3 Reasons to Buy the 2024 Mercedes-AMG CLA 35 Over a Hot Hatch
Hot hatches offer a ton of fun per dollar. Although they're not quite the bargain they once were, vehicles like the Honda Civic Type R, Toyota GR Corolla, and Volkswagen Golf R still combine sports car performance with everyday practicality. They’re also getting more refined (well maybe not the GR Corolla).
So good have they become, it brings up the question, is it worth paying the price premium for similarly sized, similarly performing small sporty luxury cars? Vehicles like the 2024 Mercedes-AMG CLA 35 4MATIC?
Below we highlight three reasons one might be persuaded to step up a class when looking for a small, sporty, practical vehicle.
That Interior
The CLA offers an interior that can’t be matched by more mainstream competitors. The latest 2024 CLA has styling and materials closely related to those found in the larger C-Class. Since occupants spend more time looking at the interior of a car rather than the exterior, it might be important to have a nicely appointed cabin that feels special.
The CLA AMG 35 also allows quite a few options and combinations when appointing the car's interior.
Let’s Be Real – It’s the Badge
To be honest, the AMG badge the hood of the Mercedes-AMG CLA 35 is also an important factor. If people didn’t care about the finer things in life, and showing them off, luxury automakers would probably be out of business.
There’s a certain panache and maturity associated with driving a Mercedes over a Honda, Toyota, or Volkswagen. And we don’t mean that in a superiority I’m-Better-Than-You aspect kind of way. It’s more of a satisfaction factor. A reward to an owner for the hard work that has enabled them to buy a vehicle in a higher tax bracket.
There is a Sophistication Factor
Probably the most important factor though is the sophistication. Despite how incredibly well-built and sophisticated modern cars like the Honda Civic Type R, Toyota GR Corolla, and Hyundai Elantra N are, they can’t match the overall refinement found in the Mercedes-AMG CLA 35. From the chassis tuning, to sound deadening, to the physical controls.
The CLA-Class has a premium feel that commands a premium price. Whether or not that is worth it to you is a matter of personal preference and priorities. We wouldn’t fault anyone either way.
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A 20+ year industry veteran, Mike rejoins the AutoGuide team as the Managing Editor. He started his career at a young age working at dealerships, car rentals, and used car advertisers. He then found his true passion, automotive writing. After contributing to multiple websites for several years, he spent the next six years working at the head office of an automotive OEM, before returning back to the field he loves. He is a member of the Automobile Journalists Association of Canada (AJAC), and Midwest Automotive Media Association (MAMA). He's the recipient of a feature writing of the year award and multiple video of the year awards.
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