Jaecoo J5 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 72
Prices are RRP before on-road costs unless stated otherwise. Always confirm with the manufacturer or dealer before purchasing.
Data checked: specs 30 Aug 2026, price 2 Sep 2026
Jaecoo J5
21 of 27 standard · no option data · 6 no dataFrom
$35,990
RRP, before on-road costs
- Body
- SUV
- Fuel type
- Electric
- Engine
- Electric
- Power
- 155kW
- Energy use
- 16.5 kWh/100km
- Safety
- ANCAP hasn't rated this model
- Boot (seats up)
- 384L
Jaecoo Australia offer: $36,990 drive-away (state not stated), ends 30 Nov 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 72, but the Jaecoo J5 is $30,510 cheaper
Driva is an independent finance provider, not part of CarSorted. We aren't paid for this link.
Manufacturer offer
Ends 30 Nov 2026
Manufacturer's terms: while stocks last.
Offer from Jaecoo Australia, checked 11 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.
$35,990RRP
- no option data for this car
$66,500RRP
- no option data for this car
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
Jaecoo J5 EV Summit
$35,990
RRP, before on-road costs. Checked 2 Sept 2026
$36,990 drive-away in VIC, as published by Jaecoo Australia
About $148 a week in repayments ($36,990 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.
The Jaecoo J5 starts $30,510 lower on RRP.
The Jaecoo J5 currently qualifies for the electric-vehicle FBT exemption, which applies to novated leases. The Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class does not: only battery-electric vehicles qualify.
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 ≈$148/wk(≈$641/mo)
Estimate on the Jaecoo J5 at $36,990 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
Electric, with an RRP under the $91,661 fuel-efficient LCT threshold (2026-27): under the ATO's electric cars exemption a novated lease of an eligible electric car attracts no FBT if luxury car tax was never payable on it. The benefit is still reportable.
Novated lease quoteWork out a lease on the Jaecoo J5Driva 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's published ratings include no record for the Jaecoo J5. With no pair of ratings to compare, the active-safety features in the spec table above are the fairer comparison.
Driver assistance, as the manufacturer lists it
Driver assistance, system by system. We can confirm 7 of 10 key systems on the Jaecoo J5 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
Jaecoo J5
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.
Charging times
How long each takes to charge, from a household power point to a DC fast charger, estimated from battery size and the car's own maximum charge rates.
How long to charge
58.9kWh usablePublic DC
50kW charger · 0–80%
Ultra-rapid DC
up to 130kW · 0–80%
Estimates from usable battery size and the car's max charge rates (7.4kW AC, 130kW DC). Real times vary with temperature, starting charge, charger output and the charging curve.
Feature Showdown
Both come with modern infotainment systems. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard across both.
The Jaecoo J5 stands out with wireless charging, heated front seats, ventilated seats and power tailgate — features our data doesn't list for the Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class. The Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class counters with panoramic roof. Which feature set matters more depends on your daily routine and priorities.
Equipment few rivals have, on either carShowHide
Drivetrain
The Jaecoo J5 uses a Electric producing 155kW and 288Nm of torque, sent through a automatic to a FWD layout. It covers the 0-100km/h sprint in 10.5 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 Jaecoo J5 has the clear power advantage at 155kW vs 100kW. In the 0-100 sprint (manufacturer-claimed), the Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class is 1.7s quicker. For most buyers, the way each car feels day-to-day matters more than outright acceleration.
Space & Comfort
The Jaecoo J5 measures 4,380mm long on a 2,620mm wheelbase, 343mm 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 384L in the Jaecoo J5 and 405L in the Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class, giving the Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class a 21L advantage.
The Jaecoo J5 turns in a 10.8 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, electricity for the Jaecoo J5 costs about $792 a year (16.5 kWh/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.
Warranty: 8 years / unlimited km (Jaecoo J5) and 5 years / unlimited km (Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class). Capped-price servicing: 8 years (Jaecoo J5), no data (Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class).
Where each one leads
The Jaecoo J5: the lower starting price ($35,990 against $66,500), more power (155kW against 100kW) and the longer warranty (8 years against 5).
The Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class: the bigger boot with the seats up (405L against 384L).
The Verdict
Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class scores higher, 75 vs 72
The Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class scores 75 to the Jaecoo J5's 72 on the CarSorted Score, and leads 2 of the 5 spec rows that separate them. The biggest gaps: safety (Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class ahead by 25 points), value (Jaecoo J5 ahead by 13 points). Warranty: 8 years on the Jaecoo J5, 5 on the Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class.
Ways to buy
For the 2 cars on this page.
Finance
From ≈$148/wk(≈$641/mo)
Estimate on the Jaecoo J5 at $36,990 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
Electric, with an RRP under the $91,661 fuel-efficient LCT threshold (2026-27): under the ATO's electric cars exemption a novated lease of an eligible electric car attracts no FBT if luxury car tax was never payable on it. The benefit is still reportable.
Novated lease quoteWork out a lease on the Jaecoo J5Driva 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, Jaecoo J5 and Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class?
The Jaecoo J5 is the cheapest at $35,990 before on-road costs. That undercuts the Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class by $30,510.
What are the ANCAP safety ratings?
Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class holds a 5-star ANCAP rating (tested 2025). ANCAP's published ratings include no record for Jaecoo J5, so there is nothing to compare on crash performance. Compare the active-safety features above instead.
Which has the most boot space?
The Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class has the largest boot at 405L with the seats up.
Which can tow the most?
The Jaecoo J5 has the highest braked towing capacity at 1,250kg.
Which has the best warranty?
The Jaecoo J5 has the longest warranty at 8 years / unlimited km.
Which is the most powerful?
The Jaecoo J5 makes the most power at 155kW. The Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class is quickest to 100km/h in 8.8s.
Track the Jaecoo J5 & 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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