Audi A5 Sportback vs Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class Comparison

The Audi A5 Sportback offers everything expected from a modern sports sedan. The steering is well-weighted and feels natural in the hands of the driver, and the front tires have a great grip and respond to inputs immediately, making the Audi A5 Sportback a joy to drive on twisty tarmac. The cabin has enough high-end amenities that you won’t even find in mainstream sedans. Its sloping rear roofline hides a large cargo hold and a power-operated liftgate, making it a very practical choice. The easy-to-use infotainment system and a suite of connectivity features make it stand out.

It has been a rollercoaster experience to own the Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class. The double-clutch transmission has been the biggest disappointment for me. I have driven various cars in the last twenty years, including cost-effective ones but I have never encountered the transmission to be so bad. Every shift in this vehicle feels painfully noticeable whether downshifting or upshifting. In traffic jams, driving the Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class becomes unbearable. The rough shifts of the transmission give me the feeling that I amm driving with an inexperienced driver who is learning for the first time to operate a manual gearbox.