Verdict
For a Malaysian buyer, the Audi A7 Sportback costs RM609,900, undercutting the Mercedes-Benz AMG CLE by RM112,988 while bringing five doors, five seats and a 535-litre boot. Its 340 hp, 500 Nm mild-hybrid powertrain reaches 100 km/h in 5.3 seconds, which is quick but not a match for the AMG CLE’s 443 hp, 560 Nm and 4.2-second sprint. The Mercedes is the sharper performance choice; the Audi is the more usable executive car, with a longer 2,926-mm wheelbase, panoramic roof and five-year unlimited-mileage warranty.
Pick the Audi A7 Sportback if you need five-seat, five-door practicality, a 535-litre boot and RM112,988 left in your pocket.
Pick the Mercedes-Benz AMG CLE if its 443 hp, 560 Nm and 4.2-second 0-100 km/h time matter more than rear-seat access and luggage space.
Key differences
- Price: Audi A7 Sportback RM609,900; Mercedes-Benz AMG CLE RM722,888.
- Performance: Audi 340 hp, 500 Nm and 0-100 km/h in 5.3 seconds; Mercedes 443 hp, 560 Nm and 4.2 seconds.
- Practicality: Audi has 5 doors, 5 seats and a 535-litre boot; Mercedes has 2 doors, 4 seats and a 420-litre boot.
- Transmission: Audi uses a 7-speed S tronic dual-clutch; Mercedes uses a 9-speed AMG Speedshift TCT dual-clutch.
- Warranty: Audi gets 5 years with unlimited mileage; Mercedes gets 2 years with unlimited mileage.
- Driver assistance: Audi has warning-only lane keeping and passive cruise control; Mercedes has steering-correction lane keeping and adaptive cruise control.
A7 Sportback
- RM112,988 lower purchase price
- Five doors, five seats and 535 litres of boot space
- Five-year unlimited-mileage warranty
- 340 hp and 500 Nm trail the Mercedes’ 443 hp and 560 Nm
- 5.3-second 0-100 km/h time is 1.1 seconds behind
- Warning-only lane keeping and passive cruise control
AMG CLE
- 443 hp, 560 Nm and 4.2-second 0-100 km/h time
- Adaptive cruise control and steering-correction lane keeping
- Digital Light Matrix LED headlamps and 15-speaker Burmester sound system
- RM112,988 more expensive
- Two doors, four seats and a 420-litre boot
- Two-year unlimited-mileage warranty versus the Audi’s five years
| Price & overview | ||
|---|---|---|
| Price | RM609,900✓ | RM722,888 |
| Body type | Hatchback | Coupe |
| Segment | Executive | Compact Executive |
| Assembly | CBU | CBU |
| Ownership | ||
| Road tax / year | RM2,118✓ | RM2,128 |
| Powertrain | ||
| Engine Tech | 24-valve DOHC with Twin-scroll Turbocharger, Direct Fuel Injection and Variable Valve Timing and Lift | 24-valve DOHC, Turbochaged with Direct Injection and Variable Valve Timing and Lift |
| Capacity | 2,995 cc | 2,999 cc |
| Horsepower | 340 hp | 443 hp✓ |
| Torque | 500 Nm | 560 Nm✓ |
| Fuel | Petrol Hybrid/REV | Petrol Hybrid/REV |
| Bore | 84.5 mm | — |
| Compression Ratio | 11.2 | — |
| Number of Motors | 1 | 1 |
| Motor Horsepower | 16 hp | 20 hp✓ |
| Motor Torque | 60 Nm | 205 Nm✓ |
| Battery Capacity | 0.5 kWh | — |
| Drivetrain | ||
| Transmission | Dual-clutch Automatic (Wet) | Dual-clutch Automatic (Wet) |
| Transmission Name | 7-speed S tronic Transmission | AMG Speedshift TCT 9G automatic transmission |
| Gears | 7 | 9 |
| Transmission Manufacturer | Volkswagen AG | Mercedes-Benz |
| Driveline | All Wheel Drive | All Wheel Drive |
| Performance & Efficiency | ||
| 0-100 km/h | 5.3 seconds | 4.2 seconds✓ |
| Rated Economy | 7.3 L/100 km | — |
| Top Speed | 250 km/h | 250 km/h |
| Co2 | 165 g/km | — |
| Dimensions | ||
| Length | 4,969 mm | 4,853 mm |
| Width | 1,908 mm | 2,042 mm |
| Height | 1,422 mm | 1,434 mm |
| Wheelbase | 2,926 mm | 2,875 mm |
| Weight | 1,890 kg | 2,000 kg |
| Fuel Tank | 73 litres | 65 litres |
| Doors | 5 | 2 |
| Seats | 5 | 4 |
| Boot Space | 535 litres✓ | 420 litres |
| Front Tyre | 255/40R20 | 265/35R20 |
| Rear Tyre | 255/40R20 | 295/30R20 |
| Spare Tyre | Space Saver | N/A, Tyre Repair Kit |
| Factory Tyres | Pirelli P Zero | Continental SportContact 7 |
| Chassis | ||
| Assembly | Germany (CBU) | Germany (CBU) |
| Front Suspension | Double Wishbone | Double Wishbones |
| Rear Suspension | Multi-link | Multi-link |
| Front Wheels | 20" Audi Sport Double-arm Alloy | 20" AMG Y-spoke Alloys |
| Rear Wheels | 20" Audi Sport Double-arm Alloy | 20" AMG Y-spoke Alloys |
| Steering | Rack and Pinion (Electric Power Steering) | Rack and Pinion (Electric Power Steering) |
| Chassis Notes | Adaptive Dampers, Dynamic All-wheel Steering | AMG Ride Control Suspension with Adaptive Dampers |
| Safety | ||
| Airbags | Driver and Passenger, Front Side, Front and Rear Curtain | Driver and Passenger, Driver's Knee, Front Side, Front and Rear Curtain |
| ABS/EBD | ✓ | ✓ |
| Stability Control | ✓ | ✓ |
| Alarm | ✓ | ✓ |
| Immobilizer | ✓ | ✓ |
| Airbag Disable Function | ✓ | ✓ |
| Seat Belts | 5 Three-point | 4 Three-point |
| Blind Spot Info System | ✓ | ✓ |
| ISOFIX | Available on Front Passenger Seat and Two Outer Rear Passenger Seats | Available on Two Outer Rear Passenger Seats |
| Autonomous Braking System | Yes, with Pedestrian and Cyclist Detection | Yes |
| Lane-keeping Assist | Warning Only | Steering Correction |
| Collision Warning | ✓ | ✓ |
| Seatbelt Reminder | All Seats | All Seats |
| Safety Notes | Audi pre safe rear | — |
| Lighting | ||
| Headlamps | LED Projectors with Cornering Lights and Auto High Beam | Digital Light Matrix LEDs |
| Taillamps | LED Combination | Full LED |
| LED Daytime Running Lights | ✓ | ✓ |
| Rear Foglamps | ✓ | ✓ |
| Wing Mirror Turn Indicators | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cabin | ||
| Front Seats | Power Adjustable Front Seats with Driver's Memory Function | Powered Front Seats with Memory Function |
| Rear Seats | 40:20:40 Split-folding | 50:50 Split-folding |
| Front Air-con | Dual-zone Automatic Climate Control | Dual-Zone Automatic Climate Control |
| Rear Air-con | Dual-zone Automatic Climate Control | Rear AC Vents |
| Sunroof | Panoramic Sliding Sunroof | — |
| Power Sockets | 1 Front, 1 Rear, 1 Front USB | 1 Front, 2 USB-C Front, 1 Wireless Charger, 2 USB-C Rear |
| Interior Lighting | Map Lights and Ambient Lights (30 colours) | Map Lights and Ambient Lights |
| Cup Holders | 2 Front, 2 Rear | 2 Front, 2 Rear |
| Audio | MMI navigation plus with 10.1" Upper Touchscreen, 8.6" Lower Touchscreen, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and 16-speaker Bang & Olufsen Premium Sound System | 11.9" Touchscreen Mercedes-Benz User Experience with Voice Control, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and 15-speaker Burmester Sound System |
| Convenience | ||
| Power Windows | Four Windows, Auto Up and Down with Anti-Pinch | Two Windows, Auto Up and Down with Anti-Pinch |
| Engine Start | Keyless Push Button | Keyless Push Button |
| Locks | Keyless Operation | Keyless Operation |
| Auto Start/Stop | ✓ | ✓ |
| Auto Headlamps | ✓ | ✓ |
| Auto Wipers | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cruise Control | Passive Cruise Control | Adaptive Cruise Control |
| Tiptronic | ✓ | — |
| Paddle Shift | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Audio Control | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Tilt | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Telescopic | ✓ | ✓ |
| Electric Steering Adjustment | ✓ | ✓ |
| Boot Operation | Powered with Contactless Operation | Powered Boot |
| Parking Sensor Front | 6 Sensors | 6 Sensors |
| Parking Sensor Rear | 6 Sensors | 6 Sensors |
| Reverse Camera | Yes, with Surround View Camera | Yes, with 360 Surround View Camera |
| Folding Wing Mirrors | ✓ | ✓ |
| Bluetooth | ✓ | ✓ |
| Navigation | ✓ | ✓ |
| Head-up Display | ✓ | ✓ |
| Power Door | Soft-close Doors | — |
| Hill Start Assist | ✓ | ✓ |
| Instrument Cluster | Full LCD Monitor | Full LCD Monitor |
| Parking Brake | Electronic | Electronic |
| Warranty | ||
| Warranty Mileage Manufacturer | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| Warranty Manufacturer | 5 years✓ | 2 years |
Specs shown for the selected variant of each car. ✓ marks the better figure where lower/higher is objectively better. Road tax: West Malaysia, private registration.
Used A7 Sportback & AMG CLE for sale
A7 Sportback vs AMG CLE FAQ
Is the Audi A7 Sportback or Mercedes-Benz AMG CLE better?
The AMG CLE is better for outright pace, with 443 hp and a 4.2-second 0-100 km/h time. The A7 Sportback is better for daily use, carrying five people through five doors and offering 535 litres of luggage space.
What is the price difference?
The Mercedes-Benz AMG CLE costs RM112,988 more than the Audi A7 Sportback: RM722,888 versus RM609,900.
Which has the better warranty and driver assistance?
The Audi has the longer five-year unlimited-mileage warranty, against two years for the Mercedes. The Mercedes counters with adaptive cruise control and steering-correction lane keeping; the Audi has passive cruise control and warning-only lane keeping.