Verdict
The A7 Sportback is 25% more powerful, the CLE is about 15% cheaper, while the A7 Sportback has a 14% bigger boot. Weigh that against the equipment each side gives you in the table below.
| Price & overview | ||
|---|---|---|
| Price | RM609,900 | RM518,888✓ |
| Body type | Hatchback | Coupe |
| Segment | Executive | Compact Executive |
| Assembly | CBU | CBU |
| Ownership | ||
| Road tax / year | RM2,118 | RM380✓ |
| Powertrain | ||
| Engine Tech | 24-valve DOHC with Twin-scroll Turbocharger, Direct Fuel Injection and Variable Valve Timing and Lift | 16-valve DOHC, Turbocharged with Direct Fuel Injection and Variable Valve Timing |
| Capacity | 2,995 cc | 1,999 cc |
| Horsepower | 340 hp✓ | 255 hp |
| Torque | 500 Nm✓ | 400 Nm |
| Fuel | Petrol Hybrid/REV | Petrol Hybrid/REV |
| Bore | 84.5 mm | 83 mm |
| Compression Ratio | 11.2 | 10.5 |
| Number of Motors | 1 | 1 |
| Motor Horsepower | 16 hp | 23 hp✓ |
| Motor Torque | 60 Nm | 205 Nm✓ |
| Battery Capacity | 0.5 kWh | — |
| Drivetrain | ||
| Transmission | Dual-clutch Automatic (Wet) | Conventional Automatic |
| Transmission Name | 7-speed S tronic Transmission | 9G-Tronic |
| Gears | 7 | 9 |
| Transmission Manufacturer | Volkswagen AG | Mercedes-Benz (Daimler AG) |
| Driveline | All Wheel Drive | All Wheel Drive |
| Performance & Efficiency | ||
| 0-100 km/h | 5.3 seconds✓ | 6.2 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 | 4,850 mm |
| Width | 1,908 mm | 1,860 mm |
| Height | 1,422 mm | 1,428 mm |
| Wheelbase | 2,926 mm | 2,865 mm |
| Weight | 1,890 kg | — |
| Fuel Tank | 73 litres | 66 litres |
| Doors | 5 | 2 |
| Seats | 5 | 4 |
| Boot Space | 535 litres✓ | 460 litres |
| Front Tyre | 255/40R20 | 245/40R19 |
| Rear Tyre | 255/40R20 | 275/35R19 |
| Spare Tyre | Space Saver | N/A, Tyre Repair Kit |
| Factory Tyres | Pirelli P Zero | Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 3 Run-flat |
| Chassis | ||
| Assembly | Germany (CBU) | Germany (CBU) |
| Front Suspension | Double Wishbone | Multi-link |
| Rear Suspension | Multi-link | Multi-link |
| Front Wheels | 20" Audi Sport Double-arm Alloy | 19" AMG Multi-spoke Alloys |
| Rear Wheels | 20" Audi Sport Double-arm Alloy | 19" AMG Multi-spoke Alloys |
| Steering | Rack and Pinion (Electric Power Steering) | Rack and Pinion (Electric Power Steering) |
| Chassis Notes | Adaptive Dampers, Dynamic All-wheel Steering | — |
| Safety | ||
| Airbags | Driver and Passenger, Front Side, Front and Rear Curtain | Driver and Front Passenger, Front Side, Front and Rear Curtain, Centre Airbag |
| ABS/EBD | ✓ | ✓ |
| Stability Control | ✓ | ✓ |
| Alarm | ✓ | ✓ |
| Immobilizer | ✓ | ✓ |
| Airbag Disable Function | ✓ | ✓ |
| Seat Belts | 5 Three-point | 4 Three-point with Illumination and Front Belt Feeder |
| Blind Spot Info System | ✓ | ✓ |
| ISOFIX | Available on Front Passenger Seat and Two Outer Rear Passenger Seats | Available for Rear 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 | Driver and Passenger Powered Seats with Memory Settings, Heating & Ventilation |
| Rear Seats | 40:20:40 Split-folding | 60:40 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 | Panoramic Glass Roof |
| Power Sockets | 1 Front, 1 Rear, 1 Front USB | 1 Front, 2 Front USB, 2 Rear USB, 1 Wireless Charger |
| Interior Lighting | Map Lights and Ambient Lights (30 colours) | Map Lights & Ambient Lighting |
| Cup Holders | 2 Front, 2 Rear | 2 Front, 2 Rear |
| Sun Shade | — | Sunroof Shade |
| 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 (MBUX) with Voice Control, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and 17-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 | Contactless Opening |
| Parking Sensor Front | 6 Sensors | 6 Sensors |
| Parking Sensor Rear | 6 Sensors | 6 Sensors |
| Reverse Camera | Yes, with Surround View Camera | Yes, 360-degree Camera |
| Auto Parking | — | Yes |
| 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 Mileage Extended | — | Unlimited✓ |
| Warranty Manufacturer | 5 years✓ | 4 years |
| Warranty Extended | — | 6 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.