Trunk comparison: BMW X5 vs Mercedes Benz CLA Shooting Brake

Key Differences (Values >10% Highlighted)

Three differences stand out clearly from the measurements: the trunk opening of the BMW X5 is 3.5 in (13%) higher, the width of the trunk opening of the BMW X5 is 8.7 in (25%) larger, and the trunk depth (loading edge → trunk floor) of the Mercedes-Benz CLA Shooting Brake is 8.3 in (2100%) greater.

These three deviations dominate the practical differences in loading and usability.

Impact on Usability

The BMW X5 offers clear advantages when loading bulky or wide items due to the significantly larger opening width and higher opening: wide furniture parts, large boxes, or strollers can be pushed more easily straight through the opening without needing to be angled or twisted strongly.

The higher opening also makes it easier to lift tall items because more vertical clearance is available.

The Mercedes-Benz CLA Shooting Brake scores with a significantly greater trunk depth: the floor lies much lower below the loading edge. This creates more usable interior space and allows for higher stacking or longer items that must lie flat.

Additionally, the loading edge of the CLA Shooting Brake is lower (the loading edge of the X5 is 1.6 in higher), which makes lifting heavy luggage onto the cargo area easier. In practice, this means heavy suitcases or bulky loads can be loaded and unloaded more easily in the CLA, and more volume is available overall.

Everyday consequence: If you frequently transport wide, bulky parts (e.g., wide furniture panels, large boxes, strollers), the BMW X5 is usually more practical due to the larger opening.

If, on the other hand, you need a lot of volume for stacked or longer items and value a lower loading edge for easier lifting, the Mercedes-Benz CLA Shooting Brake is more advantageous. Both concepts thus have clear strengths: X5 for width/height of the opening, CLA for usable depth and lifting effort.