I thought the CLA45 would be faster. Surprised with the results of this test considering the Mercedes has more horsepower than the BMW.

Specs and details in the article

That doesn't really surprise me. I think the results would be different if they used launch control.

BMW's engines are severely, almost laughably underrated.

Furthermore, it's going to be hard for any 4-cylinder to top that legendary turbo inline 6.

Yeah my friends 335i did 285 to the wheels. It is the 300HP car from factory.

Talk about rigged testing, what a joke. You need to launch a 4cylinder car. In low end there is turbo lag plus the 6 cylinder has more torque than a 4 cylinder at idle. Racing with both cars on full boast the CLA will win due to more horsepower even with the extra drivetrain loss.

It's like a modified big turbo lancer evolution that has 400+hp being as fast as stock since it takes 3 seconds for the turbo to spool up.

If they showed the cars side by side everyone will see the true difference.

Thank You gixxer

Was going to say every test (of a drag race) I've seen so far of the new 235i vs the CLA45 or the even more nimble A45 the AMG has won every time.

I certainly don't put much if any faith into these silly youtube side by side tacho vids.

That said it isn't really an apples vs apples comparison anyway, the 235i is just an uprated regular 2 series, the true test for the A Class AMG's will be with the upcoming new M2 and Audi RS3 both those rivals will have more power and torque than the AMG as they both have much bigger engines - those eventual comparisons will be very interesting and I'm certainly looking forward to the what AMG will ultimately do then in response to keep the A Class ahead of the pack.

Considering a tune will get you roughly 410-15 HP I don't think AMG will have to do much. The 2016 model year will have to have a bump in power or a S version available to keep up with the competition.

Correct you are but in the World of comparisons that are usually set in stone it's always with stock vs stock OEM spec vehicles.

Once you add tuning into the recipe it becomes an all over the place individual vehicle vs what ever else individual aftermarket uprated vehicle comparison.

It certainly is a soothing thought that we now have power upgrades that will keep the AMG competitive to the new upcoming M2 and RS3 but remember those 2 rivals will also eventually have aftermarket upgrades as well.

From AMG literature I've read they have no intention of a power upgrade on the AMG A Class even if the VAG group release a 400hp 2.0ltr engine option right now until at least the mid life update time which will most probably coincide with their 50th anniversary ie. 2017

dumbest comparison ever. if it's not side by side it means NOTHING.

It was a lot colder when they did the run in the 235i which isn't the same condition as the CLA. One road might be slightly incline or decline.. who knows..

Am I missing something?!?! It appears to me that the CLA is slightly quicker on the speedo anyway. However, regardless of the result of the video, it means nothing when comparing two different speedos, on two different cars, on two different roads, in different conditions, with different speedo inaccuracies.... Need I go on?

One thing to bare in mind when looking at these types of vids from the A/CLA 45's is that the speedo on both have been found to of been scarily accurate when tested on a Vbox or similar. Even at speeds over 100mph. My old 135i was much further out than the 45 is..

Food for thought..