WATCH: 2020 Mercedes-AMG CLA 35 vs Audi S3 vs BMW M235i Gran Coupe - Someone Walks Away VERY Disappointed

For the better part of the decade that started in 2003, Audi had the premium hot hatch market all for itself with the S3.

At the time, BMW and Mercedes-Benz did not seem interested to enter the segment, but their attitude changed dramatically during the past few years. To fight Audi’s S3 and RS3, Mercedes-AMG now has the A35 and A45 hot hatches. BMW’s answer to the S3 hatch is the M135i, with the M235i Gran Coupe targeting the S3 Sedan.

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cidflekken - 6/15/2020 10:59:31 AM

+1 Boost

I was pretty surprised at the critique. Usually BMW successfully builds in its "BMW-ness" into any car or SUV. This one sounds like its off the mark. And it just doesn't look good.

valhallakey - 6/16/2020 1:49:51 AM

+2 Boost

Their first attempt a FWD based sedan. FWD as done by all the major car makers is fundamentally a high polar moment of inertia platform with the engine weight in front of the front axle. You can make FWD based cars handle pretty good with a lot of work, however it is better to just start with a good platform in the first place with the engine weight between the two axles. Reminds me of the saying, you can put lipstick on pig, but in the end it is still a pig.

Car4life1 - 6/15/2020 12:24:08 PM

+3 Boost

The CLA nails it and walks away with an easy victory. BMW managed to build a car less appealing than a Corolla

HoustonMidtown - 6/15/2020 3:05:25 PM

+1 Boost

Sounded like the Audi won?? They said get a non-AMG CLA

Car4life1 - 6/15/2020 3:38:18 PM

+3 Boost

If you are on a budget...best car of the trio was and is the CLA by a landslide, for budget conscious subscribers they recommended The Audi or a base CLA or 3 series

dlin - 6/15/2020 12:30:26 PM

+1 Boost

Wanna stab BMW designers

MDarringer - 6/15/2020 3:51:24 PM

-3 Boost

They bitched that the BMW looked front-wheel-drive. OMFG!

I'd have included the Jetta GLI which wouldn't have won the day, but it would have shown how overpriced these vehicles are.

The BMW is on a horrible platform. BMW's FWD level of implementation is where Kia was 30 years ago. How in hell can BMW have so much torque steer from this platform when virtually everyone else has learned to tame it?

valhallakey - 6/16/2020 1:53:03 AM

+2 Boost

If you want an inherently good handling sports sedan, don't get any of these. If you just have to have a European car that has an S or AMG or M badge on it but really don't care about it being a truly great sports sedan... maybe get one of these.