BMW 330i vs Mercedes-Benz CLA45

What's the difference?

Back in the day, the 3 Series sedan was often the entry to the brand for first time BMW owners, and for good reason. They offered practical interior space without compromising on engine performance.

And they simply looked good, no boring nanny design elements. Then the 1 Series came along and price points bumped up, so how does the ‘entry’ BMW 320i M Sport live up to its long-standing reputation?

With an updated dashboard that brings the interior and tech up to market and a sharper exterior design, it more than holds its own at the table of luxury sedans, despite hard competition from the likes of the Audi A4, Mercedes-Benz C200 and Jaguar XE.

However, if the Merc is a placid and well-behaved mare… the BMW is the barely-broken-in bronco and it takes a certain kind of ‘rider’ to enjoy what the 320i has to offer.

I’ve been discovering just that this week with my family of three. What did we find out? Read below!

Mercedes-AMG left tongues wagging when it unleashed the original 45 series onto the automotive world seven years ago. It took many forms, including the pioneering A 45 hatch and the unconventional GLA 45 SUV.

That said, we’re here to talk about the third member of that family, the CLA 45 sedan (or coupe if Mercedes-AMG is paying your wage). And no, we don’t mean the old model.

Indeed, the second-generation CLA 45 is here, and it’s packing the most potent series-production four-cylinder engine to date – a title Mercedes-AMG has, of course, held before.

So, is the new CLA 45 a big-step up over its standard-setting predecessor? While it certainly helps that it is now only available in hard-hitting S form in Australia, the only way to really find out is to put it to test. Let’s go!