I’m looking to decide on a car between the 2 and not sure which to pick. I like the c43 as it’s interior quality and drive is better compared to the cla35, but the cla35 has a much more modern interior and sportier exterior too. Anybody have any input on this(price aside)?

 

Both great choices but if you are looking at a C 43 I think it makes sense to look at a CLA 45 instead of a CLA 35. Prior to the existence of the CLA 35, the CLA 45 was always a vehicle that C 43 buyers also look for. The CLA 45 power is much more on par to the C 43. If you still want to proceed with the CLA 35 then it is perfectly fine because it too is a great vehicle.

If you like a V6 that still has an authentic sound and still one of the best sounding V6s (imo) then get the C 43, W205 (sedan/saloon) was a 2015 Model year vehicle and the 2019 C43 coupe is based on the C205. The first C 43 was 2017 Model Year and was really a 2016 C 450 re-badge and with a new transmission. The 2019 you are looking at is a facelift of C205.

The predecessor CLA 45 despite being a 4 cylinder actually sounded decent but this new gen due to regulations it is so quiet but there is artificial sound in the cabin though. If you care about a hand built engine, the CLA 45 is the way to go. Since you are looking at an CLA 35, hand built is not something you are looking for which is perfectly fine.

It is always more fun to drive a lighter car than a heavier car, so if you like better handling and less body roll, get the CLA 35. The better handling is thanks to the updated technology compared to the C 43. The vehicle is easier to park, make sure to get the "ride control" package so you can adjust the suspension to comfort, sport, sport+. You can further improve the ride quality by getting rid of the run-flats. The CLA 35 is slightly easier to park but do keep in mind this gen CLA (C118) is actually as long as the C205 C 43 you are looking at.

That being said though, C class has a more luxurious feel than A class because it is considered as a higher class and material are better too. The CLA 35 is the newer vehicle (2020 vs 2015) so naturally it has newer tech, it has ambient light in the climate vents for example, the infotainment is NTG 6.0 vs NTG 5.5 on the C 43, NTG 6.0 is MBUX (Mercedes-Benz User Experience) and NTG 5.5 is the latest COMAND infotainment system. Most people prefer MBUX. If you prefer full screen smartphone integration however, you can only get full screen with COMAND in the C 43 due to a glitch in the MBUX 1.0 (NTG 6.0) system. The screen in the CLA 35 is a touchscreen but not in the C 43.

The CLA 35 you are looking at is a new vehicle and the 2019 C 43 you are looking at may only have 2 years left of warranty and it is used, if new car matters to you (I assume it doesn't because you did put a 2019 in for comparison) The C 43 will be more reliable because it reached end of its life cycle (end of this generation, the final model year of that vehicle in Europe was 2021) so most glitches and problems are fixed. The M276 V6 in the C 43 also has to work way less compared to the M260 inline-4.

The W/C/A 205's successor is around the corner and it is too a 4-cylinder, if it was a few years ago I would recommend people who wants the latest and greatest (the latest tech mainly) to get the CLA because the next generation C 43 is precisely getting most of the CLA's new technology anyways so why wait. However, it has been almost 2 years since the CLA has been introduced, the C 43 successor is coming soon which was supposed to be announced during IAA 2021 was postponed till early next year. I advise waiting and see if you like the new car and the second generation MBUX (NTG 7.0, myMBUX). If you wanted a coupe to begin with (which I can see you are) the wait will be longer in the form of a CLE (earliest 2023). Keep in mind, first model year of any generation vehicle has glitches and issues so that is probably another reason you don't want to wait. Normally I would advise to wait till a new model comes out to 1. decide if you want the new vehicle 2. get a discount on the older model if the new model isn't for you. However, due to chip shortage, I don't see the price dropping by much or any at all.

If you need something with an amg badge then the wait for the W206 C 300 for example won't take long as vehicles are already being prepared for delivery or being delivered in Europe, if you are in North America, vehicles will be available in mid to late Q1 of 2022. That vehicle is pretty quick and it is pair with a 48V hybrid system to help reduce turbo lag.

 

Does it help? Let me know if you have further questions.

 

hi there, thanks for the reply. I completely missed this. So I sat in both and it seems that the cla35 whilst feels more modern, it doesn’t feel as luxurious or look as such. The c43 is definitely much louder and looks more aggressive in its coupe form than the cla35, especially with the wrap around lights. I have the option to take a finance on a c43 2019, or I can lease one for a 2021 model. In my case, given that the 2019 is $25,000 cheaper than the 2021(as it’s used), will it make sense to take that over the new 2021? From my understanding, both models have no changes. My other concern is that I would finance the 2019, where as lease the 2021 model. The 2019 model was 40,000km on it already, so I only have maybe 1 year/40,000 more km left before the warranty expires. The other issue is that the car will be outdated once the new coupe comes in 2023 and I don’t want to wait 1 year to make a decision.

 

No problem. Thanks for your question. Yes, the CLA is one tier below the C-Class so the reduced luxury makes sense. I often recommend forum members that don't mind not having a V6 and looking for the latest technology to opt for the CLA, the technology also includes enhancement in the 4MATIC system and overall driving characteristics are changed/improved which would come in the W206 generation C-Class. So might as well get the CLA instead of waiting (especially a few years ago when the CLA first came out), however like I mentioned earlier the W206 generation is out already so the wait wouldn't be long. Still, you can't go wrong with the C205 C-Class coupe especially if you like that V6. I personally would choose that V6 over the CLA for example (which is another reason I haven't sold my W205 sedan yet).

As for changes, if you are in the USA, there is an optional drive unit for the steering wheel (used for quick switching of driving modes, turning on/off traction, exhaust) starting model year 2020. Other than that, the MY20 brought more standard equipment, colour options has changed. For MY21, even more standard equipment but then chip shortage might mean some options aren't available (if it is an inventory vehicle then it might not be affected). If you buy that 2019 from a dealership, they should put another 1 year CPO warranty over the factory new warranty so effectively you should have 2 years of warranty left but make sure to confirm in writing. As for the new coupe, it will be in between C-Class and E-Class, so expect prices to reflect that as well. Keep in mind, since the C-coupe is discontinued for the W206 generation (meaning there will not be a C206), the current gen (C205) C coupe survives one additional model year compared to the C-Class sedan. So the 2022 C coupe is still based on that. In short, your options are that 2019 C 43 coupe, 2021 C 43 coupe that you are considering leasing or you can look at the 2022 C 43 coupe for a lease as well (although there really aren't many changes).

If you have more questions, as always, feel free to ask.

Edit: I noticed that you stated on your profile that you are based in Canada, in that case we tend to follow what MBUSA does in a majority of decisions so this information is applicable to our market as well.

 

Does it help? Let me know if you have further questions.