Chery C5 vs Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class
A detailed look at how two of Australia's most popular cars compare on price, running costs, safety, and everyday livability.
Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class scores higher, 75 vs 74
Prices are RRP before on-road costs unless stated otherwise. Always confirm with the manufacturer or dealer before purchasing.
Data checked: specs 28 Aug 2026, price 11 Nov 2026
Chery C5
12 of 27 standard · no option data · 15 no dataFrom
$27,250
est. RRP, before on-road costs
- Body
- SUV
- Fuel type
- Petrol
- Engine
- Petrol
- Power
- 108kW
- Economy
- 6.9 L/100km
- Safety
- ANCAP ★5 · 2022
- Boot (seats up)
- 370L
Chery Australia offer: $28,990 drive-away (state not stated), ends 21 Dec 2026. Terms
Driva is an independent finance provider, not part of CarSorted. We aren't paid for this link.
Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class
19 of 27 standard · no option data · 8 no dataFrom
$66,500
RRP, before on-road costs
- Body
- Sedan
- Fuel type
- Petrol
- Engine
- Petrol
- Power
- 100kW
- Economy
- 5.4 L/100km
- Safety
- ANCAP ★5 · 2025
- Boot (seats up)
- 405L
Top CarSorted Score, 75 vs 74, but the Chery C5 is $39,250 cheaper
Driva is an independent finance provider, not part of CarSorted. We aren't paid for this link.
Manufacturer offer
Ends 21 Dec 2026
$28,990 Drive-Away + $2,000 Fuel Card
Manufacturer's terms: Offer ends | 21 December 2026
Offer from Chery Australia, checked 9 Nov 2026
T&Cs apply, as the manufacturer prints them. Eligibility, stock and build limits vary, so confirm the offer with the dealer.
Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class: we're still completing kerb weight, ground clearance, turning circle and braked towing.
A blank cell below means we don't have that figure, not that the car scores badly on it. We leave them empty rather than estimate, so any row where one car is blank isn't a like-for-like comparison yet.
$27,250est. RRP
- no option data for this car
$66,500RRP
- with the Chery C5's standard kit: $66,500 (nothing to add)
Printed option prices only. A pack is counted once and makes the figure a floor when it carries no printed price. Nothing is inferred from the other car.
Price and cost per week
Chery C5 Urban
$27,250
Estimated RRP (the brand lists drive-away prices only), before on-road costs. Checked 11 Nov 2026
$29,990 drive-away in VIC, as published by Chery Australia
About $116 a week in repayments ($29,990 drive-away; assumes $5,000 deposit, 5 yrs at 7.5% p.a.). An estimate, not a loan offer.
Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class CLA 180
$66,500
RRP, before on-road costs. Checked 4 July 2026
No published drive-away price on our record.
About $284 a week in repayments ($66,500 RRP, before on-road costs; assumes $5,000 deposit, 5 yrs at 7.5% p.a.). An estimate, not a loan offer.
On-road costs (stamp duty, registration, CTP and dealer delivery) depend on your state and the dealer; ask for a written drive-away price before you sign.
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Ways to buy
For the 2 cars on this page.
Finance
From ≈$116/wk(≈$501/mo)
Estimate on the Chery C5 at $29,990 drive-away; assumes $5,000 deposit, 5 yrs at 7.5% p.a. Not a quote or an offer of credit.
Compare real car-loan ratesDriva is an independent finance provider, not part of CarSorted. We aren't paid for this link.
Novated lease
Paid from pre-tax salary with the running costs inside the lease. What it comes to depends on your salary and the term.
Novated lease quoteWork out a lease on the Chery C5Driva is an independent finance provider, not part of CarSorted. We aren't paid for this link. Opens apply.driva.com.au in a new tab.
Safety Rundown
ANCAP lists the Chery C5 at 5 stars (2022) and the Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class at 5 stars (2025). ANCAP tested these in different years (2022 vs 2025). Its criteria get stricter about every three years, so the stars are not like for like. Adult occupant protection scored 87% for the Chery C5 and 94% for the Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class, under different test years.
Where the two diverge is in active safety technology. We can confirm 7 of 10 key ADAS systems on the Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class, against 4 on the Chery C5.
Both include the essentials: autonomous emergency braking, lane keep assist, adaptive cruise control, a reversing camera. Airbag count is 7 in the Chery C5 and 7 in the Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class.
Driver assistance, as the manufacturer lists it
Driver assistance, system by system. We can confirm 4 of 10 key systems on the Chery C5 and 7 on the Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class.
Swipe across. Tap a feature to see what it does and each car's source.
StandardOptional: printed price, +pack or NCO (no-cost)No, not offeredNo dataCounts beside each car use the same colours; ? is no option data.
From each manufacturer's Australian equipment list. No data means that car's document does not say. The drawings are our own illustrations of how each kind of system works.
Recalls on our record
Chery C5
None open on our record
Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class
- REC-006695 · published 12 Aug 2026Nine model lines: door lock defect (campaign RC5219)Year range on the notice: 2018 - 2026
- REC-005949 · published 15 Apr 2024The electrical power steering control unit back-up software may not operate as intended.Year range on the notice: 2018 - 2024
- REC-005401 · published 6 Apr 2022Due to a software issue, the automatic network search of the emergency call system (eCall) communication module may be deactivated.Year range on the notice: 2018 - 2020
- 7 more on the model page.
A recall covers the builds its notice lists, not every car of a model. Check your VIN at vehiclerecalls.gov.au.
Feature Showdown
Both come with modern infotainment systems. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard across both.
The Chery C5 stands out with Apple CarPlay — features our data doesn't list for the Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class. The Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class counters with wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, panoramic roof and ambient lighting. Which feature set matters more depends on your daily routine and priorities.
Equipment few rivals have, on either carShowHide
Drivetrain
The Chery C5 uses a Petrol producing 108kW and 210Nm of torque, sent through a 6-speed dual clutch to a FWD layout. It covers the 0-100km/h sprint in 8.5 seconds.
The Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class responds with a Petrol making 100kW and 200Nm, paired to a automatic driving the front wheels. It gets to 100km/h in 8.8 seconds.
The Chery C5 has the clear power advantage at 108kW vs 100kW. In the 0-100 sprint (manufacturer-claimed), the Chery C5 is 0.3s quicker. For most buyers, the way each car feels day-to-day matters more than outright acceleration.
Space & Comfort
The Chery C5 measures 4,351mm long on a 2,610mm wheelbase, 372mm shorter than the Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class at 4,723mm (2,790mm wheelbase). The longer wheelbase on the Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class generally means more rear legroom.
Boot space is 370L in the Chery C5 and 405L in the Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class, giving the Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class a 35L advantage.
The Chery C5 turns in a 11.2 m circle, kerb to kerb; the Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class's turning circle is not on our record.
Cost to own
At 15,000 km a year, fuel for the Chery C5 costs about $1,967 a year (6.9 L/100km) and fuel for the Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class about $1,539 a year (5.4 L/100km), at $1.90 a litre and 32c a kWh. That is $428 a year less for the Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class.
Warranty: 7 years / unlimited km (Chery C5) and 5 years / unlimited km (Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class).
Where each one leads
The Chery C5: more power (108kW against 100kW) and the longer warranty (7 years against 5).
The Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class: the bigger boot with the seats up (405L against 370L) and lower fuel or energy costs on our assumptions ($1,539 a year against $1,967).
The Verdict
Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class scores higher, 75 vs 74
The Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class scores 75 to the Chery C5's 74 on the CarSorted Score, and leads 2 of the 5 spec rows that separate them. The biggest gaps: fuel economy (Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class ahead by 13 points), value (Chery C5 ahead by 13 points), performance (Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class ahead by 6 points). At 15,000 km a year, fuel for the Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class costs about $428 less (5.4 L/100km against 6.9 L/100km, at $1.90 a litre). Boot space with the seats up: 370L in the Chery C5, 405L in the Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class. Warranty: 7 years on the Chery C5, 5 on the Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class.
Ways to buy
For the 2 cars on this page.
Finance
From ≈$116/wk(≈$501/mo)
Estimate on the Chery C5 at $29,990 drive-away; assumes $5,000 deposit, 5 yrs at 7.5% p.a. Not a quote or an offer of credit.
Compare real car-loan ratesDriva is an independent finance provider, not part of CarSorted. We aren't paid for this link.
Novated lease
Paid from pre-tax salary with the running costs inside the lease. What it comes to depends on your salary and the term.
Novated lease quoteWork out a lease on the Chery C5Driva is an independent finance provider, not part of CarSorted. We aren't paid for this link. Opens apply.driva.com.au in a new tab.
Common questions
Which is cheapest, Chery C5 and Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class?
The Chery C5 is the cheapest at $27,250 before on-road costs. That undercuts the Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class by $39,250.
Which is the most fuel-efficient?
The Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class uses the least fuel at 5.4L/100km on the combined cycle.
What are the ANCAP safety ratings?
Chery C5 holds a 5-star ANCAP rating (tested 2022) and Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class holds a 5-star ANCAP rating (tested 2025). ANCAP tested these in different years (2022 vs 2025). Its criteria get stricter about every three years, so the stars are not like for like. Compare the active-safety features above to separate them.
Which has the most boot space?
The Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class has the largest boot at 405L with the seats up.
Which has the best warranty?
The Chery C5 has the longest warranty at 7 years / unlimited km.
Which is the most powerful?
The Chery C5 makes the most power at 108kW. The Chery C5 is quickest to 100km/h in 8.5s.
Track the Chery C5 & Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class
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How to read this page. Prices, specifications, ANCAP ratings, warranty, the CarSorted Score and the verdict come from our records for the grades shown, sourced from the manufacturers' Australian documents, and change when those records change; the date each was last checked is printed under the headline. Prices are recommended retail prices before on-road costs unless marked drive-away. A plug-in hybrid's fuel figure is labelled with its basis: with a full battery (the certified combined figure) or as a hybrid (battery depleted). Charging and running costs are estimates on the stated assumptions. Always confirm price and specification with the manufacturer or dealer before you buy. CarSorted does not accept payment for recommendations.
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