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Mercedes CLA Coupe vs VW Golf – Performance, range & efficiency compared

Everyday use, family trips or long-distance drives – here’s where the differences show.
Discover whether Mercedes CLA Coupe or VW Golf fits your lifestyle better.

Here’s where it gets real: The technical differences in detail

CLA Coupe @ Mercedes-Benz Group Media

Costs and Efficiency:

Price and efficiency are key factors when choosing a car – and this is often where the real differences emerge.

VW Golf has a decisively advantage in terms of price – it starts at 25200 £, while the Mercedes CLA Coupe costs 37100 £. That’s a price difference of around 11907 £.

Fuel consumption also shows a difference: VW Golf manages with 1.10 L and is therefore clearly more efficient than the Mercedes CLA Coupe with 2.30 L. The difference is about 1.20 L per 100 km.

As for range, the Mercedes CLA Coupe performs convincingly better – achieving up to 791 km, about 648 km more than the VW Golf.

Golf @ Volkswagen AG / VW Media

Engine and Performance:

Power, torque and acceleration say a lot about how a car feels on the road. This is where you see which model delivers more driving dynamics.

When it comes to engine power, the Mercedes CLA Coupe has a evident edge – offering 421 HP compared to 333 HP. That’s roughly 88 HP more horsepower.

In acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h, the Mercedes CLA Coupe is a bit quicker – completing the sprint in 4.10 s, while the VW Golf takes 4.60 s. That’s about 0.50 s faster.

There’s no difference in top speed – both reach 270 km/h.

There’s also a difference in torque: Mercedes CLA Coupe pulls somewhat stronger with 515 Nm compared to 420 Nm. That’s about 95 Nm difference.

CLA Coupe @ Mercedes-Benz Group Media

Space and Everyday Use:

Cabin size, boot volume and payload all play a role in everyday practicality. Here, comfort and flexibility make the difference.

Both vehicles offer seating for 5 people.

In curb weight, VW Golf is a bit lighter – 1307 kg compared to 1505 kg. The difference is around 198 kg.

In terms of boot space, the Mercedes CLA Coupe offers a bit more room – 460 L compared to 381 L. That’s a difference of about 79 L.

When it comes to payload, VW Golf hardly perceptible takes the win – 508 kg compared to 490 kg. That’s a difference of about 18 kg.

Who wins the race?

The Mercedes CLA Coupe proves to be leaves the rival little chance and therefore becomes our DriveDuel Champion!
Mercedes CLA Coupe is the better all-rounder in this comparison.

from about £37,100
CLA Coupe @ Mercedes-Benz Group Media

Mercedes CLA Coupe

  • Engine Type : Plugin Hybrid, Petrol MHEV, Diesel, Petrol, Electric
  • Transmission : Automatic
  • Drive Type : Front-Wheel Drive, All-Wheel Drive, Rear-Wheel Drive
  • Power HP : 116 - 421 HP
  • Consumption L/100km : 2.3 - 8.9 L
  • Consumption kWh/100km : 12.2 - 12.6 kWh
  • Electric Range : 86 - 791 km
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Mercedes CLA Coupe

The Mercedes CLA Coupe cuts a rakish silhouette that blends sporty coupe lines with everyday practicality, giving style-minded buyers a premium image without shouting. Inside it feels more luxurious than its size suggests, with a slick cabin, intuitive tech and a composed ride — the kind of car that parties in the city and still shows up polished on Sunday morning.

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19C0225_044 @ Mercedes-Benz Group Media

VW Golf

The VW Golf remains the everyman’s favourite — cleverly balanced, composed and just posh enough to feel grown-up without pretending to be something it’s not. It slips through town and eats up longer trips with a refined cabin, practical layout and a kindly, capable character that turns everyday driving into something a little bit special.

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Costs and Consumption
Price
37100 - 73700 £
Price
25200 - 47600 £
Consumption L/100km
2.3 - 8.9 L
Consumption L/100km
1.1 - 8.1 L
Consumption kWh/100km
12.2 - 12.6 kWh
Consumption kWh/100km
-
Electric Range
86 - 791 km
Electric Range
131 - 143 km
Battery Capacity
12.9 - 85 kWh
Battery Capacity
19.70 kWh
co2
0 - 202 g/km
co2
25 - 184 g/km
Fuel tank capacity
35 - 51 L
Fuel tank capacity
40 - 55 L

Dimensions and Body
Body Type
Coupe
Body Type
Hatchback
Seats
5
Seats
5
Doors
4
Doors
5
Curb weight
1505 - 2135 kg
Curb weight
1307 - 1662 kg
Trunk capacity
395 - 460 L
Trunk capacity
273 - 381 L
Length
4692 - 4723 mm
Length
4282 - 4296 mm
Width
1834 - 1857 mm
Width
1789 mm
Height
1404 - 1468 mm
Height
1454 - 1483 mm
Max trunk capacity
-
Max trunk capacity
1129 - 1237 L
Payload
440 - 490 kg
Payload
438 - 508 kg

Engine and Performance
Engine Type
Plugin Hybrid, Petrol MHEV, Diesel, Petrol, Electric
Engine Type
Petrol MHEV, Petrol, Diesel, Plugin Hybrid
Transmission
Automatic
Transmission
Automatic, Manuel
Transmission Detail
Dual-Clutch Automatic, Reduction Gearbox
Transmission Detail
Dual-Clutch Automatic, Manual Gearbox
Drive Type
Front-Wheel Drive, All-Wheel Drive, Rear-Wheel Drive
Drive Type
Front-Wheel Drive, All-Wheel Drive
Power HP
116 - 421 HP
Power HP
116 - 333 HP
Acceleration 0-100km/h
4.1 - 10 s
Acceleration 0-100km/h
4.6 - 10.2 s
Max Speed
205 - 270 km/h
Max Speed
202 - 270 km/h
Torque
230 - 515 Nm
Torque
220 - 420 Nm
Number of Cylinders
4
Number of Cylinders
4
Power kW
85 - 310 kW
Power kW
85 - 245 kW
Engine capacity
1332 - 1991 cm3
Engine capacity
1498 - 1984 cm3

General
Model Year
2024 - 2025
Model Year
2024 - 2025
CO2 Efficiency Class
B, D, E, G, A
CO2 Efficiency Class
D, F, G, C, B
Brand
Mercedes-Benz
Brand
VW

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What drive types are available for the Mercedes CLA Coupe?

The Mercedes CLA Coupe is available as Front-Wheel Drive, All-Wheel Drive or Rear-Wheel Drive.

The prices and data displayed are estimates based on German list prices and may vary by country. This information is not legally binding.