Volkswagen CC vs. Mercedes-Benz CLA250

You might ask, "Is it really fair to pit a Volkswagen against a Mercedes-Benz? Wouldn't that be a one-sided duel?" Well, yes. As it turns out, one car is clearly more inviting than the other, but it's the less expensive Volkswagen CC that provides the more luxurious and engaging driving experience.

Each of these compact luxury sedans was designed to blend the sleek, stylish look of a two-door coupe with some of the convenience and practicality of a four-door sedan. And true, each is visually appealing in its own distinctive way. But the sloping rooflines and high window sills that help give the cars their eye-catching look also hurt their practicality. The rear seats in both are cramped and uncomfortable, it's difficult to climb in and out, and rearward visibility is very limited, with large blind spots.

Where the CC really succeeds is from the driver's seat. With agile handling and a taut, supple, and composed ride, the CC is fun to drive. Its 200-hp turbocharged four-cylinder engine provides ample power, although the initial takeoff can be a bit uneven. Fuel economy of 26 mpg overall is commendable.

The CLA is fairly agile, with good cornering grip, but it lacks the CC's balance and sporty character. Uncharacteristic for a Mercedes, the ride is too stiff, with short, quick motions making the car feel jittery. Unlike the CC, the CLA's turbo four-cylinder feels a bit lethargic in everyday driving, but it ultimately posts good acceleration figures. At 28 mpg overall, it's pretty frugal at the pump. Overall, the CLA falls short on providing a well-rounded driving experience, and its tight quarters count against it. At $36,500 it may be affordable for a Mercedes but is not a good value for what you get.

With its test score of 81, the Volkswagen CC ranks near the top of this class, just below the Acura TSX, and the CLA's 63 score anchors it at the bottom of our Ratings. It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that the Volkswagen CC and Buick Regal (also a German design) feel closer to a Mercedes than does the CLA.

Neither car is recommended. The CC scores high enough, but its reliability is below average. The CLA scored too low in our tests to be recommended, and it's too new for us to have reliability data.

You can really feel the desire when Janis Joplin pleads, "Oh, Lord, won't you buy me a Mercedes-Benz?" But if the Mercedes had been the new CLA four-door coupe, she might have reconsidered. The CLA looks like the real thing, with the proud three-pointed star on the grille and the sexy styling of the posh and costly CLS. But that's where the resemblance ends.

Once you're behind the wheel, the CLA just doesn't deliver the Mercedes driving experience that its image leads you to expect. Rather than a comfortable, quiet, and sporty rear-wheel-drive sedan, the CLA is a cramped, noisy, front-wheel-drive compact with a stiff ride, impaired visibility, and exceptionally difficult access. It also lacks the handling finesse and refinement we expect at this price.

The CLA is pretty agile in corners. Turn-in response is quick, and the body stays nice and flat. The steering is well-weighted, although it falls short on feedback. When pushed to its handling limits, the CLA proved secure and forgiving, and posted a high speed in our avoidance maneuver. But it tends to run wide when pushed and lacks the balance and sporty character of other Mercedes sedans. The 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine is mated to a seven-speed automated manual transmission. All-wheel drive will be optional down the road. We recorded an impressive 28 mpg overall on the required premium fuel.

If you really hammer the gas pedal, the CLA accelerates pretty quickly, but many of us complained that it felt sluggish off the line in normal driving. That's partly because the car defaults to Eco mode at every restart, which reduces throttle response and adjusts shifting to eke out better fuel economy. A start/stop system shuts off the engine to save fuel at traffic lights. But restarts aren't always smooth. You can disable the system at a modest penalty to fuel economy.

Inside, the CLA is well-crafted, although several staffers thought the center screen, perched atop the dash, looked like an afterthought. Drivers have ample knee and foot room, but taller drivers might find head room tight. The aggressively contoured 14-way adjustable sports seats are great if your body fits within the bolsters. Cushioning is firm and supportive. But several drivers complained that the fixed head restraint sat too close to the back of their head. Save the rear seats for young kids. Their cushions offer decent comfort, but an average adult's head will brush the ceiling.

The sleek coupelike styling hinders the view out. The glass area is too short to the sides, and a high rear deck and thick roof pillars limit rear visibility. A backup camera comes only in the $2,370 Multimedia package, which is a bit galling because it's standard on every $18,000 Honda Civic.

As in other Mercedes models, controls take some getting used to, but they aren't as complicated as in Audi and BMW models. The climate controls are mounted low on the dash, and the audio controls are a bit spread out. A smart phone is easy to pair and reconnected each time we got in the car. Voice-command capability for the audio system is optional.

Because our car came with run-flat tires, no jack, spare tire, or inflator kit was included.

Best version to get. The CLA's big draw is its low base price of $29,990, for which it comes reasonably equipped. But you need to add the $2,300 Premium 1 package to get features you'd think would be standard, such as heated seats, automatic climate control, satellite radio, and iPod control. We'd skip the $1,500 interior package, with leather upholstery, because the standard MB-Tex leatherette feels a lot like the real thing. Overall, a decently equipped CLA will probably cost close to $37,000, which is about $4,000 less than a comparably equipped C-Class. But if you can do without the cachet, many alternatives might fit the bill better, such as a Volkswagen CC, a Buick Regal, and even a loaded Ford Fusion, any of which would cost about $3,000 less than a similarly equipped CLA.

This sleek four-door coupe version of the previous Volkswagen Passat sedan is enjoyable to drive, with agile, responsive handling and a taut, composed ride. But overall, it emphasizes style over function. The sporty design and handsome, well-finished interior make the CC feel more upscale and distinctive than most midsized sedans. But the sloping roof and low stance result in a snug interior, with limited visibility and difficult access.

A recent freshening increased seating capacity from four to five people, slightly improving the car's practicality, but the rear seat is still tight. In addition, an automated manual transmission replaced the traditional automatic, improving fuel economy, and it works well with the punchy 200-hp turbocharged four-cylinder engine.

One of the CC's highlights is its dynamic prowess. It carves through curves with little body lean, and the steering is quick and well-weighted, with decent feedback. When pushed to its handling limits at our track, it was very secure and forgiving, posting a commendable speed through our avoidance maneuver and instilling confidence in our drivers. Though the ride is somewhat firm, particularly at low speeds, it's compliant enough to buffer most bumps.

The turbo four-cylinder works well once underway, but it isn't particularly energetic at very low revs. We measured 26 mpg overall on premium fuel, which is par for this class. The new transmission is one of the better dual-clutch transmissions on the market. It provides sporty, direct shifts that are mostly smooth, although part-throttle downshifts aren't always prompt. It performs best if you're driving the car fairly hard. You can also opt for a stronger 280-hp V6 engine that's very smooth and can be paired with all-wheel drive, but that combo pushes the CC's price to more than $43,000.

Even our lower-level Sport version provides a meticulously finished interior. A nice touch: The glove compartment can be chilled to keep beverages and snacks cool. But you might have to pay more than you'd expect to add some common features, such as a sunroof.

Though the car isn't spacious, its driving position provides ample room even for taller drivers. The firm, deeply sculpted front seats provide a wide range of power adjustments. But slipping into or hoisting yourself out of the low-slung CC takes some agility. The rear seat is not very roomy, and head room is tight.

The low roofline, high deck, and small back windows compromise rear visibility. A backup camera would be a big help, and thankfully, it is standard on 2014 CC models.

The radio is easy to manage, with big knobs and a helpful preset display on its touch screen. But navigating some secondary menus is a bit tedious.

Bluetooth is standard, but some staffers found that their iPhone paired easily and others had more difficulty.

The CC comes with a connector for older iPhones and iPods; Android and other devices need a separate cord. Apple users can tether their device and use the radio touch screen or steering-wheel controls to navigate the device.

The trunk is large and well-finished, and the rear seatbacks can fold for extra cargo space.

Best version to get. The best value is basic Sport trim, which is well-equipped, including standard navigation. Adding a sunroof or real leather requires $4,100 more for the Executive trim. For $43,310, the top-trim V6 Executive 4Motion adds V6 power and all-wheel drive. But that price puts it in the territory of more prestigious cars such as the BMW 3 Series.