Compare the2024 Acura IntegraVS 2024 Mercedes CLA

For enhanced safety, the front seat shoulder belts of the Acura Integra are height-adjustable to accommodate a wide variety of driver and passenger heights. A better fit can prevent injuries and the increased comfort also encourages passengers to buckle up. The Mercedes CLA doesn’t offer height-adjustable seat belts.

In the past twenty years hundreds of infants and young children have died after being left in vehicles, usually by accident. When turning the vehicle off, drivers of the Integra are reminded to check the back seat if they opened the rear door before starting out. The CLA doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The Integra offers an optional Low-Speed Braking Control that uses rear sensors to monitor for objects to the rear and automatically applies the brakes to prevent a collision. The CLA doesn’t offer automatic braking for stationary objects directly to the rear.

The Integra’s standard lane departure warning system alerts a temporarily inattentive driver when the vehicle begins to leave its lane and gently nudges the vehicle back towards its lane. A lane departure warning system costs extra on the CLA.

Both the Integra and the CLA 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, front wheel drive, 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 rear parking sensors.

The Acura Integra has achieved the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s (IIHS) highest rating of “Top Safety Pick Plus” for the 2024 model year. This distinction is based on its exceptional performance in IIHS’ rigorous battery of safety tests. Specifically, it earned an “Acceptable” rating in the latest, more stringent moderate overlap front crash test, a “Good” result in the updated side impact test, and a “Good” score in the revised pedestrian crash prevention test. The CLA has not yet been evaluated by the IIHS for 2024.

Acura’s powertrain warranty covers the Integra 2 years and 20,000 miles longer than Mercedes covers the CLA. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 6 years or 70,000 miles. Coverage on the CLA ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

Acura pays for scheduled maintenance on the Integra for 2 years and 24,000 miles. Acura will pay for oil changes, tire rotations, air filter replacements, cabin filter replacement, brake fluid replacement, inspections, and any other required maintenance. Mercedes doesn’t pay scheduled maintenance for the CLA.

A reliable vehicle saves its owner time, money and trouble. Nobody wants to be stranded or have to be without a vehicle while it’s being repaired. Consumer Reports rates the Integra’s reliability 17 points higher than the CLA.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2024 Auto Issue reports that Acura vehicles are more reliable than Mercedes vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Acura fourth in overall reliability. Mercedes is ranked 29th.

The Integra Type S’ standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder produces 99 more horsepower (320 vs. 221) and 52 lbs.-ft. more torque (310 vs. 258) than the CLA’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid.

On the EPA test cycle the Integra gets better mileage than the CLA:

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Acura Integra uses regular unleaded gasoline (premium recommended for maximum performance). The CLA requires premium, which can cost on average about 82.8 cents more per gallon.

The Integra has a standard cap-less fueling system. The fuel filler is automatically opened when the fuel nozzle is inserted and automatically closed when it’s removed. This eliminates the need to unscrew and replace the cap and it reduces fuel evaporation, which causes pollution. The CLA doesn’t offer a cap-less fueling system.

The Integra has a standard continuously variable transmission (CVT). With no “steps” between gears, it can keep the engine at the most efficient speed for fuel economy, or keep it at its peak horsepower indefinitely for maximum acceleration. The CLA doesn’t offer a CVT.

For better stopping power the Integra Type S’ front brake rotors are larger than those on the CLA:

The Integra stops much shorter than the CLA:

For better traction, the Integra Type S’ tires are larger than the largest tires available on the CLA (265/30R19 vs. 225/45R18).

The Integra Type S’ tires provide better handling because they have a lower 30 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the CLA’s optional 40 series tires.

The Integra has a standard easy tire fill system. When inflating the tires, the vehicle’s integrated tire pressure sensors keep track of the pressure as the tires fill and tell the driver when the tires are inflated to the proper pressure. The CLA doesn’t offer vehicle monitored tire inflation.

The Integra offers an optional space-saver spare tire so you can replace a flat tire and drive to have the flat repaired or replaced. A spare tire isn’t available on the CLA; it requires you to depend on its run-flat tires, which limits mileage and speed before they are repaired. If a run-flat is damaged beyond repair by a road hazard your vehicle will have to be towed. Some tire options on the CLA don’t have a run-flat feature, either.

The Integra Type S handles at .99 G’s, while the CLA 250 4MATIC pulls only .86 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The Integra Type S executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.8 seconds quicker than the CLA 250 4MATIC (24.7 seconds @ .78 average G’s vs. 26.5 seconds @ .67 average G’s).

The Acura Integra may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 400 pounds less than the Mercedes CLA.

Because it has more passenger and cargo room, the EPA rates the Integra a Large car, while the CLA is rated a Compact.

The Integra has 6.8 cubic feet more passenger volume than the CLA (95.8 vs. 89).

The Integra has .1 inches more front headroom, .5 inches more front legroom, 1.9 inches more front shoulder room, .7 inches more rear headroom, 3.5 inches more rear legroom and 2 inches more rear shoulder room than the CLA.

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that Acura service is better than Mercedes. J.D. Power ranks Acura 6th in service department satisfaction (above the industry average). With a 22% lower rating, Mercedes is ranked 18th.

Consumer Reports rated the Integra’s headlight performance “Good,” a higher rating than the CLA’s headlights, which were rated “Poor.”

To shield the driver and front passenger’s vision over a larger portion of the windshield and side windows, the Integra has standard extendable sun visors. The CLA doesn’t offer extendable visors.

Insurance will cost less for the Integra owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the Integra will cost $4020 to $5315 less than the CLA over a five-year period.

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the Acura Integra will be $10330 to $12612 less than for the Mercedes CLA.

Consumer Reports® recommends the Acura Integra, based on reliability, safety and performance. The Mercedes CLA isn't recommended.

The Type S was chosen as a Car and Driver’s “Top Ten” for 2024. The CLA has never been chosen by Car and Driver in their “10Best” issue.

A group of representative automotive journalists from North America selected the Integra as the 2023 North American Car of the Year. The CLA has never been chosen.

The Acura Integra outsold the Mercedes CLA by over three to one during 2023.