Compare the2024 Mercedes AMG CLAVS 2024 Honda Civic Type R

The AMG CLA’s optional pre-crash front seatbelts will tighten automatically in the event the vehicle detects an impending crash, improving protection against injury significantly. The Civic Type R doesn’t offer pre-crash pretensioners.

The AMG CLA’s standard pretensioning seatbelts also sense rear collisions and remove slack from the seatbelts to help protect the occupants from whiplash and other injuries. The Civic Type R doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

The AMG CLA offers an optional Post Collision Brake, which automatically applies the brakes in the event of a crash to help prevent secondary collisions and prevent further injuries. The Civic Type R doesn’t offer a post collision braking system: in the event of a collision that triggers the airbags, more collisions are possible without the protection of airbags that may have already deployed.

The AMG CLA has all-wheel drive to maximize traction under poor conditions, especially in ice and snow. The Civic Type R doesn’t offer all-wheel drive.

The AMG CLA offers an optional Surround View System to allow the driver to see objects all around the vehicle on a screen. The Civic Type R only offers a rear monitor.

Both the AMG CLA and Civic Type R have rear cross-traffic warning, but the AMG CLA has Active Brake Assist (automatically applies the brakes) to better prevent a collision when backing near traffic. The Civic Type R’s Cross Traffic Monitor doesn’t automatically brake.

The AMG CLA has standard Mercedes-Benz Emergency Call, which uses a global positioning satellite (GPS) receiver and a cellular system to remotely unlock your doors if you lock your keys in, help track down your vehicle if it’s stolen or send emergency personnel to the scene if any airbags deploy. The Civic Type R doesn’t offer a GPS response system, only a navigation computer with no live response for emergencies, so if you’re involved in an accident and you’re incapacitated help may not come as quickly.

Both the AMG CLA and the Civic Type R have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver and front passenger knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front and rear seatbelt pretensioners, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning, driver alert monitors and available lane departure warning systems.

The Mercedes AMG CLA weighs 515 to 603 pounds more than the Honda Civic Type R. The NHTSA advises that heavier cars are much safer in collisions than their significantly lighter counterparts. Crosswinds also affect lighter cars more.

The AMG CLA comes with a full 4-year/50,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire car and includes 24-hour roadside assistance. The Civic Type R’s 3-year/36,000-mile basic warranty expires 1 year or 14,000 miles sooner.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Mercedes vehicles are more reliable than Honda With 35 fewer problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, J.D. Power ranks Mercedes higher than Honda.

The AMG CLA 45 S’ standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid produces 101 more horsepower (416 vs. 315) and 59 lbs.-ft. more torque (369 vs. 310) than the Civic Type R’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder.

On the EPA test cycle the AMG CLA 35 gets better fuel mileage than the Civic Type R (22 city/29 hwy vs. 22 city/28 hwy).

Regenerative brakes improve the AMG CLA’s fuel efficiency by converting inertia back into energy instead of wasting it. The Civic Type R doesn’t offer a regenerative braking system.

In heavy traffic or at stoplights the AMG CLA’s engine automatically turns off when the vehicle is stopped, saving fuel and reducing pollution. The engine is automatically restarted when the driver gets ready to move again. If the conditions warrant or the driver wishes, the system can be manually disabled at any time for the duration of a trip. The Civic Type R doesn’t offer an automatic engine start/stop system.

The AMG CLA has 1.1 gallons more fuel capacity than the Civic Type R (13.5 vs. 12.4 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

The AMG CLA has a standard automatic transmission, for driver comfort, especially in the city. The Civic Type R doesn’t offer an automatic transmission.

The AMG CLA offers a standard sequential manual gearbox (SMG). With no clutch pedal to worry about and a fully automatic mode, an SMG is much more efficient than a conventional automatic but just as easy to drive. The Civic Type R doesn’t offer an SMG.

The AMG CLA’s standard front and rear disc brakes are vented to help dissipate heat for shorter stops with less fading. The rear discs on the Civic Type R are solid, not vented.

Changing a flat tire near traffic can be dangerous and inconvenient. The run-flat tires available on the AMG CLA can be driven up to 50 miles without any air pressure, allowing you to drive to a service station for a repair. The Civic Type R doesn’t offer run-flat tires.

The AMG CLA has standard front and rear gas-charged shocks for better control over choppy roads. The Civic Type R’s suspension doesn’t offer gas-charged shocks.

The AMG CLA’s drift compensation steering can automatically compensate for road conditions which would cause the vehicle to drift from side to side, helping the driver to keep the vehicle straight more easily. The Civic Type R doesn’t offer drift compensation steering.

The AMG CLA 45 S executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the Civic Type R Touring (24.1 seconds @ .8 average G’s vs. 24.5 seconds @ .76 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the AMG CLA 35’s turning circle is 3.5 feet tighter than the Civic Type R’s (36.4 feet vs. 39.9 feet). The AMG CLA 45 S’ turning circle is 1.8 feet tighter than the Civic Type R’s (38.1 feet vs. 39.9 feet).

A standard locking glovebox (which can’t be accessed with the valet key) keeps your small valuables safer in the AMG CLA. The Civic Type R doesn’t offer locking storage for small valuables.

To make loading groceries and cargo easier when your hands are full, the AMG CLA’s trunk can be opened just by kicking your foot under the back bumper, leaving your hands completely free. The Civic Type R doesn’t offer a hands-free gesture to open its liftgate, forcing you to put cargo down if your hands are full.

The AMG CLA uses gas struts to support the hood for easier service access. The Civic Type R uses a prop rod to support its heavy hood. It takes two hands to open the hood and set the prop rod, the prop rod gets in the way during maintenance and service, and the prop rod could be knocked out, causing the heavy hood to fall on the person maintaining or servicing the car.

The AMG CLA has a standard remote vehicle starting system, so the vehicle can be started from inside the driver's house. This allows the driver to comfortably warm up the engine before going out to the vehicle. The climate system will also automatically heat or cool the interior. The Civic Type R doesn’t offer a remote starting system.

When three different drivers share the AMG CLA, the memory seats and mirrors make it convenient for all three. Each setting activates different, customized memories for the driver and front passenger’s seat positions and outside mirror angle. The Civic Type R doesn’t offer a memory system.

The AMG CLA’s standard easy entry and exit feature glides the driver’s seat back, making it easier for the driver to get in and out. The Civic Type R doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

The AMG CLA offers an optional heads-up display that projects speed, tachometer and navigation instruction readouts in front of the driver’s line of sight, allowing drivers to view information without diverting their eyes from the road. The Civic Type R doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

The power windows standard on both the AMG CLA and the Civic Type R have locks to prevent small children from operating them. When the lock on the AMG CLA is engaged the driver can still operate all of the windows, for instance to close one opened by a child. The Civic Type R prevents the driver from operating the other windows just as it does the other passengers.

The AMG CLA’s front and rear power windows all open or close fully with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside the car. The Civic Type R’s rear power window switches have to be held the entire time to open or close them fully.

The AMG CLA’s standard Keyless-Go allow you to unlock the doors from any outside door handle, open the trunk, and start the engine, all without removing the key from the pocket or purse. Smart Entry standard on the Civic Type R doesn’t offer a sensor on the rear doors, so you’ll have to reach a front handle to unlock the rear door.

The AMG CLA’s rain-sensitive wipers adjust their speed and turn on and off automatically based on the amount of rainfall on the windshield. This allows the driver to concentrate on driving without constantly adjusting the wipers. The Civic Type R’s manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

Heated windshield washer nozzles are optional on the AMG CLA to prevent washer fluid and nozzles from freezing and help continue to keep the windshield clear in sub-freezing temperatures. The Civic Type R doesn’t offer heated windshield washer nozzles.

To help drivers avoid possible obstacles, the AMG CLA offers optional cornering lights to illuminate around corners when the turn signals are activated. The Civic Type R doesn’t offer cornering lights. The AMG CLA also offers optional adaptive headlights to illuminate around corners automatically by reading vehicle speed and steering wheel angle.

When the AMG CLA is put in reverse, the passenger rearview mirror tilts from its original position. This gives the driver a better view of the curb during parallel parking maneuvers. Shifting out of reverse puts the mirror into its original position. The Civic Type R’s mirror doesn’t automatically adjust for backing.

The AMG CLA’s standard rear and side view mirrors have an automatic dimming feature. These mirrors can be set to automatically darken quickly when headlights shine on them, keeping following vehicles from blinding or distracting the driver. The Civic Type R offers an automatic rear view mirror, but its side mirrors don’t dim.

Optional air-conditioned seats in the AMG CLA keep the driver and front passenger comfortable and take the sting out of hot seats in Summer. The Civic Type R doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats.

On extremely cold winter days, the AMG CLA’s optional heated steering wheel provides comfort, allowing the driver to steer safely and comfortably before the car heater warms up. The Civic Type R doesn’t offer a heated steering wheel.

The AMG CLA offers optional massaging front seats in order to maximize comfort and eliminate fatigue on long trips. Massaging seats aren’t available in the Civic Type R.

Both the AMG CLA and the Civic Type R offer rear vents. For greater rear passenger comfort, the AMG CLA has standard rear air conditioning vents to keep rear occupants cool in summer or warm in winter. The Civic Type R doesn’t offer rear air conditioning vents, only heat vents.

The AMG CLA’s Active Parking Assist can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. The Civic Type R doesn’t offer an automated parking system.