Space Inside the BMW 3 Series vs Mercedes-Benz CLA

There is no shortage of premium features and style inside these two high-end models. The main difference between the two interiors is how much room they each have.

While both have seating for five, you and your passengers will enjoy more space inside the 3 Series. How much space does the 2021 3 Series provide? Up front, there is 38.7 inches of headroom along with 42 inches of legroom. Its rear passengers get 37.5 inches of headroom and 35.2 inches of legroom.

The front row of the Mercedes-Benz CLA has 38.5 inches of headroom and 41.8 inches of legroom. In its back row, things become more compacted, since it has 35.7 inches of headroom and 33.9 inches of legroom.

Standard Cabin Features

While there are plenty of available features inside both cars, the 2021 BMW 3 Series comes with an impressive list of standard premium features. To go along with the space you'll have up front, get your seat adjusted the exact way you'd like it to be with the 10-way power front sport seats.

Then, tune the temperature exactly the way you'd like it to using the automatic climate-control system. With its 3-zone settings, this system also gives your other passengers individual control over the temperature in their area.

In the 2021 CLA, the automatic climate-control system only comes with dual-zone settings, so the comfort of your rear passengers is again limited. The power front seats in the Mercedes-Benz CLA also come standard with an 8-way adjustment that doesn't allow for the same level of fine-tuning.

While you can also keep connected to your phone as you drive in either car for more personalized convenience, the 3 Series comes with a larger center display and a standard navigation system that lets you quickly find the fastest route to wherever you are going.  

Also learn about the safety features of this BMW sedan in our BMW 3 Series vs. Audi A4 comparison.

3 Series vs CLA: Powertrain Configurations

There are a few options with either car when choosing the performance you want. The 2021 Mercedes-Benz CLA comes powered by a 221-horsepower 2.0L inline-4 turbo engine that gets 25 city/35 highway MPG.

The standard powertrain in the 2021 BMW 3 Series improves upon those figures with its 255-horsepower 2.0L TwinPower turbo engine that gets 26 city/36 highway MPG. Want more excitement as you drive around in your new ride?

Both have configurations bred to provide high-end performance offering a maximum of 382 horsepower. Only the 2021 3 Series, though, offers a highly efficient plug-in hybrid configuration, as well. With it, you can drive up to 22 miles purely off electric power to save even more fuel when make trips to the store!

Wondering what else these luxury brands offer? Check out our other BMW vs. Mercedes-Benz comparisons now!