While digital keys certainly add immeasurable convenience to the lives of modern drivers, the right key fob has also doubled up for a long time now as a priceless accessory. One you'd be happy to be seen casually brandishing, or laying on a cafe table as an object of desire and envy.
Years ago, longtime luxury heavyweights like Mercedes-Benz and Audi had already caught on to this. Which is arguably why cars like the Cat A COE-eligible Mercedes-Benz CLA180 and Audi A3 Sedan exist.
Serving as entry points to the wider, illustrious Mercedes-Benz and Audi brand universes, these cars have traditionally sold by the truck loads in Singapore, and not simply because they stand as microcosms of their brands' own visions of premium carmaking - which they are.
Rather, you get the sense that Singaporeans want them so they can go to sleep grinning, knowing they drive something from one of Germany's Big Three.
Fanned out in a carpark on a gloomy Monday afternoon, the newer CLA180 in Aqua Mint initially stands out as the more head-turning half of the duo here - if not for the enduring sparkle of its badge, then certainly for the fact that it's significantly newer.
Baby of the family though it may be, the completely-overhauled little sedan (or four-door coupe, officially) made waves worldwide by being the luminous first member to usher in a new generation of Mercs. Part of that refresh includes a new design language that will have you seeing stars, and quite literally.
Handsome isn't exactly the word here; that Merc's iconic logo is plastered nearly everywhere feels borderline obsessive, while the CLA's pursuit of aerodynamics and coupe-style proportions gives it an overt smoothness that takes a while to get used to. The CLA180 is even offered solely in the Progressive trim (for now), and thus also lacks the aggressive accoutrements you'd get with the AMG Line pack on the CLA200.
Flashiness, however? The CLA180 has that in spades. Here, the chrome-covered, flushed door handles and the larger 18-inch wheels lend extra shine. No one will mistake the fact that you're driving a Benz here.
In our eyes, however, it's still the Audi A3 Sedan that's the better looking machine. That's despite its smaller proportions and smaller wheels, and despite it being billed officially as, well, a less-exciting sedan rather than coupe.
The A3 Sedan had always been a sharp little thing, and having gone under the knife with a mid-life refresh, it's gotten sharper still.
The new chevron-shaped taillights and grater-like bumper are especially racy touches that give the impression of a 'hot sedan'. Even in a colour tamer than the Python Yellow Metallic of this test car, the A3 Sedan should feel like the angrier half, packing more presence.
New-age bling versus old-school cool
Notably, neither the CLA180 nor A3 Sedan offers the level of equipment that we've come to expect from the Chinese. But they more than make up for it with their use of materials, and the pizzazz with which they execute this.
Instantly, it is the CLA180 that delivers a stronger wow factor. You expect Merc again to be the one bringing the bling, and the cabin here more than rises to the occasion, while also rising more convincingly to the heights of its larger siblings.
Mostly, the front quarters of the CLA180 keep things pleasant where your eyes and hands most immediately rest.
From the brushed metal and damping of the indicator stalk to the dazzling display of ambient lighting (spreading to the backlit air vents), proceedings here feel classy, yet also exciting. Stepping in to the A3 Sedan immediately after almost feels like the equivalent of turning down your screen brightness.
Ergonomically, the little Merc feels cushier than the A3 Sedan too.
The floating centre console gives you somewhere to rest your elbow on longer cruises, the door-mounted seat controls are a nice Merc signature, and even the elevated 8.0-inch driver's display falls more naturally to the driver’s line of sight. The latest-generation MB.OS, in particular, is a treat to operate with its vibrant colours and intuitive pathways. Even the equipment levels here are higher.
Unsurprisingly, the A3 Sedan's more understated tack may not be so enchanting at first.
While the mid-life refresh has also given the cabin a bit of a nip-and-tuck, its layout is still reflective of Audi's earlier-generation approach to interior building. Case in point: The digital instrument cluster and MMI infotainment touchscreen are still separately housed.
Yet with the A3 Sedan's older interior also come irresistible old school charms. Unlike the CLA180, there are no capacitive touch buttons on the steering wheel (hurrah!), while the individual A/C controls are endlessly satisfying to depress with their clicks and clacks. And even though the screens here aren't as large as the CLA180's, they're still responsive and crisp.
Poke around it, though, and you might even find that the A3 Sedan is better screwed together on the inside. Not every new touch on Merc's CLA180 rises to the same heights as its colourful interior. The row of physical buttons (for the hazard lights, 'Dynamic Drive', etc) feel cheap, as do the somewhat-flimsy window controls and plastics lower down.
The A3 Sedan, on the other hand, delights with its reassuring and palpable sense of solidity, even if it's not at the level of Audi's flagships.
On the note of space, you'd objectively be much better off ferrying two instead of three in the rear of either of these cars. And by this metric, the A3 Sedan fares better.
Its more conventional three box shape simply lends itself to better head room, while there's slightly more space in the trunk, with its 425 litres pipping the CLA180's 405 litres.
On the other hand, the CLA180 offers a wider rear bench as well as slightly more legroom thanks to a significantly longer wheelbase.
If you can accept the lack of a sunshade (which works fine based on our experience thanks to some clever heat tinting work), things feel extra airy here too by way of its standard panoramic glass roof. But that coupe silhouette has its drawbacks, most notably for headroom.
Moving in different directions
While both cars here are Cat A compacts, it's worth noting that the CLA180 - which resides at the power ceiling here with its 129bhp - has the A3 Sedan pipped by around 15bhp. Off the line, it thus feels lighter too, despite being 300 kilos heavier than its foe.
Between the two, it's also the CLA180 that rides not just like the bigger car (which it is), but like a bigger car in general. In typical Merc fashion, it's cushier, more composed, and deals with pockmarked tarmac with more finesse.
It's thus certainly the more refined machine too, boasting better cabin insulation on the highway with its aerodynamic shape. Even gear shifts with its eight-speed DCT are smoother than the A3 Sedan's seven-speeder. Settle it into a cruise, and you can watch the revs on the CLA180's digital speedo drop out as the small onboard electric motor takes over. New parents will probably prefer the Merc for its ability to better lull a baby to sleep in the backseat.
The A3 Sedan, on the other hand, treads a more equal ride-handling balance in a manner that you suspect would make the hotter S3 Sedan proud. At the helm, you're ever that bit more aware of what's happening with the tarmac beneath the front wheels. While the CLA180's light steering by default is accurate, it's also rather uncommunicative; the A3 Sedan's, on the other hand, has some tasty weight and surprising feedback.
Unfortunately, the flip side is that the A3 Sedan also does feel less polished when you try asking more of it. Its engine note sounds gruff when stretched, and a fair bit of tyre roar finds its way into the cabin when you get it up to speed. Overall, you feel more exposed to the world outside when behind the wheel here.
If these small compromises are ones you're willing to live with, commendable fuel efficiency awaits. In fairly mixed driving conditions, we managed a stellar 15.6km/L with the A3 Sedan - just a fair bit off the 16.1km/L officially posted by Audi. But even on this front, the CLA180 fared better, managing 16.1km/L. In the real world, the gap is more negligible; a full tank on either car could net you around 700km of range.
But beyond the debate of which has the upper hand lies a deeper question: Where do these cars stand in Singapore's market today?
In an industry that's quickly shifting towards buzzy new electric crossovers and SUVs, the stakes have never felt larger. These German compacts used to dangle the promise of premium car ownership at relatively bargain price tags. But even these entry points don't come with entry-level price tags anymore.
With the A3 Sedan being listed for nearly $260,000 and the CLA180 nearly breaching $285,000 (accurate at time of writing, including COE), you get the sense that neither may be each other's real foe. It seems the competition these days lies much further East.
And yet the fact remains that for some buyers, the charm of these premium compact sedans cannot be emulated today. Smaller cars are an underrated bunch in general, and there's no denying that a significant proportion of buyers still gravitate to the three-box shape. What hasn't fundamentally changed either is the aspirational quality of both cars - meant to tempt you into working upwards to buying one of their larger siblings down the line.
To that end, the Audi A3 Sedan, especially post-facelift, persists as a remarkably complete little package that well captures the magic of the Audi brand.
Interestingly, with the A3 family being the only one of the current Audi lineup to be riding on the older MQB platform, its more traditional outlook stands out as the A3 Sedan's biggest strength. Despite the humbler power output, you'd never complain about its cabin quality, or about it feeling like a soulless computer on wheels.
And yet it is still the CLA180 that shines brighter and feels more magnetic - even with its steeper price tag taken into account.
Its better equipment list and stunning interior are ultimately harder to turn your eyes away from, while its generational overhaul has given it unbeatable ride quality for its segment. Most importantly, perhaps, it thrusts the Mercedes-Benz brand confidently into the present while still retaining a car-like experience, serving as a stellar entry point that wears its badge well.
That's even before you remember that within your pocket lies a weighty key fob with the Three-Pointed Star proudly emblazoned onto it.
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