C63 vs CLA45

[CLA180SPORT]

How can 0-60 times etc be so similar from a 2.0 litre to a 6.3 litre?

Could someone explain the benefits of the bigger, thirstier, more expensive engine?

 

[renault12ts]

The sound?

 

[DSM10000]

How can 0-60 times etc be so similar from a 2.0 litre to a 6.3 litre?

Could someone explain the benefits of the bigger, thirstier, more expensive engine?

Quite simple really, basic physics tells us that force is equal to mass x acceleration, the C63 has greater mass but also has more power, the CLA 45 has a lower power output but less mass.

Look at the performance of cars from Lotus, traditionally very light but also with relatively low power outputs.

The performance will be deleivered in a different way, larger engines tend to have more torque at lower engine speeds and as pointed out a 4 cylinder will sound very different to a V8

 

[BenzedUP]

Not just a 2L it's a Turbo with 4WD plus it's lighter also I believe the CLA45 has a DCT instead of the 7-speed auto in the 63...

 

[MarriedBlonde]

As others have said less weight and awd help.

J.

 

[acej]

The drag to 60 is not the full picture. I have taken both on the track and although on the tight and twisties the a45 outperformed the C63 if felt very short on grunt compared to the 63 under full acceleration on the straights and strangely i didn't feel as connected and confident during high speed cornering as i couldn't feel when it was running low on grip.

 

[developer]

An A45 is a great car, but it's still belongs to the base range.

To many that's a limiting factor, hence alternative offerings.

 

[moff]

I have driven the A45 hard and it's quick, very quick but it's not as quick as a C63.

So it's 0-60 is similar... So what? Try and do it in the A45 and I would be willing to bet that very few people on here would get much below 5.5 secs to 60 as it's a bitch to launch. The C63 on the other hand is much easier.

Also, as already mentioned the 0-60 is fairly meaningless. As the CLA45 has Haldex it's always going to have a quick 0-60, but it would be interesting to see its 0-125mph, the C63 would destroy it.

Having said all that the A45 and CLA45 would probably pull away from a C63 on a cold and wet country road, but so would an Audi S3 so it's not really comparable.

They are not really like for like cars are they? I would much rather have a V8 under the bonnet than a 4 pot too.

I wonder how much faster the new C63 will be with its 4.0 V8 and lighter chassis. Potential for 4matic too.

 

[tali]

A45 = 228.3 bhp/ton
C63 =260.4 bhp/ton

....so A45 is not the lightweight expected

 

[PhilT]

Plus err £40,000+ for a CLA, you can have a c63 for that

 

[moff]

Plus err £40,000+ for a CLA, you can have a c63 for that

The lease costs for the C63 are much cheaper too....

 

[tali]

Correction -CLA =223.97 bhp/ton

 

[Aeroman]

Plus err £40,000+ for a CLA, you can have a c63 for that

Interesting thread, I sold our C63 earlier in the year and since then Head Office decided that she would like a CLA45 AMG as her daily driver. We have tested both the A45 AMG and the CLA45 AMG and whilst we both really like them they are very different cars to the C63 and not really comparable imho. The A45 AMG models are really hot hatch type cars and should be judged as such, the C63 is the modern day Mark II Jaguar.

The complete modern day sports saloon, I miss ours a lot even though it's replacement has a similar performance. We did not buy the CLA as Head Office has decided now that she wants the SUV version when it comes out next year.

 

[Lee C63]

Great performance from the A45 and decent economy....but is it not a compromise because you cant afford the running costs of the 63.

I see it as the old 911 or boxster situation.

To be fair I am biased but just cant see you getting the same smile listening to the A45 ocompared to the V8 monster.
Horses for courses.

 

[Aeroman]

I changed my C63 for a new Bentley GTC V8 so petrol consumption really does not come into the choice. As I said in my post the A45 is for my wife (HO), she found the C63 scary to drive, but appears happy with the A45 AMG performance and handling. I'll also enjoy it if I ever get hold of the keys!

As well as the C63 we've had a number of Morgan Aero/Aeromax's so am a real V8 fan, but car engines are getting smaller and turbocharged, so even Morgan will have to look at alternative power for their top-of-range models...

 

[The _Don]

I changed my C63 for a new Bentley GTC V8 so petrol consumption really does not come into the choice. As I said in my post the A45 is for my wife (HO), she found the C63 scary to drive, but appears happy with the A45 AMG performance and handling. I'll also enjoy it if I ever get hold of the keys! As well as the C63 we've had a number of Morgan Aero/Aeromax's so am a real V8 fan, but car engines are getting smaller and turbocharged, so even Morgan will have to look at alternative power for their top-of-range models...

How does the bentley compare to the c63 ?

 

[MarriedBlonde]

To be fair I am biased but just cant see you getting the same smile listening to the A45 ocompared to the V8 monster. Horses for courses.

Totally that v8 puts agrin on my face without fail

 

[V12]

Also, as already mentioned the 0-60 is fairly meaningless. As the CLA45 has Haldex it's always going to have a quick 0-60, but it would be interesting to see its 0-125mph, the C63 would destroy it.

Autocar or one of the mags did a drag between the A45 and the CLS63 and the A45 annihilated it at all speeds.
I thought it may have been a one off but there are lots of A45 drag videos emerging on the net and it dismisses many much more powerful cars and leaves me very surprised every time.

As noted above, the transmission seems to be the key. During every gear change the A45 just relentlessly keeps pulling whereas the old slushomatic takes it's sweet time.

The cars are chalk and cheese and I can understand why some C63 owners will be upset to be left behind by a "lesser" car, but that's progress for you.

 

[moff]

Autocar or one of the mags did a drag between the A45 and the CLS63 and the A45 annihilated it at all speeds. I thought it may have been a one off but there are lots of A45 drag videos emerging on the net and it dismisses many much more powerful cars and leaves me very surprised every time. As noted above, the transmission seems to be the key. During every gear change the A45 just relentlessly keeps pulling whereas the old slushomatic takes it's sweet time. The cars are chalk and cheese and I can understand why some C63 owners will be upset to be left behind by a "lesser" car, but that's progress for you.

I seem the remember that it wasn't as simple as that when Autocar did the test with the CLS not launching properly. I've driven both and the CLA is faster.

The A45 will get an advantage from a standing start due to AWD but that's it. On the move or from a rolling start it would be different.

A non-performance pack CLS63 does 9.5 to 100 and the A45 is 10.5.

The A45 is a great car and the best in class - next years Black Series will be amazing! The remapped A45's will be blisteringly fast.

Just a shame that there's no soul in the engine.

 

[moff]

Not sure that any C63 owners will be upset that the A45 is so quick, the C63 is last generation and I am sure the new C63 will put the record straight.

Still I would much rather be slower in the wet and have a sonorous V8 than a 4 pot.