rear Tire Size

P225/45HR17

P235/45R18

P225/45HR17

Rear Tire Order Code

RJ0

R02

Front Tire Size

P225/45HR17

P235/45R18

P225/45HR17

Spare Tire Size

Compact

T115/70R16

Front Tire Order Code

RJ0

R02

Spare Tire Order Code

ZAD

Weight Information

Base Curb Weight (lbs)

3384

3300

3395

Wheels

Front Wheel Material

Aluminum

Spare Wheel Material

Steel

Front Wheel Size (in)

17 X 7.5

18 x 8.0

17 X 7

Spare Wheel Size (in)

Compact

16 x 4.0

Rear Wheel Material

Aluminum

Rear Wheel Size (in)

17 X 7.5

18 x 8.0

17 X 7

Electrical

Maximum Alternator Capacity (amps)

140

130

115

Cold Cranking Amps @ 0° F (Primary)

512

Engine

Engine Type

Intercooled Turbo Premium Unleaded I-4

Gas/4-cyl

Intercooled Turbo Premium Unleaded I-4

Fuel System

Gasoline Direct Injection

Direct Injection

Gasoline Direct Injection

SAE Net Torque @ RPM

200 @ 1600

171 @ 4900

258 @ 1250

Engine Order Code

LEA

Displacement

1.8 L/110

2.4L/145

2.0 L/121

SAE Net Horsepower @ RPM

170 @ 4500

180 @ 6700

208 @ 5500

Mileage

EPA Fuel Economy Est - City (MPG)

Fuel Economy Est-Combined (MPG)

EPA Fuel Economy Est - Hwy (MPG)

Transmission

Reverse Ratio (:1)

3.99

2.84

3.38

Second Gear Ratio (:1)

2.05

2.96

2.43

Trans Order Code

MH8

Fourth Gear Ratio (:1)

0.90

1.45

1.05

Trans Description Cont.

Auto-Shift Manual w/OD

Automatic w/Manual Shift

Auto-Shift Manual w/OD

Drivetrain

Front Wheel Drive

All Wheel

Sixth Gear Ratio (:1)

0.76

0.75

1.05

First Gear Ratio (:1)

3.46

4.58

3.86

Final Drive Axle Ratio (:1)

4.12

3.23

4.13

Third Gear Ratio (:1)

1.30

1.91

2.67

Trans Type

Fifth Gear Ratio (:1)

0.91

1.00

0.78

Trans Description Cont. Again

Clutch Size (in)

Seventh Gear Ratio (:1)

0.84

Summary

Vehicle Name

Audi A3

Buick Verano

Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class

Body Style

Cabriolet

Sedan

4MATIC

Suspension

Suspension Type - Rear

Multi-Link

Compound Crank

Multi-Link

Suspension Type - Rear (Cont.)

Multi-Link

w/Coil Springs

Multi-Link

Suspension Type - Front

Strut

MacPherson Strut

Strut

Suspension Type - Front (Cont.)

Strut

w/Coil Springs

Strut

Shock Absorber Diameter - Rear (mm)

N/A

Stabilizer Bar Diameter - Rear (in)

Shock Absorber Diameter - Front (mm)

N/A

Stabilizer Bar Diameter - Front (in)

1.00

Emissions

Tons/yr of CO2 Emissions @ 15K mi/year

6.3 (Est)

7.1

6.7

EPA Greenhouse Gas Score

Trailering

Wt Distributing Hitch - Max Tongue Wt. (lbs)

Dead Weight Hitch - Max Trailer Wt. (lbs)

Wt Distributing Hitch - Max Trailer Wt. (lbs)

Dead Weight Hitch - Max Tongue Wt. (lbs)

Cooling System

Total Cooling System Capacity (qts)

7.5

Crash Test Ratings

Overall Rating

Overall Frontal Barrier Crash Rating

Frontal Barrier Crash Rating Driver

Frontal Barrier Crash Rating Passenger

Overall Side Crash Rating

Side Barrier Rating

Side Barrier Rating Driver

Side Barrier Rating Passenger Rear Seat

Side Pole Rating Driver Front Seat

Combined Side Rating Front Seat

Combined Side Rating Rear Seat

Rollover Rating

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