Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class vs Suzuki Fronx
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 71
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 28 Oct 2026
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 71, but the Suzuki Fronx is $39,250 cheaper
Driva is an independent finance provider, not part of CarSorted. We aren't paid for this link.
Suzuki Fronx
14 of 27 standard · no option data · 13 no dataFrom
$27,250
est. RRP, before on-road costs
- Body
- SUV
- Fuel type
- Hybrid
- Engine
- Petrol
- Power
- 75.8kW
- Economy
- 4.9 L/100km
- Safety
- ANCAP ★1 · 2025
- Boot (seats up)
- 304L
Driva is an independent finance provider, not part of CarSorted. We aren't paid for this link.
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.
$66,500RRP
- no option data for this car
$27,250est. RRP
- 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
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.
Suzuki Fronx GLX
$27,250
Estimated RRP (the brand lists drive-away prices only), before on-road costs. Checked 28 Oct 2026
$29,990 drive-away in VIC, as published by Suzuki 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.
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 Suzuki Fronx 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 Mercedes-Benz CLA-ClassDriva 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
The Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class has the higher ANCAP rating: 5 stars (2025) against 1 star (2025), both tested 2025. Adult occupant protection scored 94% for the Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class and 48% for the Suzuki Fronx.
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 6 on the Suzuki Fronx.
Both include the essentials: autonomous emergency braking, lane keep assist, adaptive cruise control, a reversing camera. Airbag count is 7 in the Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class and 6 in the Suzuki Fronx.
Driver assistance, as the manufacturer lists it
Driver assistance, system by system. We can confirm 7 of 10 key systems on the Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class and 6 on the Suzuki Fronx.
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
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.
Suzuki Fronx
- REC-006521 · published 23 Dec 2025Due to a manufacturing defect, the left rear seat belt retractor mechanism may not operate as intended.Year range on the notice: 2025
- REC-006520 · published 23 Dec 2025Due to a manufacturing defect, the left rear seat belt retractor mechanism may not operate as intended.Year range on the notice: 2025
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 Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class stands out with panoramic roof and ambient lighting — features our data doesn't list for the Suzuki Fronx. The Suzuki Fronx counters with power tailgate. Which feature set matters more depends on your daily routine and priorities.
Equipment few rivals have, on either carShowHide
Drivetrain
The Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class uses a Petrol producing 100kW and 200Nm of torque, sent through a automatic to a FWD layout. It covers the 0-100km/h sprint in 8.8 seconds.
The Suzuki Fronx responds with a Petrol making 75.8kW and 137Nm, paired to a automatic driving the front wheels. It gets to 100km/h in 11.5 seconds.
The Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class has the clear power advantage at 100kW vs 75.8kW. In the 0-100 sprint (manufacturer-claimed), the Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class is 2.7s quicker. For most buyers, the way each car feels day-to-day matters more than outright acceleration.
Space & Comfort
The Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class measures 4,723mm long on a 2,790mm wheelbase, 728mm longer than the Suzuki Fronx at 3,995mm (2,520mm wheelbase). The longer wheelbase on the Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class generally means more rear legroom.
Boot space is 405L in the Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class and 304L in the Suzuki Fronx, giving the Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class a 101L advantage.
The Suzuki Fronx turns in a 10.4 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 Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class costs about $1,539 a year (5.4 L/100km) and fuel for the Suzuki Fronx about $1,397 a year (4.9 L/100km), at $1.90 a litre and 32c a kWh. That is $142 a year less for the Suzuki Fronx.
Warranty: 5 years / Unlimited (Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class) and 5 years / Unlimited (Suzuki Fronx). Capped-price servicing: no data (Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class), 5 years (Suzuki Fronx).
Where each one leads
The Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class: more power (100kW against 75.8kW) and the bigger boot with the seats up (405L against 304L).
The Suzuki Fronx: lower fuel or energy costs on our assumptions ($1,397 a year against $1,539).
The Verdict
Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class scores higher, 75 vs 71
The Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class scores 75 to the Suzuki Fronx's 71 on the CarSorted Score, and leads 4 of the 5 spec rows that separate them. The biggest gaps: safety (Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class ahead by 34 points), performance (Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class ahead by 18 points), value (Suzuki Fronx ahead by 14 points). At 15,000 km a year, fuel for the Suzuki Fronx costs about $142 less (4.9 L/100km against 5.4 L/100km, at $1.90 a litre). Boot space with the seats up: 405L in the Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class, 304L in the Suzuki Fronx.
Ways to buy
For the 2 cars on this page.
Finance
From ≈$116/wk(≈$501/mo)
Estimate on the Suzuki Fronx 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 Mercedes-Benz CLA-ClassDriva 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, Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class and Suzuki Fronx?
The Suzuki Fronx 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 Suzuki Fronx uses the least fuel at 4.9L/100km on the combined cycle.
Which is safest?
The Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class has the highest ANCAP rating at 5 stars (2025).
Which has the most boot space?
The Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class has the largest boot at 405L with the seats up.
Which is the most powerful?
The Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class makes the most power at 100kW. The Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class is quickest to 100km/h in 8.8s.
Track the Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class & Suzuki Fronx
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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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